08

Jump Start # 1512

Posted on January 8, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1512

Luke 10:37 “And he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’”

  Go and do—that’s the central core to the N.T. principles and teachings. Christianity is a doing religion. It begins internally within us by becoming what God wants. But it doesn’t stop there. It spreads to the outside, by living those principles and becoming that light into the world.

Our verse today comes from the story of the good Samaritan. That’s what we call this parable. The Bible never uses that expression, but it is very fitting. The Samaritan was the hero of the story. He was good. A man was beaten and robbed and left on the side of the road. Now, one can spend a lot of time debating why that happened. Maybe he shouldn’t have been walking alone on those dangerous, curvy roads that lead from Jerusalem to Jericho. They were known to be the hiding places of desperados. It doesn’t matter whether the man was foolish, irresponsible, careless, of just plain dumb. The truth is he was robbed, hurt and left to die. No one deserves that. A priest passed by and did nothing. The priest saw him. The priest was probably heading home. His duty of serving in the temple was complete. He was off the clock. It wasn’t his problem nor his responsibility. The injured man could have been a trap. The man may have already been dead. Not only did the priest fail to do anything, he failed to tell anyone. Not my problem. One wonders if he had trouble going to sleep that night. Next came a Levite. He also worked in the temple. These men represent those who serve people and the Lord. He saw the injured man. He passed by on the other side. Nothing. Nothing said. Nothing done. No help sent. But the hero, our good Samaritan, felt compassion. He cared for the man. He took him to a place of safety and comfort. He followed up by promising to do more if it was necessary.

 

This story answers a question that someone asked Jesus. A person wanted to know about eternal life. Jesus asked him, “What is written in the law?” He responded by saying, ‘Love the Lord and love your neighbor.’ That was it. That was the correct answer. Do that and you will have eternal life. The man pushed the question. “Who is my neighbor?” Our story, the good Samaritan, answers that question. Your neighbor is more than the guy who lives across the street from you. Your neighbor is more than someone you know. Your neighbor is anyone that you can help. It may include someone that you disagree with. It may be someone that you have never met before. I dare say, if the roles were switched, and it was the Samaritan who was robbed and was laying injured, the man he helped would have passed by on the other side. Jews didn’t help Samaritans. If given the choice between helping a hurt animal or an injured Samaritan, most Jews would have helped the animal first. That was the feeling and the thinking back then. Your neighbor is even that kind of person, one that would not help you.

 

It is here that Jesus states, “Go and do the same.” Go and do. Don’t go and tell. Don’t go and share. Don’t go and teach. Go and do. It’s the doing part that has bothered me for a long time. I have found myself surrounded with Christians. I see myself always helping fellow Christians. They had questions, I found the answers for them. They had concerns, I was there for them. Faithful, loyal and dedicated, but surrounded by Christians. It was that Jew– Samaritan difference that bothered me. It was missing. The people in my life, the people I was helping, the people I was engaged with were all like me. We were all cut from the same cloth. Good was being done. I was smothered in work, God’s work, but this one dimension was missing. I have thought about it for a long, long time.

 

Last week, on our California trip, something special happened. The group that I was with, took a day and went to downtown L.A., skid row, to a shelter to help feed homeless people. We saw a side of L.A. that most never see. It wasn’t the beautiful mountains, the mansions, the glitzy Hollywood. Instead it was a forty block area of tents and tarps lining the sidewalks. People were walking about, like zombies. Debris and trash filled the streets. I have been to India, and this brought back scenes from there. In this wonderful shelter, in the middle of this hopeless zone is a haven for those who want to change. Help awaits them. There they house those who want to get help and get out. Food is given to them. Free clothing and personal items were given to them. Bibles were given to them. Many, stay on the outside of this shelter. They are not ready to leave the alcohol and drugs that have destroyed their lives. They do not want to commit to the rigid program. They will shuffle in for a meal but then they go back to the streets. What a scene it was for me. There were mothers with lots of little children. Wide eyed and scared looking, those sweet faces are dependent upon their mothers making the right choices. There were four waves of people we fed that day. The last group, the largest, were the men. Many were coming in from the streets. As they walked in, the room smelled of urine. Some hadn’t combed their hair in weeks. Their clothes were dirty as they were. We smiled. We tried to interact. We gave them a plate of food. Many said nothing. Some wanted more. A few thanked us.

