09

Jump Start # 991

Posted on December 9, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 991

 

Psalms 122:1 “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”

 

Worship is awesome! Do you feel that way? Sometimes we forget. Sometimes the weather, getting everybody ready can drain the enthusiasm out of us. Worship can seem more like a duty than a privilege. That happens, but we take a step back and remember all that God has done for us and all that God is, and suddenly, the spirit and the joy of worship returns.

I want to share something that happened to me several years ago. I was with another congregation then, and this kid who was in his early years of high school would help serve the Lord’s Supper and collect the contribution. That scene has taken place thousands of time for me. But this young man did something that was remarkable. He did it more than once. As I put in my check for the contribution and handed him the collection plate, he whispered, ‘Thank you.’ Thank you. No one has ever said that to me before when the collection was offered. He didn’t say it very loud, and I never knew if he said it each time someone handed him the offering or if it was just to me. That stuck with me. That impressed me. I’m not sure if he understood the depth of his thank you or not, but I did. Thank you for helping this church. Thank you for standing behind what is being done. Thank you for helping to keep the doors open. Thank you for helping spread the news about Jesus and His kingdom. Thank you.

Now that little “thank you,” said to me ten years ago tells me something else. There are little things we say and do to each other that we may think is no big deal, but they are. Someone files that away in their heart and they never forget it. I’ve had people come to me and thank me for something I said years ago in a sermon, and I don’t even remember saying that. It stuck with them. We all do things like that. A smile. A hug. A comment in class. A certain song led. A statement during the Lord’s Supper. A thank you. A passage that you had forgotten. These things do things to us. The person who said them often thinks little of it. But to the person it touched, it is amazing the good that was done. Here I am, living in another state now, ten years removed from that simple “thank you,” and I still remember it. Some of the best things that happen at church do not come from the pulpit nor the preacher, but from a sweet widow, or a teenage boy, or a big burly member, or a group of young girls that surrounded me last night as we were discussing snow boots. We had a little fashion show going and the conversation was very lively, but what I delighted in was those young hearts and bright eyes eagerly telling this old guy the way it is with snow boots. I learned that boots are not just boots.

 

Our passage today reminds us of the joy of going to the Lord’s house. It was a place for worship. But more than that it was a place to connect with other believers. That connection is important. It reminds us that we are not alone. It reminds us that others love the Lord and want to praise Him. It reminds us that we are we belong to a huge community of those who want to go to Heaven. That’s amazing.

 

Life has a way of knocking us flat. It’s easy to get discouraged. Family stuff, health problems, even shopping during the holidays, which ought to be fun, can be a nightmare. Our tanks get empty. The pressures at work seem to grow. We get in a rut and we put the spiritual on the back burner. Our relationship with God slips. We seem tired all the time. Sound familiar? Have you been there? Are you there now? Getting down the to church house can seem like just another thing we have to do. Add it to the list. Once church is over, we can check that off and get on to the next item on the list. But something happens while we are in worship. For a few minutes we forget about the world and work and shopping and lists and self. We sing beautiful songs that even in the dead of winter can bring the sense of sunshine in our souls. A brother prays and his prayer reminds us of our church family who is hurting. A sermon touches us. We remember how blessed we are. We remember that we are going to Heaven. For a few moments, going to church has become an oasis. Our hearts seem to calm down. We step off the merry-go-round of the rat race that we’ve been on. Impressing others doesn’t seem so impressive now. The good qualities such as thankfulness, generosity, blessing others rise to the surface. Our mood and spirit changes. We don’t feel so tired. A smile returns. It has been good for us to be there. Worship has affected us. It has put God back in the center of things. It has gotten our priorities rearranged. We leave walking a bit taller and brighter on the inside. God is good. Worship is right. I was glad that I went.

