09

Jump Start # 2054

Posted on March 9, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2054

Ecclesiastes 7:2 “It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, because that is the end of every man and the living takes it to heart.”

In the seventh chapter of Ecclesiastes, Solomon runs through a list of comparisons. Some things are better than others. His list seems backwards and most would say that this list doesn’t make sense. Sorrow is better than laughter? The day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth? Rebuke is better than songs? The end is better than the beginning? Our verse, a house of mourning is better than a house of feasting?

Not only would most question Solomon’s thinking on this, most have lived just the opposite of these. We avoid sorry and fill our lives with sit-coms, funny jokes and laughter. We avoid confrontations and rebuke. We don’t think about death. And, we only go to the funeral home when it is absolutely necessary. And, even then, modern funerals are filled with stories of laughter. We do all we can to take the opposite approach to what Solomon said so long ago.

So, what are we supposed to “take to heart” when we go to the house of mourning?

Death happens to everyone. The passage states, “because that is the end of every man.” It’s not regulated to a specific group of people. Cancer doctors get cancer. Preachers who preach about death, die. The rich. The poor. The educated. The uneducated. Those in the city and those who live out in the country. Of all the names in the Bible, only Enoch and Elijah didn’t die. Even Jesus died.

So, the living take that to heart. We don’t have forever to get things done. We don’t have forever to get around to doing what is right and good. Time flies. We get busy. Before long a lifetime has passed. Bucket lists of places to visit are nice, but much better is a spiritual bucket list. Things you wanted to do that make a difference before your time here is gone. It’s going to happen. You are not getting out of here alive.

2. Death comes unannounced. I met a very nice man last month in Florida while preaching there. He served as one of the elders of that congregation. Great guy. Last Saturday, while fishing, there was an accident and he drowned. His family, the church, and those that knew him were all shocked and crushed at this. No one knew it would happen that day. Car accidents. Crime. Mishaps. And, suddenly a life is finished here.

So, the living take it to heart. Each day could be my last day. Live that way. Honor God. Love your family. Leave footprints for others to follow. We have become masters at putting off difficult things. The talk you need to have with your teenager about their behavior and attitude. Apologizing to your mate for being so critical and demanding. We’ll do it, we tell ourselves. Just not now. And, getting right and doing right with the Lord. We hear the sermons. We know. We plan to. We will. That is, if we can.

3. Death leaves a hole that is often hard to fill. The living must live. They must move on without the one who has died. In the family, things are never the same. Some families survive and are ok. Others are never the same after that. The greater the role someone has in the congregation, the larger the hole that will be left. The death of an elder, a deacon or a preacher, impacts the congregation. Worship and work must go on.

So, the living take it to heart. In the family, financial preparations and papers ought to be in place to help the family if you are no longer there. Tell others where your papers are. Have a discussion about these things. In the church, forward thinking ought to lay out plans for a legacy. Who will be the next elders? Who will be the next preacher? Begin developing people for those roles.

4. Death isn’t the end. That’s the story of the N.T. Jesus rose to never die again. Because of Jesus, there is no “The End,” to our story. We simply switch rooms in the house of God. Because of Jesus, death is no longer feared. It’s seen as a doorway to take us to the Lord.

So, the living take it to heart. The living realize that they need to believe in Christ. They need to walk daily with the Lord. They need to be forgiven, and live with a purpose that God has given us. The account of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 shows us that they had identity, memory, feeling and understanding after death. Death isn’t the worst thing that can happen to us. This world is caught up in things that really doesn’t matter. Most of TV is a mindless waste of time. Image and labels are vain. What matters is faith in Christ. The heart that pays attention to these things will pour more of its interests into the eternal and the spiritual side of things. He will find himself being more of a servant like Jesus was. He sees what God values and that’s what he is interested in.

The living take it to heart. I have seen folks change because of a funeral. It wasn’t so much what was said, but the out pouring of love and help. I know one who was led to Christ because of the love he witnessed from a congregation. I know another who saw all the food and care that was given to his family and he remarked, “I’ve never done that for others.” He changed because of that.

