08

Jump Start # 3800

Posted on April 8, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3800

 

Genesis 13:10 “And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw all the valley of the Jordan, that it was well watered everywhere—this was before the Lord destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah—like the garden of the Lord, like the land of Egypt as you go to Zoar.”

 

If you notice, we’ve embarked on a new Jump Start milestone, # 3800. Who would have thought that this little project that we started fifteen years ago as an in-house way to get folks thinking and reading God’s word, would still be going on and would have become international. Hard for me to believe. Thank you, for being our readers.

 

Our verse tells the story of Abraham and Lot. The Lord had blessed them both with an abundance of livestock. The land could not hold them all. So it was time to separate. Abraham, being older and the one chosen by God, ought to have had the first choice of where to pasture his flocks. Instead, he allowed Lot the first choice. You choose left, I’ll go right. You go right, I’ll go left. A great lesson in humility and leadership.

 

Following our verse today, Lot chose the valley of the Jordan. I particular am drawn to the expression, “Lot lifted up his eyes and saw…” How similar this is to Eve when she saw that the forbidden fruit was a “delight to the eyes.” Then, King David, from his rooftop, saw Bathsheba bathing.

 

He lifted up his eyes and saw…what a telling expression. And, what an important reminder about the choices we make in life. On the surface, things can look so good to us. And, if that is all we base our decisions on, then like Lot, like Eve, like David, we have failed to see the consequences and have failed to see the spiritual.

 

Peter tells us that Lot was righteous and he felt his soul tormented every day by the things he saw and heard. While his flocks were feeding well in the green pastures, Lot’s soul was hurting by the ungodly people around him. As the story unfolds, Lot’s wife dies, and his two daughter commit incest with him. In many ways, the animals of Lot did better than the family of Lot. And, that gives us much to consider:

 

First, on paper, numbers can appeal to our eyes. The raise. The scholarship. The full ride. The promotion. Those things can fatten our paychecks and our savings, but we must look beyond that. What is the atmosphere spiritually? What’s this going to do to my family? What’s this going to do to my soul? A full-ride scholarship to a college is impressive. But is there a congregation nearby to worship with? If not, in four years you may come out with a nice degree in hand, but no faith in your heart. What’s the congregation like? Will it help me to grow and face the challenges that a university presents? Is it a congregation that is doing things that I do not agree with and are not a part of the Bible. Have I compromised? Is the scholarship more important than my faith?

 

And, the same goes for the promotion. What hours are going to be demanded of me? Will I have to sacrifice my faith and compromise my values to make it work? Will my soul be tormented day after day? Will it destroy my family?

 

Second, teaching people to see beyond what our eyes see is important. This is a learning process. We hear that there is more to life than money, but we sure don’t make choices that show that. We repeat the Lord’s words to seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, but we forget about the kingdom once our eyes are locked on to what dazzles and shines before us.

 

For Lot, his animals did better than he did. And, for us, our bank accounts may do better than we do.

 

Third, what would have happened had Lot chosen the other direction? That meant Abraham would have settled in the valley of the Jordan, near Sodom. Would Abraham had done any better than Lot? I’d like to think so. This is all pure guessing. It didn’t happen that way. The choices we make have major impacts on many lives. Our choices impact our families. What about the congregation we are a part of right now? What about our influence among others? What does our choices tell others?

 

Sometimes it is good to let the ship of opportunity sail right on by. Staying where you are useful, comfortable and faithful is a good place to be. Backseat driving here, but maybe Abraham and Lot should have had a cattle and sheep sale. Maybe rather than splitting up, they should have stayed together. Abraham’s faith is something that Lot could have been influenced by even more. What’s more important, more land, more livestock or being together?

 

Lot’s eyes saw some good land. But, his eyes did not see what the land would cost him. May the Lord open our eyes and may we make choices that are driven by the kingdom and not our bank accounts.

