30

Jump Start # 1134

Posted on June 30, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1134

John 4:23 “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.”

  Something very odd happened to me yesterday. I can’t remember the last time it happened. The way our schedules fell, I was not teaching and I did not preach. There have been occasions when we have invited speakers and I do not preach, but on those days I’m busy making sure everyone is on the same page and everything is ready to go. Not yesterday. Zack was preaching and he knows what to do. I just sat. I felt like I was supposed to do something, but there was nothing to do. Everyone was focused and had things running smoothly. I felt like my shoes were on the wrong feet. Surely they needed my input in the sound booth. No. Maybe the deacon who makes sure everyone scheduled is in their spot. Nope, didn’t need me there. In fact, something very special happened. I really focused upon the songs we sang. They were great. Zack’s lesson was awesome. The thoughts at the Lord’s Supper were great. I realized that I really worshipped and didn’t worry about my sermon, what I was to do, say, be and all those things. Those things can and have gotten in the way.

 

I found that worship fills the heart unlike any thing else. I had gone to a movie the day before. The crowd, the movie, the atmosphere did not touch me, nor help me like worship did. There is nothing like worship. It’s personal, it’s filling, it’s eye opening and one leaves realizing what an amazing God that loves us. Sitting in that audience was a daughter whose dad will soon pass from this world. Another person is just beginning his journey with cancer. There were two different people with arms in slings. Banged up on the inside and out. Young couples. New mothers. Teenagers. Senior citizens walking with the aid of canes and walkers. All of these people gathered yesterday. They came to be near God. They came to praise God. They know that God is worthy. They realized that God is good. They understand that God is upon the throne. Hurting hearts that gather to bow their heads and their wills to the Almighty. Many have tears and heartache, yet they know God is the one we need to seek.

 

What a special sight that is, each week. Each of us carrying our own story, our own struggles, our own pain, our own past gather because each of us realize that no one can help us like God can. What a fellowship, not of perfect people living perfect lives, but more like Rudolph’s island of misfit toys. Do you remember that scene from Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer? The choo-choo with square wheels. The squirt gun that shot jelly. The bird that swam instead of flying. All wrong. All “misfits.” All unwanted. Not the dream toys that children wanted. I see that in worship. Family after family has struggles and issues and “misfits”. Yet, we believe in God. We know, misfit as we are, God loves us, wants us and can use us.

 

Worship has a wonderful way of helping us look past our problems and seeing the God that loves us. Worship has a way of getting our order in order and reminding us that we truly are no different than others. Status means nothing in worship. The guy in a very nice suit, the guy in the fancy shoes and the guy in blue jeans all come to empty their heart before the throne of God. They are the same before that throne. The busy businessman and the guy looking for a job—different needs, different thoughts, yet the same when they bow before God. The young mother with all those kids and the young couple who cannot have children—so different in their needs, yet the same as they bow before God. The polished preacher who knows the Bible so well and the person who knows so little about the Bible—very different, yet the same before God. The elder, who is such a powerful example of what we should be, and the person who battles addiction and is confused and a mess—very different, but the same before God.

 

Worship has a way of cleansing us on the inside out. It does us good to go and see the Holy God. Worship inspires us and challenges us to fight for the beloved kingdom of God. I’ve seen folks enter worship with a serious look upon their faces and leave with smiles. It’s been good to sit among friends and to know that these people pray for you, love you and support you. It’s good to know that these people want you to do your best with God. They want you to walk with the Lord and to hold His hand. Worship kills competition and rivalry. We are in it together, praying for our dear church family and offering help to one another.

 

And what I’ve found this morning, is that when worship has been from the heart, it affects your Monday. You do not soon forget what happened on Sunday. It helps getting through this day and looking forward to the next time we can be together.