 

Worship isn’t magic. These things do not happen just because you walk into a church building. I’ve seen the opposite happen. I’ve seen people leave in a hurry, feeling that they wasted time. I’ve see people leave with the same expression on their faces that they came in with. I’ve seen people that you wonder what good worship did to them. The key is not just walking into a church building, but opening the door of your heart and allowing yourself to be taught, reminded, shown the glory and goodness of God. That’s the key. Those that come for a show, leave with little changed. Those that sit there and watch like they watch TV, nothing much will happen. Those that come to worship, what a wonderful and powerful time they have. They love it. It affects them. They don’t want it to end.

 

That’s where I am now. I wish every day was Sunday. I wish people could only work two days a week and we went to church services 5 days a week. Sometimes it’s the obvious things that happen, like a great sermon from my preacher Zack. Other times, it’s a whispered ‘thank you,’ that a high school kid told me years ago.

 

Do you have a wonderful worship memory? Maybe there was a time when the whole family sat together. Maybe it was like for us a few years ago, when all three of my boys and myself all participated in public worship. That brought a tear to my eyes. Maybe it’s a time when you see an old friend. Maybe it was the time that something connected in your soul and you changed your life. Maybe it was the time you decided to follow Christ. We all have memories from worship. Those are special. What are yours? Share it with some one and talk about it.

God is so good.

Roger

 

 

06

Jump Start # 990

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 990

 

Ecclesiastes 1:4 “A generation goes and a generation comes, but the earth remains forever”

 

I became a grandfather again this week. This is my second grandchild. My oldest son and his wife had a beautiful baby boy, named Harrison. This passage came to my mind as I held him and looked into his sweet little face. I’m the sentimental type, without any shame. Little Harrison carries on our family name. That was extremely important to the women in the Old Testament. Not having a son was a mark of failure and it also made the future difficult for the family. Sons were help in a rural setting. Sons would take care of the mother after the father departed. Even Jesus upon the cross, being the oldest son, senses that as He tells John to look after Mary as his own mother. Being without a child in the Biblical world was viewed as being cursed. Times have changed. Society has changed.

 

As I held little Harrison, I thought a long time ago, someone held me when I was first born. I was born in the late 1950’s—black and white TV, no internet, cell phones, disposable diapers, microwaves, dishwashers. Most kids shared bedrooms back then. Most houses had only one or at the most two bathrooms. Many families only had one car. Nostalgia makes us think how simple and nice those days were, but were they? Cancer was death back then. Few if any survived. Heart valve replacement, transplants and many of our medicines didn’t exist. We also had prejudice that was deep rooted. There were problems.

 

One thing that remains the same for the both of us is that our God is upon the throne. He loves us and wants us to trust Him, worship Him and follow Him. The Bible I read is the same that Harrison will read someday.

 

Solomon says a generation goes and a generation comes. A generation paves the way and another generation walks along that path. A generation leaves a mark and a generation is influenced by those marks.

 

As I held that little boy, I wondered if he would lead God’s people in singing as his daddy does so well. I wondered if he would some day preach as both of his grandfathers now do. His life is surrounded and filled with faithful and godly Christians. He will have such an advantage. He will have so many wonderful examples. He will have so many people to go to for wise counsel. For that I am thankful. He will have to make his own way and his own choices, but he will have such a great start knowing the Lord. His little sister, already knows Bible songs and what prayer means. You wish every child in the world could have such a beginning. The advantages that make a difference are not the financial ones, but the spiritual ones. Beginning life with those who love and trust the Lord settles so many questions and sets forth a way that is so clear and bright that it is easy to follow.

I’m so pleased with my son and his wife for the great example and spiritual teachings that they are doing with their young family. It’s not the church, it’s the home where these things begin, are emphasized and are taught. Choosing the right shows to watch, the best books to read, taking the time to set forth the fundamentals such as singing praises to God and praying are things that every home can do. It takes effort and time. It takes thinking and planning. The easy thing to do is plop a child in front of the TV and let the TV influence and raise the child. We see the results of that every where— superficial, shallow, selfish and godless thinking, choices and lifestyles. Why are people like this? Schools? No. Government? No. Home. What is happening at home? A little child who can just start to talk can understand prayers, sing praises and know about God. Start early. Teach every day. Pray often. Sing children’s Bible songs. Don’t complain all the time. Be bright and sunny.