 

Roger

 

07

Jump Start # 3799

Posted on April 7, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3799

 

Luke 15:29 “But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you have never given me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends.”

 

Our verse today comes from that compelling story of the prodigal son. Wayward and without direction, he spent all. Helpless, friendless and hopeless, he comes home a changed person. The father runs and embraces the broken son. There is a celebration and much to rejoice. He was dead but now he is alive again.

 

The older brother doesn’t have the same reaction. When he finds out that the prodigal is home and there is a party being held in his honor, anger and resentment boils to the top. Our verse are his words he speaks to the father who came out to compel him to enjoy the happy celebration. The older brother will have no part in that.

 

As he speaks to the father, he does not even address him as “father.” The prodigal did when he returned home. It seems that the older brother is angry with the father. He views his role and relationship as a servant. I’ve served you for years, he proclaims. You command and I obey, is how he sees the relationship. And, through all those years, he does not find joy and happiness in being with his father. It’s all duty. It’s all work. It’s master and slave relationship.

 

And, I am seeing more and more Christians viewing themselves right beside that older brother. They don’t see it and they’d never admit to it, but from what I hear, it sure seems like many have a salvation based upon works and not grace. And, when we have such thinking, we will find more guilt than we can handle. For so many, guilt is like their shadow. It’s always right behind them. There is no getting away from it.

 

Rather than enjoying our journey with the Lord, guilt will constantly and always remind us that we didn’t do something right. We shouldn’t have said what we said. We could have gone to services, but just didn’t feel like it. We’ve talked too much about other people. Guilt. Guilt. Guilt.

 

A bad thought. More guilt. Not paying attention in worship. More guilt. Avoiding someone we don’t like. Even more guilt. There is so much guilt that we shuffle through life trying to carry such a heavy burden. And, all this burden draws the joy out of our lives. We try to keep every command of God. We see it as our duty. And, when we fail, we feel that God is so disappointed in us that He will barely have anything to do with us.

 

Oh, this is the image that so many carry in their hearts. They would deny that we are saved by works, but their guilt says the opposite. How can we have joy, when we haven’t kept all the commands of the Father? Why do we view service to God as something we have to do? Someone is not at worship services and a few days later they die. At their funeral, some wonder if he really made it, “because he wasn’t at church last week.” It seems that I’m having more and more conversations about these things.

 

Here are a few thoughts from this:

 

First, I believe we need to really do a deep dive into understanding and knowing our God. This is at the core of the problem that the older brother had in the prodigal story. He really didn’t know his father. He had been with him for years, and still, he did not know him or understand him. Reward comes from what I do, is how he saw things. His relationship was work based not love based.

 

This is where we must begin if we are ever going to get any distance from our guilt. God loves. God’s lovingkindness is new every day. God seeks those who seek Him. An incorrect view of God is going to color our theology. It will distort how we view salvation and fellowship. It’s time we moved beyond God 101 and really lowered the nets into how He describes and defines Himself.

 

Second, beyond that, we need to really grasp the concept of grace. We say we believe in grace, but many are afraid of it. They are afraid if they speak of that too much, some will accuse them of being denominational. So, we keep a lid on grace. We mention it briefly but not strongly. When we read, Ephesians 2, “saved by grace through faith,” we feel compelled to say, “that includes baptism.” In that sentence, God didn’t feel compelled to say it.

 

Grace is not having a casual attitude toward sin. Grace is not looking the other way and thinking, “It’s ok.” It’s not ok. It’s sin. Grace is God’s choice. He doesn’t owe it to us. He doesn’t have to forgive us. It’s His choice. Because we live with grace and love, there isn’t much room for guilt anymore. Yes, I sin. So do you. Some days are pretty good. Some days are not so hot. God understands. God loves. And, God wants me to keep walking with Him.

