30

Jump Start # 1485

Posted on November 30, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1485

Ephesians 4:11-12 “And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ.”

  Something unique happened last evening. I got to spend the entire service in the pew, rather than standing behind the pulpit. I sat with my wife on one side and a friend on the other. My friend happened to have her Bible opened and I got to see something very special. Car guys like to raise the hood and look at engines. Cooks like to share recipes. Musicians are interested in looking at guitars and how fellow musicians play certain pieces. Artists are interested in how fellow artists paint a certain way. Writers are interested in what inspires fellow writers. Bible people are interested in Bibles and what others do with their Bibles.

 

I am one of those Bible people. So I picked up my friend’s Bible and flipped through some New Testament passages. She had circled some words. Other times sentences were underlined. She written comments in the margins. I flipped through several pages. Her New Testament was filled with such markings. Now what is especially interesting is to know the person who owned that Bible. It wasn’t too long along ago that she rarely came and even more rarely brought a Bible. She came from a religion that didn’t promote reading and knowing the Bible. We had many, many hours of Bible study together. Her faith grew. She not only obeyed the Gospel, but her two children did and later her husband did as well. You can’t keep her away now. She loves the Lord with all her heart. And now, that Bible has become a constant help and companion to her faith. In just a short time, she has read and thought and made notes all over that Bible. She knows so much now. Every worship she comes with that Bible, a pen and her notebook. She writes and writes. She’s still learning. I can call on her in a Bible class and she knows the answers. She knows that Bible.

 

And all of that takes us to our verses today. God gave. God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors. Each of those words involve different roles and responsibilities in the kingdom. They are not the same. However, there is one thread that connects all of them together. Every one of them taught. The apostles were commissioned to go into all the world and preach. Prophets taught. Evangelists were told to preach the word. Pastors are specifically tied to the word teachers in this verse. God gave teachers. God didn’t give entertainers. God didn’t give counselors. God didn’t give church growth experts. God didn’t give PR men, nor motivational speakers. God gave teachers. God gave those who would teach His word.

 

These teachers were to equip the saints. These teachers couldn’t do all the work on their own. They had to prepare others. Equipping means to supply. The saints, that’s all of us Christians, have a job to do. But to do our jobs well, we need the right tools. A ditch digger needs a shovel. A mechanic needs a wrench. The tools that God’s people need comes through these apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors. What those men did was to teach God’s word. In teaching, God’s people were now equipped. They now that shovel in hand and were ready to go get busy.

 

There are two more statements in this passage. It’s progressive. One leads to the next, which takes us still to the one after that. Each are necessary. And each must follow the one before. The teachers equip the saints. This allows them to do the work of service. And that leads to building up the body of Christ. Do you see all of that? Teachers teach. Saints learn. Saints then apply what they learn. And the church grows. That’s the way God intended for this to happen. The church didn’t grow because somebody had a Bar-B-Que out back. The church didn’t grow because the teens got together one Saturday and washed chariots for the community. The church grew because the members were informed and knew God’s will and they taught their friends and neighbors. A strong church comes from strong members. Strong members come from those who are spending time in God’s word.

 

God is interested in you and I learning. He wants us to learn His will. He wants us to know His word. In any format, learning involves some doing on the students part. Light years ago, when I was at Purdue, I took a lot of biology classes. That was the direction  I thought I was going to go. Zoology, botany, chemistry, biology, dendrology, forest soils—tough classes. We had to know the Latin words for specific trees and be able to identify different kinds of soils. One thing for sure, the kid that never brought his book or never came with a pen and notebook, didn’t last long. There was too much to remember. There was too many difficult words and principles that he had to learn. Notes and notes were taken. Those notes were later read over and over before tests were taken. That’s how it is in school. That’s part of the learning process. The better the notes the better one learned. It’s that way for math class. It’s that way for high school. That’s part of the education process.