 

Too often I hear folks saying, “The future of the church is in the young people.” I think I know what they mean, but actually, they miss it when they say that. The future of the church lies with those of us who are in the position of teaching, leading and influencing our homes. The choices we make determine the future of the church. What are we going to be handing to our children? Are we so busy that we can barely squeeze God in for a few minutes on a Sunday morning? Is that what we are handing to our children? Are we so full of our lives that we are not connected to anyone else and barely know anyone else at church? Is that what we are handing to our children? Or, are we engaged, connected, trying and putting the kingdom first, before ourselves. Our children will see that. And that is what they will be handed. Let’s not make a mess of the church and then expect the next generation to straighten it out. Let’s get things the best that we can so we can hand to our grown children a congregation that is hitting on all cylinders and making an impact for the Lord. That means us. That means now. That means getting busy, connected and active. If we fail, our children will likely do the same. You want your children to go to Heaven, get your home and your congregation going that direction. You want your children to be kind and make a difference. You show them how. You want your children to be teachers in Bible classes, you get there and show them. Let’s not sit back and do nothing and think our children will turn the boat around. That rarely happens. If anything, they’ll jump ship because of the mess we made of things.

 

Holding a sweet little grandbaby is good for the soul. It makes a person look backward and forward. It makes a person look deep within and it makes a person look up and be thankful.

 

God is good. Welcome, sweet little Harrison.

Roger

 

05

Jump Start # 989

Posted on December 5, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 989

 

Psalms 19:11 “Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.”

 

Living in Indiana presents weather warnings throughout the year. In the spring, it’s tornado warnings. In the winter, there are ice and snow warnings. The forecast for this weekend is looking ugly. Warnings are already being posted. Rain, ice, snow—it’s coming. Smart folks know how to live with these warnings. There will be a rush on at gas stations and grocery stores today. Stock up and hunker down is what Hoosiers are accustomed to in the winter. Smart drivers will leave earlier so they can have plenty of time. They will drive slower than the speed limit. Dumb drivers act like it’s a sunny June day and they are the ones who are usually off the road in a ditch. Paying attention to warnings is vital to safety. Friends that live in Florida understand the seriousness of hurricane warnings.

 

The Bible also has warnings. These are not about weather but the things that can damage our souls. Multiple times in the Gospels Jesus used the expression, “Beware,” or “Watch,” or, “Take heed.” Those warnings are serious. The wise will pay attention to those warnings. Jesus cares for His people. As a shepherd watching out for the sheep, so Jesus is watching out for us. The careless and the proud will ignore these warnings. They will rush into things that are dangerous, thinking that they can handle anything. So many who do that become affected and often ruined because of the dangers they ignored.  God knows what He is talking about. We must trust Him, believe Him, and listen to Him.

 

Satan is out to get us. He will disguise things and present things as innocent when they are not. It doesn’t take much poison to ruin a soul. Just a twist of the truth here, just a little toe over the line there and those who are not paying attention are caught in his trap and they never saw it coming. That very idea is used in Proverbs 7 of the naïve young man walking down the wrong street at the wrong time of the day and talking to the wrong person. An immoral woman catches him, persuades him, and like a bird that is caught in a trap, so this young man is snared in the clutches of sin. It happens so fast. It happens without a person seeing it coming, so it seems. But all along, there are warning signs. Each step closer to the edge is a step away from God and a step that has ignored warnings.