 

My thanks to those who put their heart into the leading of worship. My thanks to our Lord who wants us to worship Him. He seeks those who are interested in Him. He wants us to worship Him the way He describes. He is interested in our hearts and not a production. Drop the drama. Kill the bands. Forget the skits. Put away the circus sideshows. Open the Bible. Sing hymns. Bow the head and honor the God that made you, loves you, wants to forgive you and has a place for you in Heaven if you will honor and obey Him. Worship is about giving God praise. It’s not about what I get, but what I give. When folks say ‘I don’t get much out of worship,’ what they are really saying is, ‘ I came empty, I gave nothing, and I leave that way.’ Worship is about thoughts and heart. Worship is about seeing God. Worship is amazing. It is good. It does something to God and it does something to us.

 

I needed that worship. I expect you do to.

 

Roger

 

27

Jump Start # 1133

Posted on June 27, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1133

James 2:1 “My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.”

  Favorites—we all have them. Favorite foods, favorite movie, favorite vacation spot, favorite song, favorite hymn, favorite verse in the Bible. We have our favorites. Some have a favorite place to sit in the church building. I have favorite places to preach. Our verse is dealing with another kind of favorite. It is liking one person to the exclusion of another and the reason the one person is liked is selfish, vain and with ulterior motives.

 

James describes a rich man that comes into the assembly. He’s dressed nice. Attention is poured upon him. You make room for the rich man. The wheels in our mind turn. Just think if this rich guy becomes a member here. Think of the boast it will give our contribution. Think of his connections. The wheels turn.

 

Then a poor man enters. He has nothing to offer but a pure heart that loves the Lord. His clothes are old and worn. The poor man is told to stand off in the distance or to sit on the floor. We don’t want others to think that our church is like that man. The rich man may not return if he notices the poor man. The rich man is honored the poor man is ignored. The rich man is praised, the poor man shunned. The reality is, especially from the book of James, the poor man may have more to offer in his genuine faith than the rich man.

 

James adds, “have you made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil motives?” We grew up hearing the expression, ‘You can’t judge a book by it’s cover.’ Some publishers put amazing covers on books. The covers are designed by a team of artists and often the author of the book has little to do with the cover. Some books are given catchy titles, brilliant covers, but it’s the substance of the book that matters. Dumb books can look pretty on the outside. I know, I’ve purchased a few. Some books have great titles and the material goes down hill from that. I know, I’ve purchased a few. Some authors or publishers, have great chapter titles, but the substance is shallow and lacking. I know, I’ve purchased a few. What’s the book about? Is it a good read?

 

James is trying to prevent the nasty climate of cliques within a congregation. It happens. Often it happens very innocently but it is felt and the pain is great. We tend to connect more with folks our age and those with similar interests. Young mothers tend to hang together. They have a common bond, babies. Retired folks tend to connect. Their day doesn’t have to begin with alarm clocks, meetings, schedules and fighting traffic to get to the office by a certain time. They are finished with those things. Cliques go deeper and beyond just common interests. There is a mean spirit that runs through most cliques. It is that spirit that purposely excludes some. It invites only certain ones. It never talks to “those other” people. In stores, cliché people will spend long minutes talking to each other. All others are avoided and ignored. If you are on the inside, it feels great. If you are on the outside, you feel like a leper. Few realize that one of the main reasons folks drop out or switch congregations is because they do not feel welcomed. They are members but they forever feel like that leper. They are always on the outside. They feel neglected and hurt. Their suggestions are not heard. Their concerns are overlooked. No one cares.

 

Jesus was never this way. The lepers, the Samaritans, the tax collectors—they were a huge part of Jesus’ ministry. Jesus was accused of associating with “those” people. He never backed down. He never apologized. He loved all and showed that to all.

 

I’ve seen the clique spirit. I even had a person asked me to preach about that once. They were on the outside and wanted to be on the inside. Sometimes the inside isn’t as grand as it seems. There can be a lot of gossipy judging that takes place on the inside. Sometimes the inside is more of a mess than those on the outside. Being a preacher I’m always invited into the inner circles. I’ve seen the cliques and know how they operate. It’s easy to get caught up in them. It’s easy to be one of them.

 

Shepherds must keep an eye on these things. They must work hard to make sure all the sheep are welcomed, included and loved. They must watch the attitudes between the rich and the poor. One is not better than the other. The spirit that the shepherds prevail will set the tone for what the rest are to do.