 

Now, why is it that some show up on Sunday without a Bible, printed or electronic, no pen, nothing to write on and they sit there and stare at the preacher and hope to learn something? The same happens to some in Bible classes? They just come and sit and stare. Where’s their Bible at? Why don’t they have a pen? Aren’t they coming to learn? Then there was my friend’s Bible  I looked at last evening. She was a student. It showed. What she does shows that.

 

God gave apostles, prophets, evangelists and pastors—but the equipping for service and the building up of the body comes from the saints who are ready to learn. There is a role the teacher plays. He must be serious. He must do his homework. He must think things out carefully. But the student has a role as well. Come to learn. Come equipped to learn. Come with a Bible, pen and paper. Come to grow. Come to change.

 

My friend is Becky. She is one of many, many Christians that I know world wide that have learned from others and is now able to teach others herself. God gave and she took. God gave and she became. That’s just the way it ought to be. A well played guitar shows the marks of being used. A well studied Bible shows the marks and the wear of being used.

 

It’s been said that a Bible that is falling apart usually belongs to a person whose life is not falling apart. Something good comes from those years of reading, thinking and chewing upon the word of God.

 

What’s your Bible look like? More importantly, what does your heart and soul look like? Do they reflect a life that has been taught the word of God?

 

God gave…are you taking?

 

Roger

 

27

Jump Start # 1484

Posted on November 27, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1484

2 Corinthians 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”

  Thankful Thursday is over. Now it’s black Friday. Thoughts turn quickly to shopping, buying and gifts. That’s just the way our society moves these days. My wife were in a toy store earlier this week. I haven’t been in a toy store in years. Now with grandkids I’m back. It was amazing. My wife was looking at books for children. I left her there and was up and down every isle. I was standing in front of the Legos when the store manager asked if he could help me. I told him, “Yes. I want to be eight years old again.” I may have to go back and buy a few things just for me.

 

The greatest gift ever was given by God to us. It was His Son upon the cross. The world’s first black Friday had nothing to do with shopping. It had to do with the darkness of the sky around Jerusalem as Jesus surrendered and gave His life on that Friday afternoon a long time ago. His gift, that sacrifice, changed the eternal destiny of millions and millions of those who will bow their knees, surrender their hearts and obey the Gospel of Christ.

 

Have you ever thought about that Saturday after Jesus died? He died on Friday and was immediately buried before the Sabbath would have begun. That Saturday, the disciples would have gone through their Sabbath routine. It was a time for prayers, reflection and reading of Scriptures. But this Sabbath was different. For the past three years Jesus had always been with them. They had seen Jesus heal on the Sabbath. They had seen the Jewish hierarchy angry with Jesus for what He was doing on the Sabbath. They had heard the words of Jesus. He had been the calm one as they moved through the stormy attitudes that so many held. For three years, they followed Jesus. Village after village. For three years, there had been so many people. There had been so many amazing miracles. These disciples had seen them. Calming the sea. Walking on Water. Feeding the multitudes. Raising the dead. The blind received their sight. Cripples walked. So much in such a short, short time. Also, there was all the amazing teachings. The sermon on the mount. The kingdom parables. The lessons about authority. The encounters with trick questions that were intended to trap Jesus. The warnings about Pharisees. The lessons about the coming judgment. They had learned so much. Jesus took them to Samaria. So many people. So many places. All in three years. It was packed with activity and amazement.

 

But on that particular Saturday, Jesus was in the tomb. He was dead. How empty and lost they must have felt. Was it over? What do we do now? The Holy Spirit had not descended upon them yet. So their memories may have been fuzzy about some of the details. How they must have just sat around and reflected. Jesus wasn’t with them anymore.

 

It’s not exactly the same, but some know what it is like to go through that first Thanksgiving after the death of a parent or spouse. That empty chair is a constant reminder of someone who is missing. The dark cloud doesn’t go away very quickly. For those disciples, it was Jesus who was missing.