The sad thing is that there are hundreds of funerals every day and how few of the living take it to heart. How few look inward and wonder, “what about me?” What have I done with my life? How have I helped others? This isn’t it, and am I ready to stand before God? No, they don’t think those thoughts. They move return to their busy schedules with hardly another thought. The funeral is forgotten. Time passes and nothing worthwhile came from it.

But for some, the living takes it to heart. The house of mourning has affected the living. It has opened their eyes. They noticed something that they have not thought of before. The living has been changed. It was good for them to be there.

Now, we begin to understand, “It is better to go to the house of mourning, than the house of feasting, because that is the end of every man and the living take it to heart.”

Roger

08

Jump Start # 2053

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2053

Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!”

Philippians has been called the “rejoicing” book of the N.T. The words ‘joy’ or ‘rejoice’ are found 14 times in this short book. The interesting contrast is that Paul is writing this book from a Roman prison and he wants the Philippians to have the same joy that he does.

 

There are some things we need to remember.

 

First, joy and happiness are not the same. Happiness is based upon what happens. That’s where the word comes from. It is based upon circumstances and is our reaction to things around us. Joy is a choice that is internal and not based upon external circumstances. This is why an apostle in a Roman prison could talk about his joy.

 

Second, happiness is short lived. We are happy for short moments. Joy is a state of blessing. We are joyous because of who we are in the Lord. Joy tends to be more lasting and makes us more content. The kids sing in VBS, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy down in my heart. Where? Down in my heart.” Joy runs deep and brings peace and satisfaction. Because a person doesn’t have a smile on their face is no indication that joy is lacking. However, a spirit that is always complaining, always negative, always seeing the wrong side of things, may very well be lacking joy. The joyous heart has counted it’s blessings and is thankful. The joyous heart knows that he is forgiven, Heaven bound and walking with the Lord.

 

It is a blessing to be around joyous people. They have a special way of helping you remember what you have overlooked. In the darkest moments, they find the sunshine of Christ. They have a special way of encouraging and motivating us when all seems lost. They are doing things that we know we ought to be doing. Their prayers are filled with thankfulness to the Lord. They are so happy to be a part of a congregation. They love everything about worship. They love the singing. They love the preaching. They feel the prayers are so rich and deep. They love the people.

 

And, sometimes we stand there thinking, ‘I didn’t like the preaching today.’ Or, ‘I thought the singing was slow today.’ Yet, here is this joyous disciple, so thankful and so glad to be able to worship with others today. It makes us hold our head down. It make us wonder, what are they seeing that I am missing?

 

The singing may have been slow, but they were so thankful to be singing to the Lord. I read an interesting story the other day. A man told his preacher that he was leaving and not coming back to that church. All through worship he saw people playing with their phones, some were sleeping, others were chit-chatting or in and out multiple times. No one seemed to care. He was fed up and he was through with that place. The preacher begged the man to do one final thing before he left. He asked him to fill a glass of water to the top and to walk around the auditorium one time. The man carefully did that. The preacher asked him how many people were on their phones? He didn’t know. How many were sleeping? He didn’t know. Why, asked the preacher. He said that he was watching and focused on the water in the glass that he couldn’t see all the others. With that, the preacher talked to him about being focused upon the Lord. When our eyes are intently watching the Lord, we can’t see what others were doing. The man stayed.

 

Consider some things that we ought to be joyful about.

 

First, we are Christians. That’s huge. God took us in when we weren’t at our best. He didn’t look at us like football teams when it comes to draft day. While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. God includes us. God has adopted us. God has named us as His children. God has granted us the inheritance. Words cannot describe what all that means.