 

Preachers need to preach about what James is warning about. Hurt feelings because of favoritism is real. Favoritism is wrong.

 

Each of us need to check ourselves. It’s very easy to get caught up in favoritism. It’s easy to run from the “lepers” among us. It’s easy to develop and “in crowd” and an “out crowd.” Don’t do that. Practice the golden rule. Understand that God loves everyone. Those outside the cliques may have it together more than those in the cliques. That’s a shocker to some. I’ve sat in the homes and seen the discouraged tears of families that had made their minds up that they were leaving. They were not wanted there. No one invited them to their homes. No one included them in social things. No one wanted to talk to them. They got weary of being on the outside. I felt guilty and should have. I hated that I didn’t see it coming. But why should I? Those on the inside do not think about those on the outside. Life inside the cliché is good. Outside it is miserable. I realized that I was part of the problem. Why include those that I didn’t like? Some smelled. Some laughed weird. Some talked too much. Some had weird personalities. They were not like me. The thinking of a clique member. I was there. I was one. It hit me. James was pointing his finger at me. “I’m the one” as we sing. Guilty. I decided I was finished with church politics, church games, and church cliques. Years have past. I wonder about some of those families. Where are they? Did they hang in with the Lord? Did their faith crash and burn because of the attitude of others? God help us.

 

Some folks are better looking than others. Some are more talented than others. Some have more wealth than others. Some come from better backgrounds than others. Some have had a tough go at it. Some carry more baggage. Some come from broken homes. Some majored in dysfunction. Some have bounced up and down and in and out with the Lord. We are all different. Some are sharp and some are not. Some get it and some need work. Some grew up knowing things about the Bible. Others have never heard of these wonderful  lessons.  But one thing in all of these differences, we all need Jesus. We all need forgiveness. We all need grace. We all need Heaven. That fact alone, unites us. That fact demonstrates that we are similar. That fact connects us. We can be and we are One in mind, voice and hope in Christ.

 

Bless be the tie that binds us…that tie is Jesus! God’s people are the greatest people on the face of the earth. All of us. Stop the clichés. Enjoy the fellowship of a congregation and open your eyes and hearts to the wonderful hearts found in each person.

 

Roger

 

26

Jump Start # 1132

Posted on June 26, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1132

Luke 9:61 “Another also said, ‘I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.”

  Our verse today is found in a section where three different people wanted to follow Jesus.

 

The first man, spoke out to Jesus as He was passing along the road. He said, “I will follow You wherever you go.” Jesus responded by reminding him that ‘the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” We are not told what happened to that man. Indications are, he didn’t follow.

 

The second man, was asked by Jesus. Jesus said, “Follow Me.” Jesus invited him. Jesus wanted him. Jesus was including him. He replied by saying, “Let me first bury my father.” Odd reply. Typically, Jews buried the day of death. So why is this man out in the crowd where Jesus is passing by? His need to bury his father didn’t stop him from seeing Jesus. The Lord told him to let the dead bury the dead. He wanted him to go and preach the kingdom. We are not told what happened to that man. Indications are, he didn’t follow. The expression, ‘let the dead bury the dead,’ seems cold and heartless. Some have viewed this as ‘let the spiritual dead bury the physical dead.’ Let others in the family who are not interested in Jesus do that. Nothing more could be done for the father. Still other scholars point to a Jewish custom of removing the bones on the anniversary of the death and putting them in an ossuary or bone box. The father had been dead for a year. Let the dead bury the dead refers to that. He didn’t follow.

 

The third man, like the first man, volunteered to follow Jesus. He brought it up. His statement came with a condition, Jesus I will follow you, but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home. Jesus said, “no one putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” I’m a city boy, not a farmer. But I understand what Jesus is saying. The principle works the same in mowing a yard. If you are looking backwards while trying to move forward, your lines will be crooked and you’ll have a mess. It’s especially bad when planting a field. Indications are, he didn’t follow.

