19

Jump Start # 757

Posted on December 19, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 757

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also t the Greek.”

The Gospel is God’s gift to us. Through it we come to know Jesus Christ and God’s will for us. The Gospel is the bridge to connect us to Christ. It seems there are two extreme attitudes believers have about the Gospel.

One attitude is to make the Gospel cool. They want the Gospel to look good, feel good, and be hip. The Gospel is given a softer, more appealing edge to it. Less talk about doctrine and more life stories. This marketing attitude is thought to make more folks interested. Grandma’s church is out. Contemporary is in. No pews. No ties. No “church-like” atmosphere. To go along with all this, the message has to be just like that. It can’t be long, stuffy, reading of passages. Humor is in. The thought is, make the gospel, make the church, make the services like a sit-com, and people will come. The problem with this whole premise is that the Gospel isn’t cool. It doesn’t fit in. It goes against the way we think and what we want. It’s about the Lordship of Christ. It calls for obedience and commitment and counting the cost. Laughter makes us feel good, but no one is saved through humor. Marriages aren’t rescued by a lite– gospel. A hard look at what sin does and how forgiveness works is what changes a person. The message must be Christ crucified.

The other attitude many believers have is to be embarrassed about the message. Some apologize that they have to do what the Bible says. A friend offers them an alcoholic drink and they refuse, apologizing. There is no apologizing for doing right. There is no “I wish I could, but I can’t I’m a Christian.” The ashamed Christian wishes his message, his life, and his ways were more like the world. He’d like to fit in and not be left out. The ashamed Christian can’t share the gospel because He is ashamed. He has opportunities every day to say things, but he doesn’t. He knows people who are seeking, but he never invites. He’s ashamed. He says little about God or the saving message of Christ. His conversations are totally secular and superficial. He longs to fit in with a world that is going the opposite direction. Lessons about personal evangelism brings extreme guilt to this person because he knows his lips are silent about Jesus.

Two extreme attitudes, and neither one is correct and neither one will do any good. The Gospel will never fit in with a sinful world. The gospel calls for all to change to be righteous. The message of Jesus offended folks then and it still will with some today.

Shaking the salt and shedding the light, or “shake and shine” as my friend Rickie calls it, gets us noticed and brings attention to what we believe. The world is dark and rotting. It needs light and salt of the Gospel. Invite. Ask. Let people see you bowing your head and praying. Let them see you reading your Bible. Some will be offended. Some will walk away. Some will respect you. Some will be curious. Some will seek answers from you. Show it. Live it. Walk it. Do it. As we teach our children in the little song, don’t hid your light under a basket. “I’ve got to let it shine, shine, shine.” People will see you. You will be noticed. Blending in is not an option when you are a Christian.

I am not ashamed…I am not ashamed of what it says. I am not ashamed of what it calls me to do…I am not ashamed of where it draws the line…I am not ashamed of God.  How about it? Are you ashamed? Are you ashamed to admit that you are ashamed? Are you more interested in what others will say or what God will say?

Paul before Caesar…Daniel in the lion’s den…Moses before Pharaoh…often God’s people have had to stand alone and stand for what was right. They did it and so can you.

 

I am not ashamed…I am glad to be a Christian. I am glad to be on God’s side. If that be true, then let’s act that way!

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 756

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 756

Psalms 22:11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near; For there is none to help.

This morning, I want to write once more about the tragic murder of children in Connecticut last week. Many have written on this. Many are suggesting all kinds of plans to prevent such evil acts from happening again. Tears have flowed. Hearts are crushed. We are sickened by the senseless acts of those who have no compass in their hearts and no thought of God in their souls.

Our passage today comes from the dark days when David was being pressed by his enemy. His cries seemed to unheard. His options were running low. He felt penned in and that death was near. Saul’s murderous hunt for David involved years, not weeks. David lived in fear. Saul nearly got to David on several occasions. Each time, God helped him. Each time, God was there for him. God had plans for David, plans that he didn’t fully grasp, and no one, not even Saul, was going to stand in the way of God’s plans. In Psalms 22 we find those dreadful words, “My God, My God…” that our Savior spoke from the cross hundreds of years later. Jesus felt, as David did, crushed by the enemy, options few, alone, and hurting –both on the inside and the outside.