 

My mind raced back to the scene from our passage today. I have easily dismissed the homeless as those who have chosen the consequences that comes from drugs and alcohol. Don’t drink and don’t do drugs and you won’t wind up there. That’s not the story for every one there. And in thinking this way, have I also joined the priest and the Levite, walking on the other side of the road? The scene from the Christmas Carol also crossed my mind. I had just recently watched it again. Ebenezer declares “are there not work houses” for the poor? Out of mind and out of sight and out of personal obligation has been my response. One day dishing out food in a mission house opened my eyes. Those folks, most a different race, miles and miles from where I live, are my neighbor. Why they are in that condition is not as important as they have needs and I can do something about that.

 

The good Samaritan wasn’t a church. He wasn’t an organization. Those are nice and neat ways to soothe our conscience. I’ll drop some money in the church plate or send a check to an organization and allow them to do all the work. The Samaritan was an individual. He is me. He is you. He didn’t have the backing of a foundation, a church or an organization. He simply did what he could do. He didn’t stop future people from being robbed and beaten. He didn’t chase down the thieves and bring them to justice. He simply helped where he could help. He helped a hurting man.

 

I left that shelter believing that what happened helped me much more than I helped them. Back home in my safe and secure Indiana, far away from those ratty tents in downtown L.A., the image has stayed with me. It has opened my eyes to look for neighbors who need me. It has moved me to want to do more in my area. It’s not just the homeless, it’s the discouraged, it’s the lost, it’s the neglected, it’s those with all kinds of needs. We can spend so much time with each other that we fail to see others. We can draw our circle so tight among us that we appear as a country club. Those on the inside enjoy the benefits, but those on the outside are ignored and excluded. I doubt that Jesus would approve of such thinking. We can do better. We must do better. Before anyone will listen to you, they must know that you care about them. Every person has a story. Every person has a journey. Listen. Engage. Talk. Do what you can.

 

I remember the story of a man walking along the beach. It was covered with starfish that came in with the tide. Now out in the sun, those starfish were struggling. The man was picking them up, one by one and tossing them back into the ocean. A person watching all this, and seeing the beach covered with those starfish, asked him, “Do you think you can make a difference?” The man tossed another starfish into the water and replied, “I just did to that one.” That’s what we must do. We can’t stop the tide nor change what has happened, but we can make a difference, at least to one.

 

Go and do the same—has a special meaning for me now.

 

Roger

 

07

Jump Start # 1511

Posted on January 7, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1511

1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

  Last week, my wife and I spent a week in California. We got connected with a group that volunteers to put flowers on the floats for the Rose Parade. It has always been my wife’s dream to go to the Rose Parade. We watch it every year on TV. So this was a once in a life time, dream come true for us. We were up close with about ten floats and actually worked on four of them. Sticking flowers on a float seems pretty simple and fun but we soon found out that it often meant getting up before five in the morning and working all day. Some of our volunteers worked all through the night. Every surface must be covered with something natural. That means gluing beans, rice, or seeds to the surface. The professional designers tell the volunteers what to do. Some floats, like the City of L.A., that I worked on, had trees that had to be wrapped in long green leaves. There was one occasion, when I was standing on a little space with my left foot, my right foot was dangling in air, my left hand was against the side of the float and I was reaching behind one of those trees with a long green leaf to wrap the back side of it. The leaf was covered with glue. My hand was covered with glue. Whatever I touched pulled off things that had already been put on. Gluing isn’t my favorite thing to do. I discovered something at that moment. Standing on one foot, braced by one hand, with the other hand holding a long gluey leaf, my nose itched. Not a good time for that. The thought came to me, why are we putting these things on the back side of this tree? No one would see it. We were present when the judges came by. I watched them. None of the judges climbed up on the float to see if the back side of things were decorated. It was so hard doing this, that I wanted to just leave it. The professional decorators would have none of that. Every inch, and every spot had to be covered. Even those spots that no one would ever see. Details. Those folks really do sweat the small stuff.