 

Excuses and priority problems kept these men from following Jesus. Two of the three are bold enough to tell Jesus, “First.” Permit me first. I have something more important than you. I have something to do that trumps what you want. These men wanted to follow Jesus, but they wanted it in their terms. Follow Jesus in the sunshine, not the darkness. Follow Jesus, when crowds love Him, not when He is hunted down and being sought to be killed. Follow Jesus when I have nothing better to do. Two of these men were bold enough to tell Jesus, “FIRST.” First I will do what I want, then I will follow you. Me first, then you, Jesus. That never works. That is instant failure with God. That’s a dumb idea that is guaranteed to blow up.

 

Excuses. Have you noticed how good we are at coming up with excuses? We blame our parents, our background, our terrible schools, our pitiful churches, our abusive teachers, our coaches who played favoritism, our birth order, our zodiac, our neighborhoods and everything and everyone but self. We can’t help it. Our marriages fail and it’s not our fault. We can’t pay our bills and it’s not our fault. We hide behind excuses to cover for wrong. Instead of apologizing, we excuse. Instead of stepping up in responsibility, we excuse. Some excuses are legit. Some may be polite lies for getting around what we don’t feel like doing. Excuses. They often started when we were young and we blamed our siblings to dodge getting in trouble. Then in school, we found excuses as a handy way of not doing assignments and getting out of classes. At work, excuses became a regular way of staying home and not going in. Excuses. For some of us, they have been around us for a long, long time. We’ve mastered when to pull them out. We’ve avoided traffic tickets, getting written up at work, having to sleep on the couch by using those wonderful excuses. We’ve learned to talk a good story, make grand promises, followed by a ready-made excuse that allows us to once again duck responsibility. Our excuses have allowed us to skip weddings we didn’t want to go to, keep the boss on hold, and paint an image that we are a lot better than we really are. You ought to hear the excuses on the golf course. Amazing. One bad shot after another is followed by this and that excuse. The poor guy just doesn’t want to admit that he is a lousy golfer.

 

A life of excuses will sooner or later trickle into the spiritual realm. Our lack of attendance is justified with an excuse. We find excuses why we can’t teach, serve as a deacon or be one of the shepherds. Excuses cause us to miss important times together like meetings. We find excuses to be wonderful comfort from guilt. There is an excuse why we don’t read the Bible and why we are not engaged more spiritually. These excuses only hurt us. We suffer. We do not grow as we ought to. We do not become as we should. In the end, we do not know the Lord, we do not  have a strong faith, we can not withstand the storms of life. The valleys of death that we must pass through terrifies us and we wonder deep down if we will really go to Heaven.

 

The funny thing about excuses is that while we can be so good at using them, we don’t tolerate them in others. They work for us, but we don’t want them to work for others. The excuses of others often seem shallow and silly to us. One guy told me that he couldn’t attend services because the lights were too bright. I told him to wear sun glasses. That didn’t work. Another said all the perfume made him sick. I told him to sit on the front row. That didn’t work. Another had to stay home because his wife had a bad headache. I wondered if he stayed home from work on Monday because she had a headache. Yet, somehow, our excuses, do not seem so bad. They do, especially to others. I expect they seem even worse to Jesus, who died on the cross for us. And there we are, limping through life with weak faith and instead of stepping up, we master excuses. Paul told the Corinthians to “act like men.” ESPN using the expression, “Com’ on man.”

 

Three different people following Jesus. One was asked, the other two volunteered. It looks like none of them actually took a step with Jesus. Excuses. The one they hurt the most was self.

 

Notice how many excuses you hear today. It starts with, “I didn’t get my coffee this morning.” It’s easy to judge and point fingers at others. It would be better if we looked within and started being honest with self. Some times things happen. You can’t help it. Many times, we simply fumbled and instead of admitting that we pull out the excuse. Work on stopping that. Work on honesty. First, with self, with God and with others. Help your child not to slide into the easy habit of using excuses. God wants us to be honest with our sins and grow in faith with Him. Excuses will prevent that.