 

We can feel that way as well. Turmoil in the family, church, or workplace, can leave us feeling crushed, fearful and without many options.

As sad as Psalms 22 is, what follows, is the powerful Psalms 23, “The Lord is my shepherd…He maketh me lie down…He leadeth me…He restores…” God is help. God is there.

Often, we are looking for help in the wrong direction. We are thinking that God will do something big and grand, when often times, the help of God comes from people right beside us. We are looking for God to solve the problem and instead He sends comfort in the form of brethren, Scriptures and kind acts.

What does all of this have to do with Connecticut? The attention is upon what one evil man did. One person. There were dozens, hundreds of others coming in the form of help. Good people with good hearts. Good was not stamped out that day. Good was not defeated. Evil did not outnumber good. Dark news, like that school shooting, can leave us thinking that there are more evil than good. We can feel defeated and conquered and like Elijah, hiding in the cave, we can feel that we are the only ones who are left. Not true. Across this land on Sunday there were thousands praying for the families in Connecticut. Aid, help and love continue to pour in. Good has not been crushed nor stamped out. This nation has shown time and again, when evil  rises up, so does the good. A perfect world would have no shootings. A perfect world would have no sin. A perfect world awaits us, not here, but Heaven.

 

I am thankful for the teachers that risked their lives in protecting those terrified children. I’m thankful for the police who without knowing the details of what was going on, rushed into that school. I’m thankful for a nation that looks with disgust and outrage at the criminal and sinful acts of one bad man. Liberal and conservative…Republican and Democrat…no one is approving of what happened. Our nation is not gone.  Hope is not vanished. I have seen signs in my hometown of Indiana, miles and miles away from Connecticut asking us to pray for the families. Signs, not on church buildings, but businesses. Folks don’t pray as much as they should, but they haven’t given up on prayer. And who are they praying to? God. Our nation, sinful as it is, hasn’t given up on God.

David felt like there was no one to help. There was. Not only did he have God, but he had a group of mighty men, 600 in number, who later would risk their lives to bring David a drink of water from a well in enemy territory. They offered more than once to strike down David’s enemies, but he would not allow that. David had help. His  help came from God.

Sometimes we feel like David. Why isn’t there someone to help. I know of a person who complained about that recently. The church was giving this person money. There were daily phone calls and text messages between this person and several elders and the preacher. Tons of encouragement was offered. Sometimes we don’t recognize help when it is there. Sometimes we want others to carry the load and to walk the path for us. Some things we have to do. That  is our job and our responsibility. Others can encourage us. Others can be there for us. Others can walk with us, but we still have to take the steps ourselves. Some don’t seem to get that. They want someone else to parent their kids, pay their bills, take care of their responsibilities and do what they are supposed to do. That can’t happen. That shouldn’t happen.

There is no one to help? Really? God is there. Brethren are there. The Scriptures are there. Help is around us, but the help won’t take over for us. Help will lift you up, dust off your britches, look you in the eyes and tell you that you can do it, and even give you a push, but you have to get back into the ring and fight your battles that God has before you. No one can do that. Crying that I have no help, often means, I am tired of the battle and I want someone else to fight it for me. Can’t happen. It’s your battle and you must fight it. Others are counting on you to win.

 

I am thankful for all the help—whether we talk about crushed families in Connecticut, broken hearts in Texas, sick families in Florida, or weary souls in Indiana. We are not alone. Good has not been stamped out. Evil has not won. Satan is not the victor. Not now. Not ever! The victory belongs to the Lord. It always has. Help comes from good hearts and good people who haven’t given up.

 

God can use you as one of those tools to help others –even today. Your words, your actions, your kindness, your presence matters. It  may be the very help that some are looking for

Roger

 

17

Jump Start # 755

Posted on December 17, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 755

Matthew 2:16 “Then when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he became enraged and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity from two years old and under, according to the time when he had determined from the magi.”