 

That brings us to our verse today. The Corinthian church, much like the Roman church, was inside out about what to do concerning eating meat that had been sacrificed to idols. The church was torn on this. On one side, idols were fake. They were nothing. So eating meats was not condoning a false practice. But on the other side, buying and eating things dedicated in a false religion seems like you are going along with it. In the Roman church, this became a point of judging and pointing fingers at each other. Paul told them to stop that. Here in the Corinthian church, Paul gave some practical ways to deal with this subject. Eat, and don’t ask questions. If told that it came from idols, don’t eat it.

 

Paul sums up these thoughts with our verse. Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. I like that. Give it your best. Put God before all things. Sweat the small stuff. Go out of your way to do things right. There are many applications to this, especially in our worship.

 

For the preacher, chase those rabbits in your study. You may never use those things you research but chase them down. Look at maps when reading about those O.T. battles and travels. Understand customs, look up words and how they were used, find the answers to your questions as you read. Study and study and learn and know what you are talking about. There will be a depth that you may not reach in the sermon, but you certainly reach it in you study and research.

 

For those who participate in worship, sweat the details. The song leader needs to run through his songs before he stands up to sing. This means he must have his selection made and be ready before he enters the church building. Giving God the glory kills the attitude of just “winging it.” For those who will be leading the church in prayer, give some thought to what you are going to say. Put your all into it.

 

But our verse isn’t limited to just worship. In fact, the context doesn’t involve worship at all. So, give God your glory in all that you do. When talking with others, make it the best. This will help you from talking about others in ways that is not kind nor productive. In hospitality, make your home warm and welcoming to others. If invited, bring a gift to show your appreciation or write a thank you card afterwards. Live with prayer on your lips. Live with hope in your heart. Live with joy and thanksgiving. You are blessed. You are forgiven. You are Heaven bound. Don’t brag. Don’t be offensive. Don’t draw attention to you. Don’t live as if you are the center of the universe. Give glory to God. Instead of just saying, “Isn’t this a nice day,” say, “Isn’t this a great day the Lord has made.” Include the Lord in your conversation. Be thoughtful of others. That’s the point here to the Corinthians. Don’t use your rights to hurt someone else. Don’t offend someone else. Paul said a couple of chapters earlier, still on this same subject, that if eating meats offended another Christian, he would never eat meats again. He put his fellow Christian above his right and choice to eat meats. He gave God the glory.

 

I have heard some say in a very mean manner, “you are sitting in my seat.” That rude tone certainly isn’t bringing glory to anyone. First, there are no assigned seats in church. This isn’t a ballgame. Second, when a person says this, they come across bossy and very unfriendly. Third, sit somewhere else. Most places have plenty of seating in the front. It’s a great place to sit. Take a chill-pill, take a deep breath, you won’t pass out if you have to sit somewhere else. Thoughtless statements like these are the very reasons some never come back. This fuels the feelings that the church is cold and unfriendly. Give God the glory, even when it comes to finding a place to sit in the church house.

 

To give God the glory, one must be thoughtful of God and mindful of others. Giving God the glory means doing the little things that no one may notice, but it’s the right thing to do. Give God the glory.

 

Give God the glory, even when you have sticky fingers and are standing on one foot.

