09

Jump Start # 4175

Posted on October 9, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4175

 

Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed quickly, therefore the hearts of the sons of men among them are given fully to do evil.’

Christa Pike was scheduled to be the first woman executed in the state of Tennessee in more than a hundred years. The lethal injection attempted failed, not once but twice. Still alive, Pike was rushed to a nearby hospital. Now filling social media is what should be done next? Some say release her. Some say try it again. Some say enough, just put her back in prison.

Readers of these Jump Starts know the story of James Barber, Jimi, the Christian executed by the state of Alabama a couple of years ago. The concern of his attorneys was being able to accomplish this without blotching it, as had happened in other cases. Jimi was ready to meet the Lord.

The right for a government to execute is found in Romans. What is so often overlooked is our passage from Ecclesiastes. The crime that Pike committed and was sentenced to death for occurred thirty years ago. A generation later, the evil that she had committed was still being dealt with. Much of this lies with our court and justice system. Appeals upon appeals drag out the process and in time most forget about what was done. Now, if I’m not careful, this could easily turn into a rant about our political and judicial system. That’s not the intent of Jump Starts. Long, long ago, Solomon understood, when justice drags it’s feet, wicked hearts believe that they can get away with crime. Crime does seem to pay. Solomon saw it.

Now, through all of this, there are some lessons for us:

First, the justice of God is not built upon the American court systems. We need to get that out of our minds. God is a righteous judge. But, the Scriptures also tell us that it is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. There is no system above God that can override His decision. There is no one else to appeal to. There is no reversing what God says. Clemency only comes from the mercy of God and no where else.

Second, the times when God used death in punishment it was immediate. Nadab and Abihu didn’t die a generation after their unholy worship of God. Ananias and Sapphira died the day that they lied. Uzzah died the moment he touched the ark. Achan died soon after his theft was discovered. A cloud of fear surrounded the people when they saw how quickly and final the judgment of God was upon the disobedient. God’s judgment is absolute. He knows.

Third, laws become weak and useless if there is no teeth behind it to enforce it. This is true in parenting. Kids quickly learn that they can get away with things until dad counts to “three.” There is a system of discipline built in the N.T. church that brings accountability and responsibility. When a congregation doesn’t want to do that, then a message is sent that what the Bible says really doesn’t matter. The Corinthians understood that a little leaven leavens the whole lump. It a man can live immorally, then why can’t another live as a drunk? Why can’t another live as an idolater? There is no stopping once the door has been opened.

Far too many times when a member is living more like the world than like Christ and discipline must take place, family members will support the wayward, make threats and even leave. Not only is such actions immature, they lack faith in what the Bible teaches. We must stand with God.

I don’t know what the outcome will be with Christa Pike. Some day she will die. The righteousness of her soul is what matters the most. Our Lord was executed by the government. So was Paul, John the Baptist, James. How one dies is not nearly as important as how one has lived.

 

Roger

08

Jump Start # 4174

Posted on October 8, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4174

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-5 “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.”

 

Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past

Watching the Scoreboard

 

In sports, the scoreboard tells who won and who lost. The scoreboard is an important feature of every game. There is a difference from playing for fun and playing for keeps. Fans will look up at the scoreboard several times during a game. When the scoreboard is running, two teams will be engaged in battle. They will play aggressively. Both are out to beat the other. One team is trying hard to score and the other team is trying just as hard to keep them from scoring. When the scoreboard is on, the game is about winning. The losing team may have played well. They may have even given it their all, but in the end, they lost the game. In some games, such as playoffs, when you lose, the season ends. When you win you keep playing. The scoreboard tells it all.

 

Paul defined love as, “Does not take into account a wrong suffered” (1 Cor 13:5). The NIV records this as: “it keeps no record of wrongs.”  Eugene Peterson has expressed this as: “doesn’t keep score of the sins of others.”

 

Simply, love doesn’t keep score. The nature of the game changes when the scoreboard is turned off. In marriage, saying things like, “she always…” is scorekeeping. Or, “He never….” is watching the scoreboard. Always and never are the words of someone that has kept track of things. The score has been remembered. Someone has not forgotten. Someone won and someone lost. Scorekeeping in marriage means one wins and one loses.  Paul says, “Love doesn’t keep score.”

 

We don’t need to be keeping score in our marriage and among each other. We need to fight for each other, instead of against each other. We need to defend each other. We need to realize that we are on the same side. Patience and forgiveness ought to be the rule we live by.