 

Follow Jesus…He wants you to do that as well. Can you? Will you? Do you find yourself reaching for an excuse? Watch it. Don’t go there. Wouldn’t it be great if we had a national holiday, “No Excuse Day.” It’d be death for most politicians. How about a “No excuse policy” at work? Do you think that would fly? How about no excuses for a day at home? How about simply, “I’ll not use any excuses today.” May be painful, but truthful, honesty and openness can lead to great things.

 

Give it a try.

 

Roger

 

25

Jump Start # 1131

Posted on June 25, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1131

Proverbs 8:22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old.”

  The first few chapters of Proverbs highlight the value and benefits of godly wisdom. Wisdom is personified. It is described as a sister that is loved and cherished. Here in this chapter, wisdom speaks, as if it was a person.

  • I, wisdom, dwell with prudence and I find knowledge and discretion (12)
  • I love those who love me (17)
  • I walk in the way of righteousness (20)
  • From everlasting I was established (23)

 

The section our verse comes from details the relationship of wisdom with God. Before creation, wisdom was with God. Wisdom worked with God as a master workman (30). Wisdom was God’s daily delight (30).

 

These thoughts lead to three great observations:

 

1. The world was formed and created through the wisdom of God. The theories of atheistic evolution would have us to believe that there was no thought, plan or design to our world. What happened, just happened. It’s remarkable that our feet are not where our ears are. Time and chance verse thought and plan—evolution verse creation, nothing verse God. Evolution lacks evidence and proof. The present world points to wisdom, laws, sense, structure and plans. The Bible teaches, our verse teaches, that God made the world through wisdom. It was thought out.

 

2. Truth was established and determined by God long ago. The search for truth is not the same thing as the defining of truth. God has determined that. Wisdom, knowledge, prudence, discretion are all the attributes that come from truth. Wisdom is based upon truth. So if wisdom has been with God before the creation, so has truth. God determines truth. God determines right and wrong. God sets forth the boundaries and parameters of truth. Like nature, truth is not evolving, changing and being redefined with each generation. Some would have you believe that. The definition of marriage, life, joy, right and wrong has been set by God. They are like a stake in the ground. Ours is to embrace truth, follow truth and obey truth. Too many would rather redefine truth. It is easier for some to change truth than it is to change their lives. Imagine in the middle of a ball game, one team decides to change the rules. That would affect the outcome. That isn’t fair nor right. The players play. The rule makers set forth the rules and they are set forth before the game begins. When there is a question, the officials must make a judgment based upon what the rules say. The rules are the standard. They do not change, and the players playing the game, especially, do not get to change the rules. We get that in sports, we don’t get that in life, and especially in religion. Churches all the time are changing the rules. Some even have conventions to vote upon things. Has God not set forth the truth? What is there to vote upon? The players are not in the position nor have the right to change the rules of the game. Why is it that churches have by-laws, amendments, policies, creeds, and doctrines that change? Has truth not been determined? Has God not set forth what He wants churches to do? Is not the New Testament our standard and guide? Can we amend the N.T.? Can we alter and do differently than what the N.T. says? Serious questions. They need a serious answer. Jesus declared that He is the way, the truth and the life. If we do differently than what Jesus said, we no longer accept Him as the truth.

 

3. There is great comfort in following the truth of God. It is here that our confidence, faith and hope lie. It is from following the truth that joy springs forth. A person knows that they are right when they follow what God says in the way that He says it. When Paul was on the ship heading to Rome, they went through a serious storm that nearly took their lives. God sent Paul a vision that revealed the survival of all people on that boat. Paul reported to the others the vision. He said, “I believe it will turn out exactly as I have been told.” That statement sets forth what we believe. All things will turn out exactly as we have been told by God. We know. God has said. The environment won’t wipe us all out. We know. We won’t be destroyed by aliens. We know. We won’t all be killed by nukes. We know. Some will be alive, even Christians, when Jesus returns. He said that. We know that the earth will be destroyed with fire. He said that. We know after death is a coming judgment. He said that. We know eternity involves Heaven for the righteous and Hell for the wicked. He said that. There are no question marks. There is no cosmic battle in which the outcome could go either way. No. We know what happens to Satan. We know the outcome. He said. It will turn out exactly as we have been told. That’s the value of truth. It drives out fear, conquers error and establishes confidence.