 

Roger

 

06

Jump Start # 1510

Posted on January 6, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1510

Jeremiah 6:16 “Thus says the Lord, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’”

  I was reading a book written by popular writer, Mark Batterson, the other day. It is pretty much run of the mill stuff that is being published these days. A few noteworthy quotes here and there, his life experiences sprinkled throughout, but basically what you would expect and find in most bookstore shelves these days. Then I came to page 106. He admitted on paper what is going on in the religious community today. Many accept this, but few are bold enough to put it on paper. Three statements:

 

  • There are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet
  • I’m not into ‘been there, done that.’ Part of it is a function of theology—I believe the church ought to be the most creative place on the planet.
  • We’re orthodox in belief yet unorthodox in practice

 

Now, on the surface, those three statements sound refreshing and exciting. Out with the old and in with the new. This isn’t your grandma’s church—has an appeal to it. Stuffy, stale, old, out of touch has been put in the attic and contemporary, cutting edge, different has been invited in. You won’t find most cutting edge preachers in suits and ties these days. They are wearing jeans and Hawaiian shirts. They are appealing to a younger generation that has not found an anchor in the Bible. Instead of preaching, they are having conversations. In many communities this approach seems to be working.

 

Our verse today, from the old prophet Jeremiah, reminds us that God has placed a stake in the ground. These words, God’s words, are what Heaven desires of us. Seek  the ancient paths. God has a plan, a pattern and a way that He wants His people to do things. Our Bibles illustrate the importance of seeking the old paths. All over the Bible we are reminded of this principle. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” Paul said, “the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things.” Follow the leader, follow God, is the tone of the Bible. Trail blazers, cutting new paths deep into the wilderness makes for great novels, but lousy theology.

 

When the statement is made, “There are ways of doing church that no one has thought of yet,” are we to assume that God has left the door open and wants us to do whatever comes to our mind? We remember that Nadab and Abihu, Aaron’s sons, offered a strange fire to God. We are not told what their motive was, but it may have been nothing more than, “no one has thought of this yet.” God consumed them in that fire. King David, when transporting the ark of the covenant, put it on a cart, instead of having Levites carry it, may have thought, “this is a way that no one has thought of before.” When the ark started to tip, someone touched it to keep it from falling. Immediately he was struck dead.

 

God has a way. His way is defined in the Bible. Now, this doesn’t mean that we do not put excellence in our worship. This doesn’t mean, long and boring is the way to go. Worship ought to be exciting and challenging and relevant, and helpful, and deep and personal, and honoring God. Songs don’t have to be sung so slow that folks fall asleep. Sermons do not have to be dry lectures that leaves people wondering, “Do we really need to know this stuff?” Absolutely not. Jesus, not only connected with the people, He was practical and revealed what the people need to know.

 

We can’t think of better ways of doing things than what God has already told us. We can’t improve upon God’s model of things. And then, the statement, “we’re orthodox in belief yet unorthodox in practice,” doesn’t really make sense, let alone work. Try that statement in other avenues and you’ll see what I mean. “I am an American in belief but un-American in practice.” Really? “As a husband, I am faithful in belief but unfaithful in practice.” In integrity, I am honest in belief but dishonest in practice. How about, “I am a Christian in belief yet unchristian in practice.” Do you see how crazy all of this sounds? A person is what they are based upon what they believe. Unorthodox in practice points to unorthodox in belief. From our verse today, one cannot stand in the ancient paths in belief and yet travel down new paths in practice. These two do not fit.

 

All of this comes down to some simple core beliefs. Do we trust God? Do we think God’s way still works today? Do you have a heart to do what God wants?

 

At the end of our verse today, even before the ink had dried on what Jeremiah was writing, the reply came back. The nation didn’t need to think about it for a while. They didn’t have to talk it over among themselves. The answer came back, “We will not walk in it.” Their minds were made up. They were done with doing things God’s way. They had tossed out the old ways and were embracing something new and different. For Jeremiah’s people, it included idolatry and compromising with pagans. For Jeremiah’s people, their choice would lead them to being captured by the Babylonians. It meant punishment from God.

 

The cry to seek the ancient paths is something that we must decide as well. Stick with the Bible way or try something new and different. Radical theology today doesn’t have much patience for following very close to the Bible.

 

Do you? God wants you to seek after the ancient ways. Our look is backward, not forward. What worked then, still works today. You can’t do any better than what God has already done!

 

Roger

 

05

Jump Start # 1509

Posted on January 5, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1509

Romans 8:15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but you have received [a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!”