 

Second, we are engaged in the greatest work the world has ever known. Man has been involved in some amazing things. Massive bridges have spanned large bodies of water. Rockets have blasted deep into space. Man has been able to transplant organs into another body. Huge wars have ended as leaders signed treaties of peace. The blind have been able to read because of brail. It is amazing all the accomplishments that man has made. Yet, the greatest work, one of the longest works, is the building of the kingdom of God. The Lord allows you and I to be a part of this work. It is His kingdom. And the work must be done His way. But what a blessing that God trusts us with this. He has put His perfect word about His perfect Son into our imperfect hands. He has allowed us to use His word to change lives and give hope to people who have run out of hope. Our greatest work is not getting to our jobs, but it is being lights for Jesus. It is living as disciples of Him. The first place many will ever see God is in our lives. Our words, our work, our attitudes can be the very bridges that people cross to learn Jesus. People that would have been lost eternally, are turned and saved and their families are saved because of what God has allowed you and I to do. Rejoice.

 

Third, where we are headed. We are Heaven bound. Heaven is our home and our destination. His home, one day, becomes our home. How blessed and how thankful we are for that. It won’t be a weekend tour. It won’t be a quick walk through. The destination, our journey, ends not at the cemetery, but in the home of God. There we will be forever. There we will be with no other place to go. There we will be with all the righteous of all time. Heaven isn’t owed to us. We don’t deserve it. We don’t earn it. It’s God’s promise and gift. No matter what happens today. No matter how bleak things are here. No matter how tough things are, someday all of this will be behind us and we will be with the Lord. It simply will not matter then. Once we are there, all will be fine.

 

Rejoice! We are the most blessed people! We have an enormous job to be busy doing! We have a destination that is truly out of this world. Rejoice.

 

Roger

 

07

Jump Start # 2052

Posted on March 7, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2052

Psalms 34:3 “O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together.”

Over the weekend I was able to experience two different forms of live-streaming. Modern technology has made it possible for us to witness things without actually being there. And in many ways this is changing the face of how things are done. I was also sick this past weekend. Had the flu for the second time. I told my wife, next year I’m getting every shot known to mankind. Bring them all on, the flu short, pneumonia shot, shingles shot, rabies shot, distemper shot. I want them all. Having the flu two times is terrible. So, I was resting at home over the weekend.

 

On Saturday, two local high school teams were playing in sectional finals. They played about an hour from here. More than 7,000 were in the crowd. I got to see the game via live-streaming. I was glad that I didn’t have to fight the traffic home and had my own concession stand, my kitchen. On Sunday, I watched our worship services on live-stream. I was singing with the church family, praying with them, and I listened to two good sermons and got to focus upon the Lord. I was glad that I was able to do that. Live-streaming—a ballgame on Saturday night and church services on Sunday. Any difference? Any take-a-ways from that experience?

 

Here are some thoughts I’d like to share:

 

First, watching the ballgame was fine. I wanted to see the game and that’s what I saw. I really didn’t care about the crowd, the band, or the kids. It was the game that I was interested in. The next day, on Sunday, it was a different experience. Watching worship services is not the same as being there. Certainly, it allowed me to worship, but the church family didn’t know I was participating with them. There wasn’t a connection. It was ok, but not great.

 

Our verse today brings out an important aspect of worship that live-streaming will never fill. The Psalmist declared, O magnify the Lord WITH ME, and LET US exalt His name TOGETHER.” The “with me,” and “together,” represents fellowship. The key ingredient in fellowship is being together. Worship is more than hymns, prayers and preaching. Although the central piece of worship is God, it also involves us. All of us. There is something about us being together and doing the same thing.

 

Second, the value of live-streaming, is that it allows people to see what something is like before they come. They can, as some say, “check you out.” But the down side of this is thinking that simply watching “church” from my phone is all that there is to worship.

 

The very concept of worship means to give value or “worth.” We are esteeming God. We are telling God what He means to us. Why do I need you to do that with me? Why can’t I just stay home and do that? Why can’t I just watch it on my tablet and that be enough? Because God wants us to come together. Multiple times in 1 Corinthians, Paul said when you come together as a church. Coming together to worship. Our verse today emphasizes that.

