03

Jump Start # 1551

Posted on March 3, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1551

Philippians 1:15 “Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will”

  This interesting verse found in the opening paragraphs of the Philippian letter uncovers the motives and reasons why some preach. It’s not always good. Paul was in a Roman prison when he wrote these words. Some were trying to add insult and further trouble to Paul. They were doing this through their preaching.

 

Nothing has changed. Some preach for the thrill of standing before people and the excitement that they receive. Some do it because there are no time clocks, they can get by doing very little. Some believe it’s an easy way to make a buck. Some do it for ego. Some have been pressured into preaching by family. But then there are the hundreds and hundreds of dedicated, honest, hard working men who love the Lord and want to save souls. They are sincere. They are giving it their best. They want to see the kingdom grow. They want to see souls saved. They write, teach and preach their hearts out. God bless their number.

 

I want to share with you the confession of a guilty preacher. This is not a sordid story of sin and infidelity and broken hearts. This is my story. This is something that I have never shared with anyone, ever.  I’ve never talked about this with other preachers. I don’t know if others feel this way or if it is just me. It bothers me and I don’t know the answer and I’m even sure why I’m sharing this, but I am.

 

Those that know me personally, know that I am extremely type A. I am driven. I am a workaholic. The spring inside of me, like that of an old clock, is tight. I am always busy. Always. The guilt that I feel comes not from doing something wrong, or sluffing off, but it comes from feeling that I’m not doing enough. There is so much to be done.

 

The church is pleased with what I do. I write my own class material and put out some pretty good stuff, but it’s not good enough, at least that’s how I feel. Folks tell me the sermons are great, but I know that they could be better. The articles are helping people, but I know they could be better. When I hear of some saving others in other places, it’s such happy news, but then the guilt comes. I need to be doing more of that. It’s not a jealousy thing, it’s just the guilt of not doing enough.

 

There are some many things going on, so many people to visit and so many classes to teach, articles to write, research to do, books to read—it seems that enough is being done to get by, but it’s not to the level that I would want it to be.

 

It’s hard to put a finger on why I feel guilty. I’m not trying to become the best out there. That’s not it. It’s not that I feel pressure from the church, I don’t. If anything, they’d tell me to take some time off. But I can’t. It’s not even from the Lord. I’m not trying to win His favor or grab His attention. I cannot do enough for that. It’s His love and grace that saves me. I think it’s just me. I think deep inside, I know everyone, including the Lord is pleased with the work that I am cranking out, but I just not pleased. I feel internally like the track coach who yells at his runners, “More, more.” This internal guilt doesn’t make me sad or unhappy. What it does do is make it nearly impossible for me to get away from the work. The mind is always racing. The thoughts are, What else can be done? What’s next? How can this be done better? That never turns off. Someone might suggest it’s a self-esteem problem. Maybe. I don’t think so. Somebody might suggest taking a long vacation. That sounds good in theory, but that mind doesn’t take a vacation.

 

I’m not wanting sympathy. I’m not after pats on the back. That’s not it. I really do not think that I am all that unusual. I expect that many of us feel this way. Most, are so busy, that they just don’t have the time to think about it. Most are looking for more and more ways to improve. Improve themselves. Improve what they do. Improve the congregation. They are not content to just accept things as they are. They know things could be better and they will not be content until they are.

 

What can be done? Nothing. More help doesn’t change this. Rarely is this guilt thought about. It’s just there. It’s the reason that the mind wakes me up early in the morning, thinking about what can do done better. It’s always thinking of all the things that needs to be done. This guilt doesn’t make me miserable. It doesn’t drive to drinking or thinking about quitting. I do wish sometimes others would feel the same, then maybe more would get accomplished.

 

I want to do more. I want to do the best that I can. That’s the confession of a guilty preacher.

 

Thank you for letting me share this. I know what I would tell someone else who confessed this to me. I’d tell them, “Just do the best you can. You cannot do everything. Get others involved. Don’t micro-manage every detail to death. Be thankful.” I know that. I just need to listen to myself. It’s nearly impossible to say, “No.”

 

I share this for those like me who struggle with guilt for not doing enough. The true end to all of this is that wonderful promise in Revelation where we will “rest from our labors.”

 

Roger

 

02

Jump Start # 1550

Posted on March 2, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1550

1 Thessalonians 5:21 “But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good”

  The political scene has captured the national news. This year is shaping up to be something very unusual and those that thrive in election maneuvers are amazed at what is happening. Love him or hate him, all the talk this season is about Trump. “The Donald,” is a phenomenon. He says things that would end most candidates chances, yet some how he continues to ride high the tide of popularity. Jump Starts is not political. I purposely distance myself from making any stance known. I stand with Jesus. God brings kings up and down as He desires. My hope is in the Lord.

 

Having said that, there is something about Trump and his demeanor that we can look at as Christians. Being loud and calling others names doesn’t prove yourself right. It doesn’t mean that your arguments are correct. No one is killed by thunder. It’s the lightning that does the damage. The affect of this is seen everywhere. Co-workers being rude and shouting at one another. Road rage, which led to a shooting in my area recently. The nightly shouting matches at home between parents and teens or husband and wife and even brethren turning ugly and saying mean things about one another. This is becoming all too common.