 

That long, long Saturday, finally turned into Sunday morning. Several women went to the tomb while it was still dark. They wanted to further purify the body of Jesus. He had been buried so quickly, that more detail needed to be given. But as they reached the tomb, it was opened. They were shocked. Angels spoke to them. Then the Lord was there. “Go tell Peter.” These astonished women run back to the city and tell the disciples. They don’t believe it. Peter and another, run to the tomb to see for themselves. The blackness of Saturday has turned into the bright hope of Sunday. Later, they would see Jesus. More conversations. More hope. The dots are all connected. They finally start getting what this was all about. The faith and the courage of those disciples swelled in time. They became the courageous preachers of the Gospel of Christ.

 

There is a parallel between what the disciples went through and you and I go through. Our world is that Saturday. We are awaiting the hope that our resurrection and Heaven will bring to us. We long to be with the Savior. But for now, we must live with faith and trust in the Lord. How do we know what to do? We have the words of Jesus. We trust. We believe. We hope.

 

God’s gift to you is the salvation of your soul. That is the one gift that only God can give. That is the one gift that no one else can give. That is the one gift that will change today and tomorrow.

 

The joy of salvation gets us through the dark times we journey through. God has not given up on us. God has not turned His back on us. God has not left us to our selves. God sent Jesus. Everything will be fine. Thanks be to God!

 

Thanks be to God!

 

Roger

 

25

Jump Start # 1483

Posted on November 25, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

A Reminder to our readers: There will be no Jump Start tomorrow. Enjoy the holiday with family and friends and be thankful.

Jump Start # 1483

1 Thessalonians 3:9 “For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account”

 

This week we have been focusing upon thankfulness. These thoughts lead us to our day we call Thanksgiving. For the child of God, the word “thanksgiving” is more than a Thursday in November, it has become a way of life. Gratitude follows the appreciation for what another has done. Learning to see our blessings, count our blessings and then thank the Lord for these things not only is the right thing to do, they have a way of setting the course for our attitude. The more we see how blessed we are, the more we are thankful, the less we demand and certainly the less we complain. Complaining and thanking usually do not come from the same mouth.

 

It seems a bit ironic, but let me complain a moment about complainers. Their number seems to be growing. They dampen the spirits of others. They see what’s wrong rather than what’s right. Complaining and negativism live next door to one another. Where you find one, you’ll find the other. I say these things because when we gather with family over the next few days, it is not uncommon to have at least one “party pooper” among them. We certainly do not need dark clouds on an occasion in which we are to be thankful. I have found, at least for me, to ignore the “gloom and doom” speeches and find something delightful, helpful, hopeful and thankful to talk about. We certainly cannot solve the world’s problems sitting around the  Thanksgiving table. So, I suggest, you engage in conversations about each other’s lives. Be helpful and hopeful. Filling the heart and filling the soul is as important, if not more, than just filling our bellies.

 

Our verse today explores the difficulty of saying “thank you.” The words so often are not enough for the good that has been done. Paul understood this. He simply loved those Thessalonians. What they meant to him was so encouraging and uplifting. He was thankful to God for them. The good that he received from them seemed so much greater than his thanks to God. That’s the point! Saying “thank you,” just doesn’t seem strong enough for what has been done.

 

For instance:

  • Saying “thank you” to parents who sacrificed and paid for your college just doesn’t seem enough
  • Saying “thank you” to a mate who has loved you and put up with your moods, attitudes and failings just doesn’t seem enough
  • Saying “thank you” to your children for their love, obedience and the delight you receive from them just doesn’t seem enough
  • Saying “thank you” for having another day just doesn’t seem enough
  • Saying “thank you” for having health, a mind and opportunity to use those in a productive way just doesn’t seem enough
  • Saying “thank you” to God for giving you the abilities and talents that you have just doesn’t seem enough
  • Saying “thank you” to God for forgiving you and including you in His kingdom just doesn’t seem enough
  • Saying “thank you” to a wonderful church family that accepts you and loves you just doesn’t seem enough

 

I was reading a section of history last night. In 1414, in England, reading Scriptures was forbidden. If caught, the penalty was the forfeiture of your land, cattle and even your life. I am thankful that I do not live in those dark days. We have God’s word. Is saying “Thank you,” enough for the wonderful gift of His word?