Consider a couple of thoughts here:

 

1. Be careful what you read. Because a book is sold in a religious bookstore does not mean it is good, helpful or even accurate. Read everything with a critical eye. Read with a knowledge of God’s word in your background. Know something about the author. Where is he on the map of things? What does he believe? A book recommended by a friend still must be read carefully. Too many buy into things that modern man has written and by doing so they have tossed out what the Bible says. Can’t do that. Heed the warnings.

 

2. Be careful how you conduct yourself around those of the opposite sex. Too many married people flirt around with others, thinking it’s just innocent teasing and fun. Don’t be so naïve. Heed the warnings. The first steps that lead to adultery begin with co-workers and friends being too friendly and sharing too much information with each other. Some things are no one else’s business. Some things belong to our mate and no one else. So you appear as dull to others. So you come across as being a stick in the mud to others. You are protecting your marriage and your soul. Being alone with someone you are not married to can be extremely dangerous. Every spring in Indiana, while the tornado warnings are blaring through the neighborhoods, and most sane people are rushing to their basements for cover, there is always some fool who goes outside to see if he can see the tornado. Dumb. Dangerous. Most can understand that. Why is it that they can’t see the danger of texting, facebooking and sharing private info about feelings, sex, desires with someone they are not married to? Dumb. Dangerous.

Warnings are there to help us. When the red light on your dashboard comes on, or your gas light comes on, you can ignore it—but if you do, you’ll be walking instead of driving. Your car will be sitting along side of the road dead. Pay attention to warnings. Look at them with careful eyes. Understand them.

 

If you have never done this before, it would be good to go through the N.T. and list the “beware” passages and the “watch” verses, and the “take heed” verses. List them on a piece of paper. Look at them. Understand why God is warning us.

 

Those that pay attention to warnings will do fine. Those that don’t, usually are in a mess. That is true of winter weather warnings and spiritual warnings.

Roger

 

04

Jump Start # 988

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 988

2 Kings 6:11-12 “Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, ‘Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?’ One of his servants said, ‘No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.’”

In this O.T. passage, Syria, or Aram, was engaged in war against Israel. The Syrian plans were known by Israel in advance. Long before wire taps or surveillance, the king of Syria thought he had a spy among his people. How else could Israel know his plans? He never factored in that when he was fighting God’s people, he was also fighting against God. The eyes and ears of the Lord knew all that the Syrians were cooking up. Those things were revealed to the prophet Elisha, who went and told the king of Israel. God knew. The king of Syria could whisper and God would hear it. The king could write plans on a piece of paper and then burn the paper, still, God would know. He could just think things and not even tell a soul, God would know. There was no escaping the Almighty God. The Syrian gods were worthless. He never encountered anything like the Almighty God. Jehovah could hear the secrets spoken in the bedroom.

 

The king of Syria was against a wall. There was no getting around God knowing everything. There was no way he could communicate to his commanders and God not know. Even the most secretive place, the bedroom, where only the most trusted advisors would be allowed in, even there, God knew what was said. The king’s servant attributed Elisha with this knowledge. It was God who knew. How frustrated the Syrian king must have felt. There was nothing that he could do.

The secrets of the king were known. They were known not just to God, but to Elisha, the King of Israel, and Israel’s commanders. His secrets were not secrets at all.

Now all of this leads to two thoughts.

 

First, what do we do about secrets? Secrets are not secrets anymore. This happening more and more because of cell phones. Just this past week, twice, both times while eating lunch, I was hearing things that were not my business. The first occasion, someone was talking on her cell phone, the entire time I was having lunch. She was loud. That told me right there, that I’m not in favor of cell phones on planes. People can’t talk quietly. She’s looking for a husband, but one that will let her have freedom. I don’t know if in her Christmas shopping, yes I know she was doing that, because I heard what all she bought and how much it costs, she thought there would be an aisle selling husbands. Poor girl. She was clueless and getting bad advice about marriage. I left and she was still on the phone. The second time this week this happened, I was eating my lunch and two former co-workers met and stood by my table and engaged in catch up chit-chat. I learned about a new dog one got, what school their kids were now going to. You might think, you should just mind your own business Roger, I tried to. They were standing right at my table and they were loud. I didn’t know who they were. It dawned on me that many of our secrets are known, not because of prophets and God, but because we talk too loud and do not use discretion. Some of these things are private. Some appear to be gossipy. I don’t know the protocol about such things. My mind tells me to ignore these things the best I can and stick to my business. It seems that if I don’t want people to hear what I am saying, then I need to get to a place where no one can over hear. Some things are private. Some things are no one else’s business. Secrets are not inherently wrong.