 

It takes some effort to do that. You gotta get up and get cleaned up and get down to the church house. It’s easy to stay in bed in your jammies, and just pick up your phone and watch it. Little effort required for that. Worshipping with the church reminds us that we belong and we are connect to others. It’s not just about me. There is a work that we are engaged in together. There is a common love and a common concern that we share. You miss that at home in bed watching on your phone.

 

Third, that social interaction, fellowship, helps us spiritually. Our times are missing that. A person has hundreds of friends on Facebook, but what do you notice before the movie starts or at a restaurant? Everyone is sitting beside someone, yet they are all on their phones. We can text. We can post. We can share. We can like. But we have a hard time simply talking to someone face to face. Fellowship does that. It is among each other that we realize that we are not alone in this journey. It is among each other that we get encouragement, strength and help.

 

Fourth, will live-streaming replace church services? For some, it already has. But they are missing out. They are missing the interaction that takes place before and after services. They are missing the faces that they do not see on live-stream. They are alone and watching. They are not connected with others and participating mutually with others. They are worshipping from a distant. It’s like looking through the widow or being on the inside, sitting at the table and enjoying the meal. Which is better?

 

There is a vital place for live-stream. It is helpful for those who are at home, like I was. It is helpful for those in other places, who are wanting to learn and grow. But live-streaming should never replace the need for you and I to be together down at the church house. Watching doesn’t replace my being there.

 

While I was watching our worship on live-stream, I was looking at the audience and I thought, “My the crowd seems small today. Must be a lot out of town or sick.” I got down to the church building on Monday and looked at the attendance board, and the number was massive. A huge crowd. That really made me wish that I could have been there. All those faces. All those hearts wanting to magnify the name of the Lord.

 

Should a church use live-stream? It’s a tool. It’s like listening to a sermon on CD. It’s helpful, and useful. But nothing beats being there! Is there a fear that folks will just stay home and watch services on the phone? That will get old pretty fast. They are hurting themselves if they do. They will feel distant from others. They will not get the benefits of fellowship.

 

I had the chance a couple of years ago to go to the Rose Bowl game. I’ve always watched it on TV. TV or be there? Nothing beats being there! There is an atmosphere. There is something special about all the things surrounding it.

 

Remember the “with me,” and the “together,” when it comes to our worship. You really need to be there. Nothing beats it!

 

Roger

 

06

Jump Start # 2051

Posted on March 6, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2051

Nehemiah 13:31 “and I arranged for the supply of wood at appointed times and for the first fruits. Remember me, O my God, for good.”

I was watching segments of Billy Graham’s funeral last week. There are many things about Billy Graham that I admired. I always liked the sound of his voice. I liked the way he conducted himself. He always seemed honorable. Back in the 1980’s, when preacher scandals were destroying the careers of dishonest televangelists, Billy Graham seemed to be a class above those others. He was gone a lot and it seemed to take a hit on his kids and one cannot over look the fact that Billy never preached the whole counsel of God. He left the message short and encouraged people to attend the church of your choice, rather than God’s choice.

But at the funeral, one of his sons, in tribute said that his father was fat. That seemed shocking, because Billy Graham wasn’t fat. It seemed like an odd way for a son to remember his father. Then he explained fat. That was an acronym for Faithful, Available, and Teachable. FAT.

Faithful, available and teachable. That stayed with me. FAT. That’s easy to remember. Faithful, available and teachable. Consider the different areas where that would be so helpful:

First, in the home. Having FAT parents. Parents that were faithful, to God and to one another. A home in which kids grow up with natural parents all of their lives. No divorce. No shuffling kids around. Parents who were faithful to God. Sunday was God’s day. Imagine the choices that would be decided ahead of time because one was faithful to God. Then Available. Available to talk. Available to attend games and activities. Available to parent. Then teachable. There to instruct and guide. There to grow. There to show God’s love and grace. FAT parents, what a difference that would make.