 

Mocking or ridiculing what someone believes does not disprove what they believe nor does it show that you are right. This is being witnessed in presidential debates and in far too schools and homes these days.

 

Our passage today states, “examine everything carefully.” The King James Version uses the expression, “Prove all things.” In 2 Corinthians Paul said, “test yourselves to see if you are in the faith.” Other translations use the term, “Examine yourself.” Prove it. The bark may scare us, but it’s the bite that kills us.

 

From this here are some simple observations:

 

1. The louder and faster I talk does not prove my case

2. Dominating the conversation and interrupting the other person does not prove my case

3. Stacking my side with numbers, such as “no one believes that,” or “everyone I know agrees with me,” doesn’t prove my case

4. Making fun of what the other person believes does not prove my case

5. Attacking my opponent’s character and background does not prove my case

6. Making threats does not prove my case

7. Pouting, crying, slamming doors, walking away from the discussion does not prove my case

8. Ridiculing a person’s grammar, education or the way they look doesn’t prove my case

 

Bring up the subject of same-sex marriage and notice how many of the above things come into the discussion. Turn the conversation to origins and open the door to the creation-evolution discussion and again, so many of the above points make their way into the conversation. Have the discussion turn to women’s role in the church, and many of these above points are used. Talk about marriage and divorce and you’ll find these points again.

 

Proving things, in the realm we are talking about, means finding Biblical evidence that makes that principle. The person can’t stand upon what they feel, want or what has always been the standard or the norm. God’s word must be the standard. God’s word must be accepted as the final authority.

 

When the Pharisee’s questioned Jesus about divorce, it was to the word of God that He gave His answer. “Have you not read…”  is what Jesus said. He immediately took the conversation from “what I think and what you think,” to “here is what the Bible says.” God’s word always surpasses our feelings or what we thing. God’s word must be used accurately. God’s word must be used in the context in which it was delivered.

 

Proving things means going to the word of God. Jesus shows us this in the synagogue when He opened the book and found the place where it was written and then read the passage. Simply saying, “It’s in the Bible somewhere,” isn’t good enough. Open the book. Find the place. Often what we think is in the book, isn’t. Prove it. Show it.

 

I fear that one of the outcomes of this year’s political campaigns will be an attitude adopted by many which will be loud, bullying and name calling. We will stop “proving things” and just run rough-shod over others, ignoring what they are saying. This does not do well in making relationships nor does this prove that we are right. Jesus never did this.

 

When someone asks us a question, answer it. Be kind—remember that? Answer gently—remember that? Those are Biblical expressions that are found following the call to correct or answer someone. Our attitudes and spirits must not be bulldozers that level everything in our way. Rather, we must be bridge builders, that help lead people to Christ.

 

Bullies in the pulpit certainly doesn’t win the hearts of the lost. Intimidation, threats, meanness ought to be out of us when we have crucified the old man. The heart that is following Jesus lets the word of God do it’s work. It doesn’t need to trick people, pressure people or make others feel intimidated. God doesn’t operate that way and neither should His people. Elders who have turned to this have lost the spirit of shepherding. They have become cow pokes who are now driving the flock to ruination. Fear may fill the pews on a Sunday night, but fear isn’t the motivation that God uses. The “Gospel” by very definition, means “good news.” You’d think the opposite the way some present it. You wonder why some stay with their faith, the way they describe it. The joy of Christ has been replaced with the fear of the warden.

 

Now none of this means that we soft pedal the message of Christ. This does not mean that compromise the message. This does not mean that we do not speak plainly. This does not mean that tough things need to be said. But all of this can be done without crushing the spirit of the other person. We do not have to destroy the person. Our goal is not to drive them out, like Israel was told to do in the promise land, but rather to convert. I even read an article written by a Christian years ago that addressed those that were false. His article title was, “Drive out, destroy and defeat.” What about, “Convert, change, and save?” Some folks cannot hear what we are saying because of the manner in which we are saying it.

 

Prove it. Show it. Demonstrate it. Live it. Believe it. Teach it. There’s not much we can do with politicians. Putting them all in a rocket and sending them to the moon might be a great start, but that still wouldn’t change things. But as for me and you, we must decide if we are going to carry ourselves like the world or like Christ.

 

Don’t let the spirit of politics ruin your own spirit.

 

Roger

 

01

Jump Start # 1549

Posted on March 1, 2016 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Starts # 1549

Romans 12:10-11 “Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.”

  Yesterday in our Jump Start we pointed out that Jesus served. He came to serve. Shows like Downton Abbey, have an “upstairs” and a “downstairs” mentality. The folks upstairs are served by the downstairs people. The downstairs people have to watch their ways and their tongue when they are around upstairs people. Two different worlds merged together in one house. Great show.