 

One of my sons and his wife are on a trip to South Korea. This is their second trip within a month. The first trip was business. On this second trip they are bringing home a sweet little boy. They have adopted him. We have not met him yet. I’m about to bust. We’ve seen pictures, but soon we will actually get to see his adorable smile and bright eyes.

 

Adoptions are new to me. I’ve known many, many couples who have adopted. I’ve made dear friends with a couple that are helping Christian couples adopt. For my son and his wife, this has been a very long process. There is a lot to adopting, especially a foreign child, that I never understood. God bless those couples who have the heart to do this. The concept of adopting has a strong Biblical flavor, as our verse reminds us. There are two sides to adopting. For a young couple, as in our family, they get the joy of having a beautiful child in their home. It will change them forever. But for the child, especially a child from China, Russia, or Korea, it is an occasion to change the eternity for that child. Chances are, if they remained in their native countries, they would have grown up as pagans. They would have missed the joys that are found in a home of Christians. Had they remained, they may have never seen forgiveness, grace and love. They would have never witnessed worship as God designed it. Chances are they may not have known the Lord. My wife and I have been to more than one fund raisers for young Christian couples who were trying to adopt a child. I believe if I wasn’t so old, I would give adopting a serious thought. What a great tool of evangelism. What a wonderful gift.

 

There is a part of adoption that I do not understand. I get it technically, but I do not get it emotionally. The child that is adopted, was given up by someone. Maybe the mother was too young. Maybe there was economic reasons. But how could someone walk away from a cute innocent child? I am thankful that these mothers did not abort these children. The child is given up. That is such a sad thought. But the sadness turns to joy when a wonderful young couple chooses to adopt. Everything changes. That child is wanted. He is loved at first sight. The adopting couple will go through all kinds of questions and background checks and financial costs to receive that child. It is worth it to them. They’d do it a thousand times again. And one of the grand steps in the process is that the child’s last name changes. He takes on the name of his new family. He is one of them. He is accepted and a part of that family. He is not going away again.

 

Our verse today, reminds us that we are adopted by God. We were not a part of His family. We were on our own. Unlike most children, we were not very pretty. We had sin in our character and our hearts. We were a mess. Yet God loved us. God accepted us. God gave us His name. His home became our home. Our eternity changed because of what God has done for us. Instead of being without God, we have God. Instead of being hopeless, hope abounds. Instead of being lost, we belong. We are adopted by God.

 

At the end of our verse we find the expression, “…we cry out, Abba! Father!” That was a common expression in most Jewish homes. It was a term of endearment. It was an expression of love from the child to his daddy. It was very personal, intimate, and genuine. The child belonged. The child was loved. The child was so happy to be in that home. Abba! Father! The expression of our hearts to God.

 

My son and his wife will be so good to their little boy. They will love him and cherish him. This is what God does to us. The concept of adoption really makes one wonder how in the world could anyone leave God? Why would we run away from God to chase the trinkets that Satan dangles in front of our eyes. Satan’s shallow promises, and unrealistic and false hope only crushes our souls and spirits. We run off to the far country believing that better things are found away from God. We chase money, as if it will bring happiness. We swallow so many pills, thinking that they will be the answer to our misery and worry. We inhale lust and worldliness and bow down to the artificial life of Hollywood and never find what we are looking for. We run from relationship to relationship, believing the next one will be the answer. It won’t be. The world doesn’t love you. The world uses you and takes advantage of you. Satan doesn’t care about you. He will hurt you and abandon you. Have you ever noticed after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit, Satan doesn’t seem to be around. He creates messes, but it is up to God to clean them up. How can we ever leave God? How can we give up one who chose us? How can we close our eyes and ignore the generous blessings of God?

