22

Jump Start # 2473

Posted on November 22, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2473

John 10:3 “To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.”

 

Yesterday in our Jump Start we discussed the Good News of the Gospel. The idea came from a statement from Robert Iger’s book, “The ride of a lifetime.” Iger is the CEO of Disney. The book not only tells his journey and steps in becoming the top at Disney, but it’s also shows us the characteristics of corporate leadership. Leading people, whether as a CEO, a coach, an elder in the church, or a dad at home, has some common basic principles. This is what drew me to this book. It ought to be read by all who are serious about leading others.

 

We quoted yesterday, and I repeat it again today, from Iger’s book, “No one wants to follow a pessimist.” Let’s put that thought into leading God’s people. It is true that among the qualities or qualifications of being a bishop or elder in God’s church one won’t find “optimism.” Technically, a pessimist could serve as an elder. I have known a few through the years.

 

The pessimist and the optimist are wired differently. They can see the same thing, be presented with the same idea, and the pessimist is against it from the get go. It’s different. The group has never done that before. And, besides all this, he just doesn’t want to do it, even if it would help the congregation. The pessimist is always worried that trouble is on the horizon. He’s fearful of church splits and error being spread among the brethren. And, what he doesn’t realize is that through his attitude, an atmosphere of negativism and pessimism is filtered through the congregation. People serve out of duty, rather than love. People are afraid to talk to the elders, and if one were to ask “Could we get together,” it is perceived as a trip to the principal’s office. And, after several years of this type of leadership, the joys of salvation and the warmth of fellowship has turned into little more than serving your hitch in the military. It’s just something you do, and nothing more.

 

And, if what Iger says is true, then with a pessimistic leader, the followers line up out of fear and they really do not want to follow. I understand there are limitations and extreme concerns in bringing corporate ideas into the church, but is it possible a successful businessman recognizes something that we do not? Is it possible that we have stuck with the qualifications and looked at nothing else, such as natural ability to lead others?

 

Our verse today, from the section of the good Shepherd, shows that Jesus not only knew His sheep by name and called them, but He lead them and the sheep followed. We notice a goodness, kindness and hopefulness about Jesus. We worship, not because of fear or duty, but because it is a wonderful thing to do.

 

Could it be, within such Biblical qualifications, such as, “manages his own household well,” there is built into that the thought of leading as Jesus would lead. We all have known homes and dads who had problems with this. They shouted more than they showed. They compared the children with each other. They were never pleased. They demanded perfection. They were inconsistent. And, those who came from homes like that, often spent the rest of their lives dealing with insecurity, trying to prove themselves and having to live in the shadows of a more successful brother or sister. To be honest, pessimism was the norm in those homes. And, years later, ‘home for the holidays,’ is hard for some because they know along with the mashed potatoes, there is going to be an extra heaping of guilt, shame and “you never could do anything right.” Yet, brethren will take such a dad and put him in the position of leading God’s people, simply because he happens to meet the qualifications of Timothy and Titus. And, in just a few short years, the spirit of the congregation has turned pessimistic and negative.

 

I expect some will declare, “You are adding to the qualifications.” But it seems we ought to look at a person’s ability to lead. We wouldn’t want medical advice from a guy who flunked out of medical school. We wouldn’t ask someone who filed bankruptcy this year about good financial planning. We wouldn’t ask an overweight person about diets. Why would we consider someone for a leadership position who can’t lead or the people won’t want to follow?

 

The devil strives in pessimism. That’s the first conversation he has in the Bible. He told Eve that she couldn’t eat from the trees in the garden. Actually, she could eat from all the trees, except one. You can’t. You won’t make it. You’re no good. Everything is wrong. Nothing is right. All the young people are disrespectful. All the old people complain. All the young marrieds are getting divorced. Problems. Problems. Problems. That’s the spirit of pessimism. It beats one down. It thrives on guilt, fear and shame. Is that the voice that you want to hear over and over?

 

I’ve known some real gems when it came to pessimistic leaders. You bring a friend, and that friend is grilled with thousands of personal questions. They feel uncomfortable and not surprisingly, they do not come back. A young man tries to serve in public worship. He is criticized from the way he is dressed, to how his hair is combed, to how he stood, to the translation he used. The young man is so paralyzed with guilt that he never again serves. Another one ruined by the pessimist. The song leader gets it all the time. The preacher gets it all the time. I know. I was on the receiving end of the pessimist’s boot for more than a decade.