 

Sometimes I take the little ones in our family for a walk. Sometimes they hold my hand. Sometimes they want to take the lead and I’ll have to help them watch for traffic. Sometimes they want to stop and pick things up. Sometimes they want to go another direction. I’m patient. I guide them. As we walk, I point out things for their little eyes to see. I know things about trees and flowers and bugs that they don’t understand. They’ll ask questions. It doesn’t take much information to be beyond their little thinking. Sometimes they want to run. I tell them to be careful. Occasionally, they might stumble and fall. We’ve had cut knees and tears flowing down their cheeks. I remind them that they need to listen. Hugs, kisses and we are headed back to the house.

 

And, in many ways that’s how I see our walk with the Lord. He is thrilled and I am thrilled to walk along side of the Lord. Sometimes I want to stop. He’s patient. Sometimes I want to run and His word tells me to be careful. I fall and scrape my soul. He’s there to wipe my tears, hold my hand and help me along the way. I don’t know all that He knows. But I know He cares for me and loves me. And, as I walk near Him, we eventually reach home, His home.

 

God and grace. With those two there isn’t much room for guilt. The angry, jealous older brother never understood his father. He never understood grace. I wonder if I do…

 

Roger

 

04

Jump Start # 3798

Posted on April 4, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3798

 

Hebrews 1:2 “In these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”

 

Well, we’ve finished up our study here at home on the book of Revelation. The first quarter of the year I was walking though Revelation, chapter by chapter, on Sundays and Wednesday evenings. The last time I had taught Revelation was seven years ago. I’ve taught it in various formats a few times here. With so many other pressing things to teach it occurred to me that it may well be another seven years until we get around to teaching it again. And, there is a good chance, by that time, I’ll not be in the position to teach. So, this may have been the last time I ever teach Revelation in a class. That thought was sobering and a bit sad for me.

 

As a person walks through life they come to several “final” events in their journey. For instance:

 

  • When that last child gets potty trained and there are no more diapers, at least until grandkids come along.
  • When a person has taken their final class in school. Be it high school, college, or grad level, one day, it’s that last class. No more school after that. No more tests. No more papers to write.
  • When a person clocks out for the last time at their job. They are retiring and this is the last day for them.
  • When a person sells a house and moves into a different house. One final look around. All the memories. All the little projects. The door shuts and that will be the last time you are in that house.

 

Sometimes because of age or opportunity, someone does something for the last time. There are some lessons to be learned about the last or final time:

 

First, when we reach the last page of the Bible, that ought not be the last time we read the Bible. I have many books that I have read through one time. I don’t intend to read through them again. The Word of God is different. When we reach the last page, Revelation 22, we ought to just turn around and start reading it again. Some books are only read once. The Bible is one book that we read over and over and over. And, with each reading, we learn and see things that we have never seen before.

 

Second, because we are finished with certain things, does not mean that we sit on the sidelines of life. Finished with school—that will be true one day. That does not mean you are finished with learning. All of your life you need to learn and grow. Finished with work– that doesn’t mean you don’t use your talents somewhere in the kingdom of the Lord. One may not do all that they once did, but they need to keep busy. The alternative is sitting in a chair all day watching endless newscasts. Life is too precious for that.

 

Third, because you are finished does not mean others are. Some are busy in school. Some are busy with families. Some are busy with jobs. Not everyone can come and do things with you. The reason is because you are finished, they are not. Be patient with others who have not finished. Be an encouragement to them. Share your insights and wisdom with others. Help them with what has helped you. Try to make things easier for them. In doing, this you encourage and make a huge difference in the lives of others.

 

I’m not finished teaching. I immediately go into a study of Genesis. Revelation is how the Bible ends. Genesis is how the Bible begins. Because you cannot do one thing does not mean you give up on all things. Keep finding ways to be useful in the kingdom. Stay busy in the work of the Lord.

 

And, one day, it will be our final day on this planet. The Lord shall call us home and we will be with Him forever. That final day here is not the end. There is no “The End,” to our story. As a hymn goes, we’ll live on and on. The only place that will never have a last day, is Heaven.