 

Most of us have a long line of people who have helped us through the years. That list would include those who have helped us spiritually. Nearly every preacher that I know, had help in their first few years. I did. So many of us are where we are today, because of those people who pointed us to the Lord. Think about who you would include in your list. Now you understand why simply saying “Thank you,” doesn’t seem enough. Those words do not equal the good we have received.

 

God is so good. He’s so good to me!

 

Thank you, Lord!

Roger

 

24

Jump Start #1482

Posted on November 24, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

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Jump Start # 1482
Luke 17:17 “Then Jesus answered and said, ‘Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine-where are they?”
  
This week we are writing about thankfulness. This is the week of Thanksgiving and hopefully these articles will give us some things to chew on other than just turkey and pumpkin pie. Our verse today, comes from the powerful miracle of cleansing ten lepers. That thought alone is unique and special. Most healings were done on one or two people. We read of a couple blind men here and a couple of demon possessed men there. But on this occasion, there are ten-a whole clinic of sick lepers.
  
The background of the passage, Jesus is making His way to Jerusalem. He has an appointment with the cross. This will be the greatest thing He ever does. This will be the most intense thing He ever goes through. As He passes through a village on the Galilean-Samaritan border, these ten lepers raise their voices to get the attention of Jesus. Ten men shouting. Ten men talking loudly. Ten men yelling, “Jesus.” They asked for mercy. Interesting word. I would have thought that they asked for healing. Mercy. Maybe that word because it was commonly thought illnesses were connected to sin. Jesus tells them to go to the priest. As they leave, they are cleansed. Jesus isn’t so focused upon the cross that He still can’t heal. He is compassionate to the very end.
 
The fact that these ten were together showed that they were brothers in illness. The text implies that nine of them were Jews. One was a Samaritan. On most days, the Jews would not be found standing with the Samaritan. It would never happen, except here, that the Jews would join their voices with a Samaritan. But now, they all have a deadly disease. It will kill them. Their religious and political differences are tossed out. It doesn’t matter now. At the core, they were human beings who were suffering. They stood together. Their disease not only had medical implications, but there were social implications as well. They could not go home. They did not want to infect their family. They could not go to the market place. They could not work. Their only haven was a leper colony, where they were surrounded with other dying lepers. Most of those colonies were pitiful. Often food would be brought and left at a safe distance. The person would leave and the lepers would come out to eat. It seemed like feeding an animal. They felt like animals. Here they stood together. I expect they would have compared their conditions and relived how horrible life was for them.
 
Then word reaches them that Jesus is passing through the village. Jesus has healed lepers before. He had even touched lepers before. These ten get close. They raise their voice. They beg for mercy. Jesus sends them to the priest. It would be the priest who declared that they were healed and ready to re-enter society. It was the priest who had banned them from the community earlier. As they go, they are cleansed. Wouldn’t you have loved to seen that? As they walk, one starts to get feeling in his toes. That hasn’t happened in a while. Another has feelings in his fingers. They stop. They look, first at themselves and then each other. The white spots are gone. The open sores are gone. All over them they look. Their whitish, death looking hair has returned to it’s color. Just like that. I expect they shouted and jumped and smiles covered their faces. To the priest they go. By now, they are probably running. Through their minds are running thoughts. We get to go home. We get to see our families. We get to sleep in our bed tonight. Great food. Faster and faster they run to the priest. But one of them is no longer with them. That Samaritan. He stopped. He ran back the other way. The nine probably thought he was going home to Samaria. He and the priest wouldn’t get along anyway. So they forget about him. Off to the priest they go.
 
However, the lone Samaritan returns to the village. He finds Jesus. He falls at His feet, and with a loud voice, He glorifies God. It is here where our verse is found.
  
Jesus asks a very stunning question. Where are the nine? He knows how many He cleansed. He knows what He has done. Only one returned. Only one thanked. And that one was a foreigner. The others got what they wanted and were gone.
 