 

Second, even if kept in secret, God knows all. There is no getting around that. The king of Syria found that out. In his bedchamber, God knew. If he went outside, God knew. There was no place that God would not know. The same is true of us. Things whispered, God hears. Things we shouldn’t say, He knows. The most secretive things, even those things texted, God knows.

So, this leads us to understand that if it is not helpful, healthy, good, why say it, write it or even think it? Dump the thought before it becomes spoken. Trash bad ideas, hurtful feelings of revenge, mean things. If the God of Heaven and Earth could hear what the Syrian king was saying in his bedroom, you know for certain, that He can hear what you are whispering on your cell phone.

 

There are three areas that I find this tripping the people of God. This comes from observation, and I see it everywhere.

 

First, senior citizens. It seems that once a person retires, that gives them the right to be a grump. Some really excel at being grumpy. I’m not there yet, and maybe my tune will change, especially if I hurt all day and just feel lousy, but complain and gripe and negative seem to be the new trinity for older Christians. Not all are this way. Some are just sweeter and sweeter as the years go by. Some have every reason to be grumpy but they are not. They have chosen, in spite of how they feel, what attitude and what disposition they will carry. But then there are others. Sour, mean, grumpy and trying to follow Jesus. God hears that mumbling. It’s time for a change of heart.

 

Second, high school and college girls. They can be mean toward others. They can say ugly things that just hurts another girl. Cliches, ignoring and avoiding, cheap trash talking and a lot of this taking place while sitting in a pew with friends before church services begin. Come on! Don’t you think God hears that? Do you think you’d like to be the one that others are trashing? Have we forgotten Jesus?

 

Third, when someone has done a disservice to us. The product failed. The flight was cancelled. The line is long. The worker doesn’t know what he is talking about. They brought the wrong food or it is cold. You know what I’m talking about. We all have been there. Does that give us the right to throw away everything the Bible says about shining our light, being kind and allows us to unleash the demons of meanness because we were inconvenienced or wronged? Do the principles of Christianity only apply when things go our way? Is that what turn the other cheek means?

God sees. God hears. We are not presenting a good cause for Christianity when we act like a selfish child of Satan. So you came out on the short end? So, it costs you? So, it messed up your day? It seems that we need to get over ourselves and put Christ first, in all things, at all times.

 

If we remembered that God hears what was even spoken in the bedroom, I think we’d be much more guarded and careful with what we said. God wants us to speak with seasoned speech. We need to bring glory to the Lord in all that we do.

Be careful little mouth what you say…

And in a modern twist, be careful little fingers what you text and tweet…

Roger

 

03

Jump Start # 987

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 987

 

3 John 1-2 “The elder to the beloved Gaius, whom I love in truth. Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.”

 

The book of 3 John is one of five books in the Bible that contain only one chapter. In these short 15 verses, three names are given, two of them positive and one negative. Gaius, who John loved; Demetrius, who received a good testimony from brethren and the truth; and, Diotrephes, who loved self and caused much heartache for the church.

 

Our attention today is upon Gaius. If this is the same Gaius that we read about earlier in the N.T., he was baptized by Paul (1 Cor 1:14), and later hosted Paul and the church (Rom 16:23). Here in 3 John, he is referred to as the beloved. That doesn’t just happen. To be loved and cherished in a spiritual way is to walk in truth and demonstrate a common love in the Lord.