Few things are as cruel, senseless and heart breaking as the killing of children. Little children, especially are helpless. Their world is full of smiles, and giggles and happiness, and innocence. Their hearts are so pure. They motives so good. Little children brighten every room they enter. They are the best huggers in the world. Their attention span is short. Their energy level is full blast. Grandparents love their grandchildren. Little children laugh more, play more, sing more and seem to enjoy life more than adults. Their presence reminds us of something we long for and something we have long forgotten. Our Lord told the disciples to become like little children. Kids fight, but get over it quickly and are back playing together. Adults can’t do that. Kids don’t care how much money their friends are worth. They don’t concern themselves with brands, fashions or keeping up. They accept all. Love all. I fondly remember the days when I picked up my children from kindergarten. They’d show me the pictures that they colored and they talked non-stop about all the things that they did in those few morning hours. By the time they got to high school, when I asked them how their day went, they’d say, “fine,” and that was about all I could get out of them. Those sweet, sweet days of kindergarten and first grade.

Our hearts are broken at the ugly and sinful violence that struck  first grade class rooms  last week. Twenty children were slaughtered. Little boys and girls who were looking forward to Christmas and Santa Claus were murdered by a sick man who took his life and sealed his eternity for Hell. The days of Mayberry are long gone. They’ll never come back. Evil people are every where. Our times need Jesus so badly.

Our passage reminds us that the heartbreak felt in Connecticut was felt in Judea many years before. Back then, baby boys were murdered by the government. A sick and twisted Herod, jealous of his rule, angry with the magi, decided to stamp out and eliminate any threat to his throne. He sent out his troops. Home after home they searched. When baby boys were found, they were killed. I’m certain that the parents couldn’t possibly understand why. Their cute little boys were not a threat. They had done nothing wrong. The parents were helpless. They couldn’t stop the slaughter. Tears and tears flowed, as they do now for the parents of the first grade children.

When people get drunk on sin and selfishness there is no end to the ugliness and pain that they cause. Those sweet babies in Judea are now joined by the twenty 1st graders  who were killed in Connecticut. They are joined by the thousands of innocent children who are aborted each year. Their sweet souls, that never knew sin, never did wrong, never had to be forgiven are forever safe in the arms of Jesus. No one will ever hurt them again. They will never fear any more. They will never cry any more. They are with the Lord.

The rest of us must journey on. Evil is around is. Atheism, evolution, secularism, selfishness and hearts dominated by sin will continue to scare us, hurt us and try to defeat us. I remember the cry of the slain Christians, persecuted for the name of Jesus, lying under the altar as Revelation reveals. They cried out, “How long, Lord?” We too, wonder, how long, Lord? Someday we will be through with this place. We will leave those whose hearts are cold and indifferent to the plea of the Savior. We will join the multitudes who love the Lord and be sheltered in comfort and peace in Heaven where we will forever be with our Lord.

The Bible ends with these words, “Come, Lord Jesus.” I’m ready. Are you? Heaven looks brighter and brighter each day.

Live as if your soul is already in Heaven. Say a prayer for the families that are hurting. God help this country!

Roger

14

Jump Start # 754

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 754

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.

Our passage today addresses how we deal with one another. Two different approaches. Two different attitudes. Two different results. The gentle answer is contrasted with the harsh word.  Turns away wrath is contrasted with stirs up anger. Implied is a peaceful outcome to a hostile outcome.

I was at a place to eat the other day. A man wanted a refill of sweet tea. He was told that they were currently out of tea. That wasn’t an acceptable answer to him. He then demanded to know when they were going to make more tea. It was near closing time, and he was told that no more would be brewed that day. His attitude started brewing. He wanted to know the managers name and declared that he would have a word with him. He wanted his tea. He didn’t get what he wanted so he was ready to give what no else wants—a hard time, a sorry attitude and a earful of ugly words, and a mean spirited and loud complaint. Over tea.