Where are the nine? Great question, Jesus. It’s not fair to say that they were not thankful. Given the choice of going home and having a second chance with life or dying alone in a leper colony, that’s easy. Sure they were thankful. Certainly they were glad. They just never thought to say it. They never thought to return to Jesus. They never thought, Jesus has more that He can do for us. They never thought, could this be the Messiah? They never thought, is this God on earth? Got what they wanted, now they were done with Jesus.
  
Those nine bother me. I don’t like them. I don’t want to be like them. But then I wonder:
 

 

  • Are there times I have prayed to God for something and He answered my prayer, “Yes,” but I failed to return and thank Him?
  •  Are there times that I have just not said, “Thank you, Jesus?”
  •  Have I come to the Lord to help my marriage, help my kids and then when I got what I wanted, I was finished with Jesus? Do I get just what I want and that’s all?
  •  Have I failed to see who Jesus really is?  
  • Have I failed to simply say, “Thank you?”
 
The one thankful leper got something that the other nine didn’t. It’s easy to miss it in the text. After he returned and bowed to Jesus, the Lord said, “Stand up and go; your faith has made you well.” Your faith has made you well? What about the others? Wasn’t he already well? Could it be that the Lord forgave him of his sins at that moment. Could it be that he received a double blessing? His body was well and now his soul was well. Jesus was much more interested in the health of the soul than he was the health of the body.
  
So, off to church we go to get some information. It’s off to church we go to make friends. It’s off to church we go because we feel guilty. It’s off to church we go because someone in the family is sick. We get what we need and then we don’t return. We leave with what we came for, but we fail to heal our souls. Could that be the greater lesson here. Thankful for healed bodies or thankful for restored hearts and souls?
  
   Jesus has so much more to offer you than just raising your kids right. He has so much more to offer you than an oasis from the guilt you feel. Jesus has a new life and a new way for you to embrace. It will change you. It will re-wire how you think about things and how you see things.
 
Nine cleansed lepers went home telling family and friends about Jesus. When asked, “Where is this Jesus now?” They wouldn’t know. Why did He do that for you? They wouldn’t really know. But in another village, a Samaritan was telling his family about Jesus, the Messiah. Later when the words of Jesus would be preached in Samaritan cities by Philip, some would have already known about this Jesus. One of their own would have spoken about how Jesus changed his life.
  
Is it time for you to return to Jesus and really thank Him for how he changed your life? Look at how many people you know because of Jesus. Look at how He has shaped your heart. Look at how He has given you hope and a future. Look at how He has never deserted you. The church can let you down, Jesus never will.
  
Isn’t it time we turned back and bowed before Him and said, “Thank you.” One of the hymns we sing often is entitled, “Thank you, Lord.” Love that song. Never tire of singing, “And I thank you, thank you, thank you, Lord. Jesus, I thank you.”
  
Thank you!
  
  
Roger

 
 
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23

Jump Start # 1481

Posted on November 23, 2015 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1481

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”

  We are in Thanksgiving week. This is a busy week for many families. For some, there are travel plans. Others will be cooking and cooking and decorating the house. It’s a great time to be with family that we don’t get to spend a lot of time with. Busy schedules and distance often leaves our relationships to phone calls and text messages. Nothing beats seeing one another face to face. Nothing beats the smiles, hugs and laughter of family times.

 

Immediately following Thanksgiving is the big shopping that is called “Black Friday.” It seems black Friday has already started and it now includes black Thanksgiving. Eat the bird and head to the mall seems to suit some, especially the younger crowd.

 

This week, we will focus our Jump Starts upon Thankfulness. We hope our thoughts will give you some things to reflect upon and maybe even share with some this holiday season. Our passage today states a simple principle, “in everything give thanks.” Have the spirit of thankfulness. We are told to sing with thankfulness.

 

There are some basic steps that lead to thankfulness.

 

First, there is an appreciation for what one has or for what one has received. Most have had that awkward moment when they opened a gift and it was not what they wanted. Worse, they hate the thing given to them and will probably toss it as soon as they can. We come up with the expression, “It’s the thought that counts.” It might be, but we think, “we wish it was the gift that counted.” It’s hard to be thankful when you don’t like what you have. Counting blessings begins with feeling you are blessed. The person who feels cheated in life, doesn’t think he has much to count.