Second, in the church. Having FAT shepherds. Elders who were faithful to their tasks God has given them. Not managers of the estate, but shepherds among the sheep. Faithful to God in leading these people to Heaven. Shepherds who were available. When you need them, they are there. You can call them. You can reach out to them. They’d use their lunch break from work to meet with you. They’d give up a Saturday to help you. And, teachable. Through their examples and through their words they show you what a godly marriage looks like. They answer the dozens of questions we ask. They help us with our attitudes. They helps us to make the right choices. FAT shepherds.

Third, among our friends. Think what a great advantage your life would have if you had FAT spiritual friends. Friends who are faithful. They stick with you, even when you disagree. They stick with God no matter what. Friends that are available. They have journeyed with you and seen you at your best and at your worst and they remain your friend. And, teachable. They are always pulling the best out of you. They are always reminding you what God would want. FAT friends, how amazing that would be.

Fourth, we have a God who is faithful, available and teachable. That is our God. He is always God. He is true to His promises. He is always there. Always. He is always showing us through His word what we ought to be. Faithful, available and teachable.

Finally, are we that way? Will our kids remember us as being FAT? FAT, in this sense, or fat in being lazy, complaining and doing little? Do our friends see us as being FAT? Are we faithful or fair weather friends? Are we available or always busy? Are we teachable or do we just look the other way at wrongs? Does our church family see us as being FAT? Are we faithful? Are we available? Are we teachable? Or, are we hit and miss?

Our passage today, the final words of Nehemiah, ends with a short prayer. Remember me. O my God, for good. A similar prayer is uttered by King Hezekiah when he was told to set his house in order because he was going to die. Remember me, for good. They didn’t ask God to forgive them. They didn’t ask God to forget things. Remember. Remember me. Remember me always. Remember me for the good done. This is a prayer that can be asked by those who has made themselves faithful, available and teachable. F.A.T.

Some can be more loyal and dedicated to their sports team, hunting seasons, TV series than they are to God. F.A.T. – it would be good to remember that. It’s good to lose weight physically. But when it comes to spiritual matters, we ought to be FAT.

Roger

05

Jump Start # 2050

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2050

Psalms 5:5 “The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity.”

God hates the sin but loves the sinner. That exact statement isn’t in the Bible. God does love the sinner. The famous, John 3:16 passage, “For God so loved the world…” is proof enough. Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost. It is the sick who need a physician, not the well. All of these concepts run deep throughout the N.T. The reason Jesus came, is because God wants to save the lost. He doesn’t want any to perish. He wants all to come to repentance.

 

Yet, there standing before us is our verse. “You HATE ALL who do iniquity.” We want it to read, you hate the wrong that they did. You hate sin. But the passage reads, “You hate ALL who do…” Maybe we are not looking at this right? Maybe, since this is Psalms, there are some poetic things we do not understand? This quotation is from David. Maybe, David didn’t understand God? Yet, then we find:

 

  • Ps 11:5 “The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, and the one who loves violence His soul hates.”
  • Prov 6:19, among the list of things that God hates, is the “one who spreads strife among brothers.”

 

So, how do we connect these thoughts that God loves the world, yet He hates the sinner. Those seem like opposites to us. It makes us feel disappointed in God. It’s like the time we found out who Santa really was. Could it be that God really hates?

 

Here are a few thoughts:

 

First, love the sinner and hate the sin can leave a huge divide between the two. It was the sinner who committed the sin. Love the sinner and only hate the sin, sounds as if the sinner receives a divine “Get out of Jail” free card. The sinner is responsible for his sin. He does not have to sin. Sin is a choice, his choice.