 

What is interesting in these verses today is the expression, “you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.” John seems to be saying, I hope the rest of you prospers as much as your soul does. We tend to get that backward. We get our finances in order and work out and watch what we eat and take care of the outside, sometimes and often times, more than we do our soul. That is something for us to think about today.

Hitting the gym is great. Watching what you eat has benefits. Living within our means is valuable. But what about our souls? Are the souls prospering? There is a definite contrast being made between the inside and the outside of a person. Taking care of the outside is important, but that doesn’t last. Sooner or later we fall apart and we meet that appointment with death. It doesn’t matter how well we have eaten, worked out and taken care of things, that divine appointment comes. The insides, our soul, lasts. It is everlasting. Another contrast is in the benefits between the insides and the outsides. Eating well, good health, prosperity has benefits. They makes us feel good and secure. Prospering on the inside affects others. A soul that prospers will have developed the moral and godly character that mirrors Christ. Grace, forgiveness, kindness, generosity and love are hallmarks of a faith in Christ Jesus. How we see others, treat others, interact with others is all affected by the wellbeing of our soul. A selfish heart will close the eyes to others. A harsh spirit will refuse to forgive. When those things happen, relationships take a hit and are strained. Bitterness and anger fill the air and difficulties follow.

 

A prospering soul is much more valuable and beneficial than financial prosperity or even good health. Poor health but a prospering soul can touch lives and change eternity for some.

 

It was John’s prayer that Gaius’ would prosper and be in good health JUST AS his soul prospered. I wonder about that statement. What if our physical health was JUST AS our spiritual health? I wonder if we could even get out of bed today? I wonder if we are putting too much attention into how we look on the outside and forgetting the insides? The Pharisees had that problem. Jesus said they were like a washed cup—clean on the outside but dirty on the inside. He also said that they were like a tomb, nice headstone, but full of decay on the inside. Their souls were not prospering. They had the image but not the substance. They knew how to play the part, but they didn’t know how to live life.

How does a soul prosper? Have you ever given that much thought? Like our bodies, the soul has to be fed. To prosper, it must be fed the right diet, which, first involves God’s word. Feeding our souls on the shallow and negative things that the media puts out each day will leave us weak and unable to stand during the trials of life. Just about anyone can get by in the sunshine of life. However, it’s those dark storms at night that determine what our foundation is built upon. A prospering soul has a regular diet of God’s word. Have you considered giving some presents this holiday season that would help strengthen someone’s soul? A Bible…books about the Bible…our Jump Start booklets—other items could be listed. What would help a soul? Lotion is great for the hands, what is great for the heart? Give that some thought. Help them out and make a lasting gift by helping a soul prosper.

 

The soul prospers when it is in an environment of encouragement. One of the best places for that is worship services. Saints praying…saints singing…saints working together…saints being together—reminds us that we are not alone. It helps us to see and be around others. The soul left alone withers and dies. The soul with no encouragement dies from discouragement. God knows that we need each other and that we need worship. Being together in worship does something positive for us. Those who don’t come much have a hard time with this. They don’t see this value. Their souls are not prospering as they could be.

 

The soul also prospers by personal devotion with God. Praying, thinking and applying spiritual truths to your life makes you stronger spiritually. The darts Satan throw at us has less impact the stronger our souls become.

 

Prospering souls—this is the goal of the shepherds in every congregation. It’s more than attendance, it’s souls that are prospering. Stronger souls mean a stronger church. Stronger souls mean stronger families. Stronger souls mean stronger marriages. Stronger souls mean the word is being shared with others. Football teams spend all summer conditioning. They know this time of year it pays off. Stronger players are less likely to spend time on the sidelines with injuries. They can endure more. We need to give some serious thought to conditioning the soul. Making the soul stronger has lasting benefits.

 

I pray that the rest of you prospers like your soul…great thoughts then and now.

Roger