 

This is where our verse especially takes a unique twist. Paul says “in everything give thanks.” A look at Paul’s life reveals that spirit. When in prison, he was thankful that could glorify the Lord. Paul didn’t view hardships as a sign of God’s displeasure nor frowning upon him.

 

In everything give thanks. The upside of that expression is easy. The sunshine of life makes it easy to be thankful. Those that have great jobs, loving families, good health, worship with an amazing congregation, the list is long to be thankful for. Life is good, as we say. But others don’t have that. Some are looking for a job. Some have a job, but they don’t like it. The pay is stingy. The conditions are terrible. Some do not have a great relationship with their family. Tension and problems make “home for the holidays” a stressful event to be endured, not one to be longed for. Prodigals in the family. Siblings that haven’t spoken to each other in years. Parents that continue to hand out the guilt. Family times are dysfunctional and problematic. Some do not have the health they once did. On a good day, they don’t feel very well. They hurt. They can’t move very fast. They don’t feel like eating. Some do not worship in healthy congregations. Some churches are falling apart. The leadership is clueless. The preacher hammers and hammers and berates the audience. The church is dying and no one seems to care. For many people, life has many problems. It is here that the “in everything give thanks” becomes a challenge. It’s hard to be thankful when we are in situations that are not good.

 

In everything…that’s hard. That’s something we don’t give a lot of thought to. The “in everything” can be defined as only the good things, but I doubt the apostle meant that. In everything means in everything.

 

I know a family who has a loved one that who is very seriously ill in the hospital. He’s in critical care. It’s touch and go for them. I know a friend who just found out that he has cancer. I know several families that will be having their first thanksgiving without a husband or dad present. That will be tough. There will be many tears that day. In everything…

 

Is the apostle implying that my friend ought to be thankful that he has cancer? That sounds morbid. Should a family be thankful that there is an empty chair at the table this year? That doesn’t sound right. What is meant by “in everything…”?

 

First, even in the darkest storms there are blessings to be found. When the disciples thought that they were going to die, they found a blessing, a sleeping Jesus was with them. They woke Him up and He calmed the storm. There are blessings even in storms. The storms are not what we are thankful for, but what the storms teach us, where they lead us, how they open our eyes are some things to be thankful for.

 

Second, for the child of God, there is that grand expectation and hope of Heaven someday. All these problems will end with this life. Failing health, stinky churches, dysfunctional families, terrible jobs, all these problems stay on this side of eternity. Where we are going, the problems won’t come with us. No feeling bad in Heaven. No guilt in Heaven. No stress in Heaven. No matter how dark the night becomes, we know day is soon to follow. In everything be thankful. Be thankful that the Lord knows and cares. Be thankful, that through the Scriptures there is help. Be thankful that Heaven won’t be like here.

 

Third, thankfulness colors the lens of life for us. Some can smile in the midst of a rainstorm. Some are hopeful and optimistic. Those folks are generally thankful. The thankful person has taken his eyes off of himself and he looks to others. He helps where he can. He sees the great love that others have shared with him. He sees how God has touched his life. The more selfish a person is, the less thankful he is. That person tends to feel cheated and is grumpy and likes to rain on everyone else’s parade. He is miserable and wants to share his misery with you. The thankful person brings sunshine to any room or any day. He’s pleasant, joyful and fun to be around. He sees things that others tend to miss.

 

In everything be thankful. That’s our thought for today. It’s tough if you are having a rough day. Some will have to work on Thanksgiving. That’s a bummer. Or, “in everything be thankful.”

 

Look around. Look at people. Look at what you have. Look at how far you’ve come. Look at who loves you. And don’t forget to look up. God is someone to be thankful for. He loves you. He thinks about you. He blesses you. He forgives you. He wants you to spend forever with Him in His house. That’s amazing!

 

In everything…now that’s something to chew on for a while.

 

Roger