 

The Lord possessed wisdom. When we do the same, good things happen. It begins by opening the Bible and drinking deeply. Truth will lead you to finding God, obeying God and loving God.

 

Roger

 

24

Jump Start # 1130

Posted on June 24, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1130

Revelation 4:1 “After these things I looked, and behold, a door standing open in Heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like the sound of a trumpet speaking with me, said, ‘Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”

 

This is one of the “WOW” verses in the Bible. We have many wow moments in our lives. Holding a new baby, standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, walking a daughter down the isle are wow moments in my book. But here, John gets to see Heaven. There is a door and the door is opened and John is invited to come up there and take a look. What follows, is what he saw in Heaven.

 

Heaven excites us. The thought of Heaven motivates us and compels us to keep going when we feel weary and just want to sit on the sidelines of life for a while. Heaven holds all to me, is more than a hymn, it’s a motto and a way of life for followers of Christ.

 

This passage is inviting. John is being asked to come and see and then share with the world what he saw. This very act removes so many wild speculations about Heaven. For some, Heaven is nothing more than a personal fantasy catalog. It is different, some believe, to each person. They see Heaven as an extension of this life. Roller coasters, golf courses, pets, chocolate, sun sets, beaches, fun and more fun is how many want Heaven to be. All the things that bring them joy and all the things that they never have time for down here, that is what Heaven is their way of thinking. Problem with that is it just isn’t supported by the Bible. Heaven isn’t different to each person. Heaven isn’t a selfish, materialistic theme park. John didn’t see any of those things.

 

Others think Heaven is going to be down here on earth. The “new Heaven and new earth” passages found in Isaiah, Peter and Revelation are thought to be literal. They see a “restored earth” that includes animals, trees and in one book I read, some sort of spiritual sex, whatever that means. Our verse invites John to “Come up HERE.” It wasn’t down there. It was up there where Heaven is. The Isaiah “New Heaven and new earth” verses are now. They describe a new relationship with the Messiah. They took place when Jesus died and arose from the grave and salvation was issued in. Peter is talking about the end of time and the new order or changes that will take place. Revelation is talking about Heaven. God promises to destroy with fire this world. It will have served it’s purpose and will no longer be necessary. The temple was that way. Death and hades will be that way. They have a function and purpose and when that is fulfilled, they are no longer needed.

 

Still others see Heaven as a long church service with singing that lasts for 10,000 years. Sitting around singing is perceived as a bit boring, especially for that long of time. John didn’t see church pews.

 

The many, many books about people seeing Heaven and then coming back are driven by ideas that are not supported in the Bible. How they got there, how they got back, and why they were allowed to tell what they saw and heard is counter to the way the Bible teaches. Paul, an inspired apostle, saw the third Heaven, but it was “unlawful” for him to repeat what he heard. Those resurrected, including Jairus’ twelve year old daughter, Lazarus and others, never spoke one word about what they saw or heard. Yet, we are to believe that God allows a four year old here and a six year old there, and this person and that person to go and come back and write a book and make a profit when no one in the Bible did. The stories in these books are not consistent. Which one is to be believed? Which one is right? There are different messages. There are different things that took place.

 

What John saw, similar to what Isaiah saw in his vision of Heaven and what Ezekiel saw in his vision of Heaven, is God upon the throne. Heaven is God’s house, not ours. We are invited to His house. John sees God upon the throne. Holy, pure, perfect, majestic is God. This is Heaven. It is God’s house. And yet, God is inviting us to His house, not for an evening. Not for a tour. But to become our house. His house becomes our house.

 

Want to know what Heaven is like? Read Revelation four. Want to be in Heaven? Walk with Jesus. Want to get others to go to Heaven? Tell the story of Jesus.

 

Heaven, you don’t want to miss it. Live as if you have one foot already there.

 

Today, we are one day closer.

 

Roger