 

Roger

 

03

Jump Start # 3797

Posted on April 3, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3797

 

Matthew 25:13 “Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.”

 

The state of Indiana loves basketball. From the high school level through the college ranks, there is a real fever during basketball season. We have one of the greatest basketball movies of all time, Hoosiers, about a small Indiana high school team. And, March Madness soars to the stratospheric level in this state. One annual tradition so many have is to fill the college tournament brackets. I do this every year. I did pretty good this year. I got seven of the eight final teams and all four final fours right. Some really get into this, by listening to all the predictions from the experts, to deep diving into the stats, seeing what team has beaten what teams. But in the end, March Madness is just that “Madness.” On any given day, upsets take place. The favored team loses. The Cinderella team surprises everyone. The filled out brackets become messy, with crossed out teams and hopes fade as the team you predicted to win gets beat.

 

That’s March Madness. It happens every year. With all the insights, game analysis, stats, replays, much of filling out a bracket comes down to guessing and luck. And most years, the guessing is wrong, and the luck has run out.

 

With all of that, I was thinking about all the predictions about the coming of Christ that have been put forth through the centuries. Here is a very short list:

 

In the year:

  • 500— Hippolytus and Augustine both thought Jesus would return in the middle of the sixth millennium
  • 1186 (September) – People are told to flee to the mountains because it was believed that Jesus was coming
  • 1650- Christopher Columbus in his book of Prophecies, convinced emperors to fund his forth voyage to the West Indies because the world would come to an end by 1650
  • 1666– George Fox developed an detailed system of combining the millennium with the mark of the beast (666). That was the year he said Jesus was coming, 1666. Fox convinced many people.
  • 1795—Richard Brothers claimed he was of divine lineage and would lead the lost ten tribes back to Israel. He believed God wanted him to wear the crown of England. He believed that Christ would return in 1795. He died in an English lunatic asylum.
  • 1884– William Miller, a simple farmer, detailing many prophecies, led a large number of people to believe Christ was coming that year.
  • 1914– through the writings of Jehovah Witness leaders, it was taught that Christ came invisibly and only the righteous could see Him.
  • 1988– Edgar Whisenant in his book “88 Reasons” predicted the start of WW III would be on Oct 3, 1988 and that Christ would come shortly after that.
  • 1992– Lee Jan Rim of Korea taught that Christ was coming on Oct 28, 1992 and 144,000 believers would be raptured up.
  • 1994– Harold Camping in his book, “Are you ready?” believed 1994 was the year Christ was coming.
  • 1997- Mary Stewart Refle taught that the United States would be destroyed and Christ would return in 1997.

 

As you can tell, all these predictions missed it. Kinda like filling out a March Madness bracket. Some thought the Bible taught the dates they came up with. Some claimed to have visions or that God had told them. But, in the end, they were all wrong.

 

Now, here are some lessons for us:

 

First, as Jesus ended the parable of the wise and foolish virgins, our verse today, He said to be on the alert because you do not know the day nor the hour. That’s the point of that parable. Had the foolish virgins known when, they would have been prepared. They didn’t. And, we don’t. We are to live as if each day were our last day. One day we will be right.

 

Some look for hidden messages in the Bible and if they have the right decoder ring, they will know what no one else does. The Bible is not written that way. It’s not a message just for a few. The apostles were to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. And, if somehow a specific date were discovered, most would put off living righteously until that date came near. God wants us to walk with Him every day.

 

Second, the Corinthians were told that we walk by faith and not by sight. Faith walking involves trust. Faith walking is not have visible signs discovered. It’s trusting God. Jesus will return. The earth will be destroyed. The righteous will be taken home to Heaven. Those promises are sure and true. We need to be busy walking with the Lord and expanding the kingdom the best we can everyday of our lives.