Two things came to my mind. First, the service in many places is not as good as it once was. People have to wait longer, the quality of service is subpar and the products often are inferior. That’s enough to boil some tea right there. Second, people seem to be more impatient these days. The unpleasant situation I witnessed the other day is becoming more and more common. People seem to be more demanding, more angry and not afraid to tell you if you are wrong. It even happens in church. Those in leadership roles often get an earful of complaints from those whose patience has run out and who feel that they know just exactly how things ought to be. I’ve been on the receiving end of those of those tirades before. Some have been deserved because I fumbled the ball, but some haven’t. One ugly complaint will trump ten nice compliments every time. A person will forget the compliments, but years later that ugly complaint still haunts the soul. The harsh answer damages some, forever. Many young preachers have quit because of the harsh complaints from folks who have a cruel heart and are clueless about how to talk to people. I’ve been on the edge more than once myself. I’m sensitive to the young preacher and will go out of my way to be a shield and protect him from “harsh” words that ought not to be said.

Why is it that we tend to be harsh instead of gentle? The default button for many people is harshness. The sweetest little grandmas and become little devils if you cross them. Why? This happens in many families. This happens among brethren. The work place is so unhealthy that the number one reason people leave jobs has nothing to do with money, but it has to do with the environment with co-workers. The back stabbing, gossipy, meanness literally steals sleep, appetites, and peace of mind. It seems that folks do not know how to disagree without being disagreeable. The threat of lawsuits, the fear of division, the uneasiness of how to be around some people makes people walk on eggshells and hide under the cover and pretense that everything is great when it is just the opposite.

The gentle answer has a lot to do these things. An atmosphere of open discussion with the intent of wanting the best for the other person is what is behind the gentle answer. The gentle  answer may not be the answer the other person wanted to hear. It may be an answer of correction or criticism, but delivered in a package of gentleness, it is well received. Attitudes and seeing the big picture is the key here.

Back to my story about the man not getting his tea. The poor cashier did all she could to calm him down. She offered him any other drink he wanted. Not good enough. He wanted tea. She apologized. Not good enough. He wanted tea. She again apologized. Not good enough. He wanted tea. I thought, I remember my kids acting that way. They were two years old at the time. This guy, in his 60’s, sure acted like he was two. His little fit caught the attention of several in the store. He didn’t get his tea, and more than that, he didn’t get any respect from the rest of us. Some were mumbling just loud enough to hear, “What a jerk,” or “that guy’s an idiot.” My thought was, “boy, that guy really needs Jesus.”

It is easy for us to become harsh when we see someone else being harsh. Someone having a “two-year-old’s fit” doesn’t justify us being harsh about them. I’ve done that.

All of this comes down to we have a choice—gentle or harsh. We have a choice, stopping a skirmish from starting or firing the first shells and engaging in a battle. Our choice. We leave impressions upon people that stay with them for a long, long time. Long after we have forgotten the incident, others haven’t. Some are ruined because of the battles fought in church or in home. Some grow up to become even harsher with others.

Seems like Jesus talked about turning cheeks and going second miles and such things. Remember? That’s the problem. When we don’t have our tea, we tend to forget Jesus and only think about “where’s my tea.”

Try to be gentle today. It’s hard. With some you really have to work at it. Once you’ve done it a few times, you’ll like what it does for you. This is not to say let people abuse you, walk over you, always have their way and take advantage of you. Absolutely not. There is an answer given. There is a stake in the ground. There is a definite. It is given though, with gentleness. Firm, but gentle. Absolute but kind. Confident but not cocky.

Oh, to be like Thee, blessed Redeemer…

Roger

 

13

Jump Start # 753

Posted on December 13, 2012 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 753

Philippians 1:27 “Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel”

 

Getting along—it seems that it’s harder and harder to get along these days. Politicians are at a stalemate about the economy with both sides having dug their heels in and are unwilling to budge. Labor unions and governors are at odds. Racism is not dying out as it ought to. All around us there is evidence of folks not getting along. On a more intimate level, many families have turmoil and strife. Leaders in congregations are always putting out small fires and trying to keep the lid on things for fear of a huge upheaval among the church family.