 

The upstairs and downstairs way of thinking hasn’t stayed just in the English aristocrats, but it is found in American society and even in God’s church. Pride poisons the good that any would do. Jesus told his disciples not to let the left hand know what the right hand is doing. Just serve. Don’t toot your own horn. Don’t be bragging to God, like the Pharisee did in his prayer in the temple. Don’t tell others what you have done. Just do it. If you are seeking a shout out from the pulpit, your name in the bulletin or someone to pat your on the back, then your motives are wrong and you might as well stay home. A person can ruin any good that he does because of his motives and his attitude. Preachers can even do that. They can ruin the good that they are doing because of how they view themselves. Upstairs and downstairs thinking doesn’t work well in God’s kingdom. We all need to be downstairs type of people. We need to serve where we can.

 

Our passage today, from Romans, is just one of many in the N.T. that reminds us of our relationships with one another. It’s not what we can get from the church or others, but what can we give. Boy, that thinking is simply hard to find today. People get married because of what the other person gives them or makes them feel. Politicians pass out promises like candy. Free college. Free insurance. Free money. It’s all there. It’s all for you. And the blind follow the blind. Long ago, Kennedy said in his inaugural address, “Ask not what the country can do for you, but what you can do for the country.” Folks don’t say that any more. This hand out society has affected churches. Folks show little allegiance and little concern about what a church teaches or does. It’s all about what will you do for my kids. What will you do for me. Upstairs thinking has ruined our times. It has affected God’s people. Too many say today, “Why should I?” rather than, “Here am I, send me.”

 

In this Roman passage, Paul shows us our responsibilities and connections with each other. Twice the “one another” phrase is used. Devoted to one another. Preferring one another. Not lagging behind. Fervent. Serving the Lord. We serve the Lord when we serve one another.

 

There are many ways to serve. Some involve publicly such as teaching classes. It takes time to teach. In far too many places, the same folks teach over and over and over. They get worn out. They need a break. Some parents ought to jump in and teach, but they don’t or won’t. But teaching is so rewarding. Most of us who have been around a while, can look back are remember the simple Bible classes and those dedicated folks, many of them women, who carefully and patiently taught us the word of God. We owe so much to those kind servant hearts. Can’t you do that? Sure it takes some time. Sure there are hassles. Sure there will be days you don’t feel like it. But look at those young, tender hearts that you get to help shape and mold. Be devoted to one another.

 

Another way of serving in the public is to be an elder or deacon. Those are positions of service. Helping God’s people. Helping people stay with God. It’s tough work. But it’s so rewarding to see those families growing in the Lord and doing well. So many phone calls. So many visits. So many hours on your knees praying. Great work. Great service. And deacons, doing all that they can, so the church runs smoothly. Lights light. Bills paid. Help on the way. Faithful. Loyal. Dedicated. Serving. That’s deacons.

 

Another way of serving is preaching. The word “minister” comes from the word for servant. While the preacher may get paid for what he does, most would do it without the money. It’s a labor of love. Teaching honest hearts the word of God is so rewarding. A young man can make millions throwing a football in the NFL. He may stand on stage and sing a song and be adored by thousands of fans, but preaching the word of God changes the destiny of souls forever. It can affect generations of families. We ought to give more thought to encouraging our sons to think about preaching. Sure there are tough days. Sure there are disappointments. All of us who preach have horror stories, but you’ll notice, we haven’t quit. We could be attorneys, writers, CEO’s, but we preach. We preach because it’s an honor to preach. We preach because it’s our way of serving.

 

But service isn’t only in the public eye. There is much about serving that is never noticed. The person that sits with a family in the surgery waiting room—he’s serving. The person that took the time to send a card of encouragement—he’s serving. The family that invited another family over for a meal—that’s serving. The person that gave up a Saturday afternoon to help someone move. That’s serving. The person that loans his pickup to someone—that’s serving. The person that goes out of their way to be neighborly—that’s serving.

 

Devoted to one another—that’s the idea that we’re stuck to each other. We can’t get the people out of our mind. We are always thinking about them. Connected. Committed. That’s the idea.

 

Preferring one another—that’s the idea of wanting to be with others. It’s wanting to hear what he says about the matter. It’s choosing to be with others rather than being alone. There is a fondness and a liking here. We like one another. There is something special about that bond.

 

God’s folks are downstairs people. We are servants of Christ. Paul commonly referred to himself as “bond-servants” of Christ. A servant isn’t much of a servant if he’s not serving. A servant isn’t a title. It’s not something you put on a business card. It’s not a position where you put your feet up on the desk. It’s rolling up your sleeves and getting busy. It’s thinking about others. It’s doing what you can. And the reason for all of this is because you care about them and you want them in Heaven. You’ll lighten their load if you can. You’ll watch their kids if you can. You’ll open your wallet for them if you can. You’ll do what you can, because that’s what servants do.

 

Downstairs people. Servants. Busy helping others. I fear that some are too busy doing their own thing that they don’t have time for others. We can be busy doing wrong things. God’s folks are busy being servants. They are doing what they can to make that congregation warm, friendly, spiritual and faithful to God. They are doing what they can to get folks ready for Heaven.

 

Devoted and preferring—that’s the spirit and heart of a servant. That’s just the way it is with us downstairs people.

 

Roger