 

Love doesn’t keep score!

 

Roger

January, 2005

 

07

Jump Start # 4173

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4173

 

Hebrews 13:2 “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.”

 

There has been a silent death in America that many never noticed. It is the passing of our sociability. According to an article by Derek Thompson, the percentage of people who have hosted friends and family in their home has fallen to 12%, a 70% decline in the past half-century. But at the same time, research is finding more people are home longer than ever before. People are home, but no one’s coming over. Multiple factors feed into these troubling stats, such as the impact from Covid, a digital culture that doesn’t interact with others face to face, and the choice to be alone rather than with others. Thompson writes: “In the last 30 years, Americans have seen double-digit declines in practically every measure of socializing. They are less likely to play cards; attend a sporting event; go to the bar; volunteer; or work on a community project. When it comes to hosting people at home, the declines are particularly stark.”

This ought to concern us. Hospitality is a major principle in our Bibles. It is one of the qualities of leaders in the church. Hospitality can be illustrated a number of ways, but most familiar is having someone in your home. The article interviewed people who once hosted dinner parties, but they have now given up. A lot of effort and expense when into providing a wonderful dinner experience only to have people fail to show up.

Here are some lessons for us:

First, we must teach a younger generation the value of hospitality. We do this by having people into our homes. We must be counter-culture. We must break the stats and the trends. One doesn’t have to go overboard, but there is some effort. Clean up the house. Sweep the floors, Buy and cook some food. But sitting around the table is one of the best ways to get to know each other. Casual conversations can be the bridge to deep friendships. You don’t have a lot of room? That’s ok. Use what you have. You can’t afford much food? That’s ok. Have others bring some. If one can’t host a family or two in an apartment, they likely won’t do it later on when they have a house.

And, when the guests leave, yes there is some clean up. Dishes to wash. Chairs to be put up. But, the upside benefit is worth it all. Have the family all help out and do what they can.

Second, we need to honor our word. Let your yes be yes is what the Lord said. Having gone through the weddings with our kids, I’ve seen the horror of this. Some will RSVP and never show up. Some won’t respond and do show up. And, when the father of the bride is paying for every plate, that can become very frustrating. Don’t be wishy washy. If someone invites you, give a definite answer and stick with it. This is just one aspect of integrity. Being a person of your word. A generation needs to learn this.

Third, the purpose of hospitality is to share with others and to get to know others. You don’t invite so that they will invite you in return. That’s a selfish goal. You invite even if no one ever invites you. I’ve been in zillions of homes this way as a guest preacher. I knew a situation where the woman didn’t come to services because she was so busy cooking. Don’t do that. Some of my greatest memories have come from sitting with people in their homes and getting to know one another.

What if I’m shy and I don’t know what to talk about? Invite two couples. One that you know well or one that is out going. The other couple you don’t know so well. Getting people together will just be a wonderful thing.

The times are changing and not always for the good. Let’s hold on to hospitality. Give it a chance. You’ll be amazed at the good that can be done.

Roger

06

Jump Start # 4172

Posted on October 6, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4172

Acts 20:27 “For I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole purpose of God.”

  One of my granddaughters, Kaylee, is almost three. She’s a real pistol. Full of life and lots of fun. When she gets going she can speak so fast that sometimes she just blurts out words and not sentences. The other day she was in rare form. She came to me and said, “PJ,” that’s what they all call me, “snack.” I replied, “Do you want a snack?”  She said, “Yep.” I started some suggestions that were all shot down. “Watermelon?” “Nope.” “Grapes?” “Nope.” “How about some crackers?” “Nope.” Running out of ideas, I asked her, “What would Kaylee like?” Immediately, she said, “SUGAR.” To which I said, “Nope.”

In our verse today, Paul reminded the Ephesian elders that he had taught them the whole counsel or purpose of God. Paul preached in season and out of season. He taught them what they wanted to hear and what they didn’t want to hear.

But, so many these days, are like my sweet Kaylee. All they are interested in is a sugar-coated message that tastes great. And, when we complain about the other kind of sermons, we really put our preachers in a tough spot. They need us to honor the messages that are hard to preach. When talking about Heaven, we need to hear about Hell. When talking about grace, we need to hear about discipleship. When talking about love, we need to hear about judgment. Lessons only about mercy without talking about authority doesn’t present a clear picture.