 

Second, love, especially as it is used in John 3:16 and Romans 5:8, where it deals with salvation, is not a feeling. The general idea I get from “love the sinner, but hate the sin,” is giving someone a hug who has done wrong. The word ‘love’ as used in these verses, is a choice, not a feeling. It is based upon what God wants to do, rather than a reaction to what the person has done. Our love tends to be reactionary. Buy me some chocolate and I will love you. Buy me a bunch and I will love you even more. That concept is based upon what another person has done. God’s love is not that way. He loves the sinner, even while he is sinning. God’s displeasure of wrong, disobedience towards Him, and ignoring Him, is why Jesus came. Jesus came before I was born. Jesus paid the sacrifice before I ever sinned. What Jesus did was not based upon what I did. He already chose to do those things before I came along. God’s love is not based upon us.

 

Third, once the sacrifice as been offered and the bridge to build a relationship with God has been established, it angers Him when we reject that. It angers God that we think so little of the death of Jesus. It angers God that we think we can sit where He sits.

 

Fourth, God’s hatred is not like ours. When we hate something we are done with it. I’ve tried some foods in the past. Hated it. Won’t eat it again. Ever. I’ve had some bad experiences in the past that I hated. Avoid those at all costs. When we don’t like someone, we leave them, for good. We defriend them from Facebook. We don’t invite them, include them, or want anything to do with them. That’s how we hate. That’s not how God hates. He hates wrong. But what does He do? He says, “Come unto me…” How does God hate? He pleads for the sinner to repent. He never stops giving up on a person. He does everything that He can to get us to leave sin and follow Him. He puts people in our lives to remind us. He uses our conscience and our guilt to wake us up. God doesn’t walk away like we would. He hates, but His hatred takes Him to positive actions. He sent a preacher to the persecuting Saul of Tarsus. Stephen’s final words were for the forgiveness of those who were killing him. God sent His word to the idolatrous Athenians. He hated them, yet that hatred led to the saving grace found in Christ.

 

We cannot understand the love of God nor His grace. It doesn’t make sense to us. He loves, not the way we do. The same thought fits this subject. God hates. His hatred is not the way we hate. We cannot fully understand it. In our minds, you either love or you hate. You can’t do both at the same time to the same person. A parent can’t love and hate their child at the same time. God hates the sinner, yet God loves the sinner. Think about that very long and you’ll get a headache. There are things that are beyond us. When Isaiah declared that God’s ways are higher than our ways, we begin to understand that when discussing the love and the hate of God.

 

Fifth, there is a side of God that is rarely preached these days. God has wrath and anger. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God is what Hebrews tells us. Just walk through the pages of the Bible and you will notice the swift, final justice of God. Uzzah touching the ark…Achan’s hiding the gold in his tent…Aaron’s sons, who offered strange fire before the Lord…Goliath’s blasphemous mocking of God’s nation…the Philistines who looked inside the captured ark of the covenant…the sons of Korah who rebelled against God’s chosen…Herod’s sudden death…the death of Ananias and Sapphira. The world has painted a picture of God that looks the other way at our wrongs. A God that isn’t a real stickler for His own rules. The world has softened God and in so doing, sin has become acceptable, decent, normal and even expected. Songs mock God. Actors pretend to be God. Preachers fill arenas and wink at sin. The call to be righteous is no longer heard. The need to be holy as He is holy is no longer understood.

 

God hates sin. The ultimate proof of this is what God intends to do with Satan. Matthew’s gospel tells us that Hell has been prepared for Satan and his angels. God did not intend man to be there. Man is supposed to be in Heaven with Him. Hell is made for Satan. But those that want to dance with Satan, will die with Satan and will spend forever with Satan. The devil is not in charge of Hell. God is.

 

Is God upset when I sin? Yes. Does my wrong choices disappoint Him? Yes. Does He hate me? Yes. Does He give up on me? Never. Does He send the hounds of Heaven to search for me? Yes. Does He hate me like I hate? Never. Does He still love me? Always. Does He welcome me back? Always. Is He through with me? Never.

 

God hates the sin, but loves the sinner, is a cute way of saying, “You can’t help it. You’re ok.” You’re not ok, because you have sinned. You need Jesus!

 

Love—hate. Chew on that for a while!

 

Roger