 

Adoption—when really understood, changes how we see God. The Lord didn’t have to choose us. We were not the cute puppies in a pet store window that God simply couldn’t resist. Not at all. We were dirty, broken and selfish. We have issues. We have problems. We have a past. We have a history with sin. Still, God chose us. God didn’t choose us individually, while excluding others individually. First, that wouldn’t be fair and God is not like that. At the beginning of the school year, a teacher may tell the class that if they get a 3.5 GPA then they will make the honor roll. The teacher doesn’t say which student will make it. It’s open to all of them. Any can do it if they will. The God of Heaven adopts all who will be in Christ. It is open to anyone. They must walk by faith, obey the Lord and make the choices that lead them to Christ. It is those who God adopts.

 

Chosen by God. Not because we are cute. Not because we sing so nice. But because we are in Christ. God choses Christ. God choses those who are in Christ.

 

Adopted…what a wonderful word that is. It speaks of love. It speaks of someone wanting another. It speaks of acceptance. It says, you belong to me. I have chosen you!

 

We welcome Benjamin, our new grandchild into our family. Welcome. You are one of us.

Roger

 

04

Jump Start # 1508

Posted on January 4, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1508

Psalms 118:24 “This is the day which the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”

  The new year has begun. Holidays are over and we are back to work and back to school again. Back to our routines. Back to normal. And that’s just the problem. We tend to settle back into the norm and what happens is that we change calendars, we become a year older and not much else changes. Everything pretty much stays the same. There is a comfort to that but it’s good to be challenged and moved to a better us. This is why folks make resolutions. They don’t want the same as before. They are looking for something better, something different. Most of us know that resolutions are generally scrapped by February.

 

Our verse today reminds us that each day is a blessing from the Lord. The Lord’s patience allows us yet one more day. Some day we won’t have any more. As this new year begins, fresh and bright, we know that there will be babies born. Some will be getting married this year. Some will graduate. One of my kids is becoming a home owner for the first time. Some will be off to college for the first time. Some will be finishing school. We also know that this new year will bring some tears. There will be some funerals. There always are. There will be some heartache. That happens each year. The calendars change, but do we?

 

This year, I would like to encourage our readers to push themselves to be a better you this year. Here are just a few suggestions and a few ways that this can be done. Once you’ve read my list, you can think of more to add and make the list work for you.

 

1. Worship better. For some, it may be simply getting to the church house on a regular basis. That’s a habit you can get into. Some of us have that down, but we still may not be worshipping God with excellence. Better singing. Better application. Better connecting. Better fellowship. Move from just going to church services to actually worshipping God. That’s a great start. That’s one that will affect you weekly.

 

2. Try to memorize one verse of the Bible each week. Write out the verse you want to know on a 3 x 5 card and carry it with you everywhere. Put that verse on your phone. Read it. Repeat it. Over and over and over. One verse—each week. By the end of the year, you will know 52 verses by heart. That’s amazing! That will help you. Try it.

 

3. Have one family in your home each month. Don’t pick the same people. Don’t pick just your friends. The new people at church. The widow. Maybe your neighbor. Maybe a co-worker. Clean the house. Cook up some food. Share lives. Laugh. Connect. Build relationships. One family—each month. That’s 12 families by the end of the year. That’s not hard thing to do. You’ll be so glad that you did this by the end of the year.

 

4. Read some quality books. Of course, the Bible is on the top of the list. But make a list. I have. I know what I’m going to read in January and February. Stick to it and finish those books. Books that will help you. Books that will build faith. Books that are encouraging. Some of us aren’t much into reading. There are two things to say about that. First, there are audio books that you can download. Second, turn the TV off, and read one chapter a day. You’ll finish that book off in no time.

 

5. Pray more and pray deeper. Think about how the Lord has blessed you. Look at what you have. Not your stuff, but your family, your friends, your church. Thank the Lord more. Pray about other people more. More prayer is good for us. It reminds us that we need Him. It reminds us that we can’t do it on our own. It reminds us that He cares for us.

 

That’s my list. It’s not huge. It’s not very deep. Simple things. Good things. Things that will develop spiritual habits. Things that can lead us to be a better us. Give it a try. Don’t quit after just a week. Stay with it. Put some effort into it. A better you takes time.

 

This is the day that the Lord has made. Rejoice.

 

Roger