Hear are some lessons from this:

First, to understand the complete will of God I need to hear lessons that may not be my favorite topics. When I visit the doctor and we talk about family and sports and laugh and have a great time, it’s amazing. But I know that I need to head down to the lab and get some blood drawn. We have to look at the numbers and that is the only way a complete look at how I’m doing will take place. I love preaching about Heaven. I love prodigal son sermons. But, I also have to talk about David’s adultery and Noah’s drunkenness.

Second, just as a parent knows what is best for the children to eat, the topics of classes and sermons need to come from shepherds and preachers. Left to the wishes of the audience, it would all be SUGAR. Some of the greatest lessons come from the storms in life. All sunshine makes a desert. So, when classes are offered and they may not be my favorite things to study, I must realize that there are those looking after my soul who feel that this is part of the balanced diet that I need.

Third, keeping a list of classes and sermons can show areas that have not been addressed in a while. I’ve been with some congregations and when asked, “When was the last time you went through the book of Revelation?” The answer shockingly is “decades ago.” Balance in preaching and balance in classes. Not all textual nor all topical. Not all O.T. and not all N.T. And, as the demographics of a church changes through the years, the sermons and classes ought to adjust to those changes. Developing a regular schedule of classes helps to see that a person is getting a well rounded spiritual development.

The whole counsel – Paul was able to do that. Are we?

Roger

05

Jump Start # 4171

Posted on October 5, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4171

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!

  This past Saturday it was off to the concert once again for us. Heard a Beethoven piece and a Stravinsky piece that was really loud and very odd in my book. What was special about this concert was that we were not in Louisville. We’ve been going to classical concerts for more than a decade in Louisville. Now we have moved. It was the Indianapolis Orchestra that we watched. A different venue. Musicians that we do not know. Some had instruments that we had never seen before. Parking was different for us.

And, all of this presents a powerful lesson about different cultures or norms. We first experience this in marriage. Like two rivers blending together, each person brings in ideas and what was normal for them. Take for instance the opening of Christmas presents. In some families, all the presents are opened at once. The wrapping paper flies through the air and it’s like hogs going to the feeding trough. In other families, one present is opened at a time and everyone watches that person open it. Different ways of doing things. Different cultures. Is one better than the other? The way we were raised always seemed the best to us.

The same happens when a person switches congregations. They move to a new city. Different people. Different order of worship. Different schedule. I’ve experienced that in leaving Charlestown Road after eighteen years. I was very comfortable with the way things were done. I’m now a part of a congregation that does things differently. Not, unbiblical nor wrong, just different time of day when Bible classes are offered. Different way of doing Lord’s Supper.

Here are some lessons I learned:

First, give the new way a solid chance. The auditorium that the Indianapolis Orchestra played in is much fancier and nicer than where the Louisville Orchestra played. Parking was more expensive in Indy and we had to walk a bit. If we go into a new culture with our minds made up that we don’t like it, there is a good chance that we won’t like it. Church buildings are different. Preachers have different styles. Elderships operate differently. Give the new place a chance.

Second, don’t make the mistake of trying to turn the new place into the place you just left. That most often fails. People, situations and resources are different. If a congregation has Sunday Bible classes in the evening rather than the morning, learn to adjust, live with it, or find a place that is more to your liking. But, do not go in with an agenda to turn things upside down and change them. If you keep talking about the church you just left and how they did things you might find people wishing you’d go back there. What works in one place doesn’t always work in another place.

Third, as long as a congregation is following the Lord’s way, I must learn to be subject and bend my will for the sake of the group. Expecting everyone to cater to my likes and my wants sure sounds pretty selfish. And, if everyone acted that way, the congregation would splinter into a dozen pieces, as some have. Be a team player. You may share ideas that the new group hasn’t thought of, but don’t get upset if they pass on your idea.

Being flexible, patient and willing to find your place in the kingdom is what you do. My first Sunday at my new congregation, I was asked to be part of a weekly podcast, teach half of next year and put on the schedule to do other things.

Moving through different cultures and norms is really a part of life. We experienced that when we moved from grade school to middle school to high school to college. Each of those were different. We experience this when our children marry and new faces become a part of the family.

It is good to visit other places. Learn ideas. See how they do things. Share those ideas with others.

If I were asked which is better, Louisville Orchestra or Indianapolis, my answer would be both. They are different. They play amazingly. And, I can enjoy them without feeling that one has to change and be like the other.

A lot of headaches in a congregation could be prevented if we understood this Biblically and spiritually.

Roger