 

Third, Moses told us that the secret things belong to God (Deut 29:29). Stop trying to figure out the secret. It’s like when your birthday is coming up and you suspect the family is going to do something special for you. You drop hints. You ask the little ones. You pry and pry to try to find out. That may work for birthday parties, but you won’t get anywhere doing that with God. There are things known but to God. And, there are things we ought to be thankful that we don’t know. Would you like to know the specific day and manner in which you would die? I don’t. Would you like to know what people, especially those that don’t like you, think about you? I don’t.

 

God keeps His promises. That’s all we need to know.

 

March Madness—it’s a fun thing to fill out brackets. And, leave the coming of Jesus to God. He knows and that’s all that matters. Ours is to be ready and stay alert.

 

Roger

 

02

Jump Start # 3796

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3796

 

Proverbs 31:11-12 “The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.”

 

I am getting ready to embark on a journey teaching the book of Proverbs. It’s been a while since I have taught it. Truisms is the heart of these sayings. They are more than just pithy statements, they are valuable lessons from Heaven. The challenge in teaching Proverbs is how to approach the book. The heart of Proverbs are independent statements. I’ve found the most beneficial way to teach Proverbs is to pull themes together. Many contrasts and comparisons are found throughout the pages.

 

Finally, as one reaches the final chapter, the words of King Lemuel, as his mother taught him, we find what is commonly known as ‘the Virtuous Woman.’ It’s a description of the character of a woman that mom would want her son to marry. She is industrious. She is kind. She is benevolent. She is godly.

 

Tucked in these verses we find a wonderful relationship between husband and wife. Our verse shows this. He trusts her. She does him good. And, it’s that wonderful one-two combination that makes a marriage endure and more than that, thrive.

 

There is an old Indian proverb that says, “Marriage is many moons in the same canoe.” I like that. I’ve not canoed much in my life. The kids will tell of the time I t-boned another canoe and turned it over. There is some coordination that is necessary when two people are in a canoe. It’s important to paddle the same direction and on opposite sides of the canoe. Balance is important or else you’ll end up in the lake.

 

Many moons in the same canoe. Let’s think about that.

 

First, from our verse, trust takes time to establish. Trust can be destroyed in a moment. Trust in finances. Husband and wife need to be on the same page financially. Sports gambling is becoming a problem and it is easy to turn the canoe over when one gets caught up in the immediate thrill of gambling.

 

Trust when each is away at work. The majority of affairs begin in the office place. Too friendly. Too much talk about personal things. Flirting. Lonely hearts find a listening ear. It’s just another step to go out to eat after work together. The next step crosses the line. The canoe tips over. Trust. No secrets when trust is strong. No hiding things when trust is strong. No lying when trust is strong.

 

Trust builds confidence. Trust establishes security. He trusts in her. She needs to trust in him. It’s the shadowy, secretive things that leads to suspicion and the eroding of trust.

 

Second, she does him good all the days of her life. She’s thinking about him and he is thinking about her. An endless circle. Doing good—little things. Big things. Everyday things. Things expected and things unexpected. Doing good keeps the electricity in a marriage. Doing good shows that one is appreciated and loved. And, just like the trust factor, she does him good, but does he do her good? A one way street gets tiring after a while. Remember the canoe idea. Both need to be paddling. Both are in this together.

 

Third, such a wonderful relationship will be noticed by others. There are those who don’t want to be in the same canoe with their mate. There are those who can’t leave the dock because they can’t agree upon which way they should go. In some canoes, an argument takes place as to which one is going to steer. And, many canoes tip over because of anger and one wanting to get out and get away from the other person.

 

But, when you see that canoe smoothly gliding through the water, what a beautiful picture of teamwork, togetherness and enjoying the moment. That canoe is going places. That canoe is showing others how they ought to work together.

 

Helping one another is a positive result of trusting each other and doing good to each other. Helping each other when one is sick. Helping each one when one is not well spiritually. Together, in sickness or in health, richer or poorer, helping each other reach the destination, which is Heaven. Staying in the canoe and staying the course, that’s what the Lord wants.

 

Marriage is many moons in the same canoe.

 

Roger