 

Getting along isn’t easy. It never has been. Now if everyone just liked what I like and felt about things the way I feel about things and did what I did, we all would get along. Right? Wrong!!! That’s the very reason we don’t get along. Someone proclaims their opinion, thinking that everyone will just love that declaration, and they don’t. They wonder why you get your way and they don’t get their way. They seem to remember that you get your way more times than not. They want their way and not your way. They want to be in charge and not you. And what we have is the stuff that agitates people, stirs things up and gets folks ugly on the inside and outside. Getting along isn’t easy.

 

Our passage today is one of many that is found in the N.T. about unity. Unity is more than doing the same thing or even going the same direction. Biblical unity involves agreeing on the inside first and then doing the same thing on the outside. Without the inside being a part of this process, you have two people doing the same thing, but one of them is not happy. There will be complaining and negativism from one because he is not agreeing on the inside.

 

Paul tells the Philippians to be in “one spirit” (that’s inside stuff), “with one mind” (inside stuff), “striving together” (that’s outside) for the faith of the gospel. Without the insides agreeing, there will always be the opportunity for strife and fighting. This is why compromise rarely works. Unless both parties feel like they won, their insides will not be happy. This is the very problem we are witnessing between the President and the leader of the House. They believe differently on the inside. They do not agree with the other. There may be some handshaking and compromising but this won’t be a happy deal because they still disagree on the inside.

Spiritually, the one common factor that makes getting along easier is Jesus Christ. We all want Jesus. We want what Jesus wants. The growth of the kingdom, Heaven, salvation of souls is what we agree upon on the insides. Jesus makes that possible. Jesus is the bridge between people who were different, such as Jews and Gentiles or masters and slaves. Those who ought to be at odds with one another, were getting along, and were happy about that, because Jesus was something they all agreed upon on the inside.

 

This is how a church with such diverse backgrounds can stand united in ONE SPIRIT—it’s because of Jesus. This is how a church can rally around the Bible and have ONE MIND—it’s because of Jesus. Without that common factor which all agree upon unity is an impossibility. This is why the apostles preached Christ. Believing in Jesus, brought people together. Christ brings peace. Sin and Satan divide. Jesus is illustration of unity and acceptance. The story of the prodigal was His story. Going to the home of tax collectors, refreshing Himself at a well in Samaria, including radicals among His chosen were ways that Jesus reached out to all people.

 

For a church to function, people must be on the same page. They must feel that they are going the same direction. The leadership must agree and get along. The leaders and the church family must have loads of trust and love among each other. The common theme of Jesus must be the banner which all march under.

Paul didn’t just say, “get along.” He said have “one spirit,” “one mind,” “striving together.” Thinking the same. Wanting the same. Doing the same. It’s like one person. In a marriage, it’s two becoming one. That’s true physically and it’s more true emotionally, mentally and spiritually. When a couple are not thinking the same, trouble comes. One mind, one spirit, one heart, one direction—unity—from the inside out.

 

This is only possible when I shelf my feelings, opinions and myself and I stand with Christ. The kingdom is more than me. The needs are greater than mine. Jesus stared with this when He defined discipleship as, “denying self and taking up the cross and following Him.” Denying self. We can never agree as long as self is in the way.

 

Some of us are strong willed and have strong personalities. Some of us are very vocal in our feelings and opinions. That’s just us. Others see that as being pushy, demanding and selfish. Self kills unity. Self kills the inner getting along. Hold on to your opinions. Work out your own salvation is what the Philippians were told in the next chapter. Stand behind the cross and follow Christ.

It’s sad to see folks not getting along. It’s worse to see brethren not getting along. It makes worship long and stressful. Differences and issues are focused upon instead of Jesus. And through all of this, Satan smiles. It’s not good when Satan smiles!

One heart…one mind…one voice…ONE. It is possible—in Jesus.

Roger