 

But, flip all of this around. You put a qualified man into the role of leading the people of God who is compassionate, kind, thoughtful and a real leader. He listens. He smiles. He makes you feel good to be there. He talks to the little ones. He talks to the old ones. He even sits with the teens, once in a while. The people know that they are loved. They trust such a good man. And, an atmosphere builds. It’s hopeful. It’s Biblical. It’s Jesus. People want to be there. People stick around and stick around. Friends come and they keep coming.

 

We’ve known homes just like this. You can see the love. People jump in and help out, not because they are yelled at, because that doesn’t happen. There is a spirit of team work, unity and joy. It is out of those homes that qualified men make wonderful leaders of God’s people.

 

Leading is hard. It means knowing where you are going. It means making tough calls. It means putting in the hours. It means sticking to your guns, even if it is going to be hard. It means going out of your way. It means showing others. It means being there. It means listening. It means having a heart that cares.

 

“No one wants to follow a pessimist.” Maybe it’s time we put some thought to that.

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 2472

Posted on November 21, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2472

Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.”

I’ve been reading a book about the career journey of Robert Iger, CEO of Disney. Driven, calculated and risk taking, his career steps took him higher and higher up the corporate ladder and along the way he learned how to lead effectively. This is why I am reading this book. I want to look into the minds and hearts of leaders and learn from them.

 

There is a simple statement in one of the early chapters, “No one wants to follow a pessimist.” Gloom and doom won’t bring positive results. This is true in the corporate world, just as it is true in the church, and also, in the home. And, our verse today brings that to mind.

 

The word “Gospel” means, “Good News.” Go into all the world with GOOD NEWS. Now, one has to understand what is behind this and what comes before this. The Scriptures teach that we have all sinned. The Scriptures teach that we cannot save ourselves. The Scriptures teach that we are Hell bound. We are in trouble and there’s nothing we can do about it. That’s the backdrop to our verse. Jesus came. He paid the price for our salvation. He redeemed up, saved us, and reconciled us to God. There is hope, because of Jesus.

 

Rather than going into all the world with the message, “You are not going to make it, “ God declared, “GOOD NEWS.” Actually, it’s the best news. Things can change, because of Jesus. Heaven is possible because of Jesus.

 

And, just what was “good” about this good news?

 

First, God, through the blood of Jesus, was doing what we could not do. He was forgiving us and saving us. We can’t do that on our own. We can’t be good enough. What’s been done has been done and that’s the problem. What do you do about sin? It doesn’t go away after time. It doesn’t just all balance out in the end. It doesn’t work that way. Sin must be removed. The expressions, “remission of sins,” and, “wash away your sins,” were words that the world had never heard before. Sins can be removed. This was great news.

 

Second, God’s good news was extended to every person on the planet. It wasn’t just for the best. It wasn’t for those who could afford it. Every continent…every nation…every city…every street…every house…every person in that house. From kings to peasants. From the famous to the unknown, the saving message of God was available to all. Not everyone can go to college. It’s not for everyone. Not everyone can afford a house. Not everyone can travel. Not everyone makes the honor roll. Not everyone plays varsity. However, God’s news, the good news, is for everyone. It is not just available to everyone, but it’s the one thing that everyone needs. Not everyone needs medicine. Not everyone needs a vacation. But everyone needs the Gospel. Even to the person who has everything and he believes there is nothing that he needs, he still needs God’s good news.

 

Third, God’s message is the same for everyone. There is not an African message and then an American message. The message of the first century is the message of the twenty-first century. What Lydia was told down by the river, what the Ethiopian was told on that deserted road, what Peter told the Pentecost audience, what Paul told the Ephesians, is the same message that you and I hear. It doesn’t change with time. What saved people then is what saves people today. Few things remain the same through the years. Publications stop. Stores close. Roads are changed. Nothing seems to stay the same, except God’s message. It’s the same. It still works.

 

Fourth, this good news is what needs to be preached and promoted by preachers and churches. The Good News must be taught. So many places have forgotten their mission. It’s not providing drinking water to third world countries. It’s not providing a safe haven for kids to play. It’s not about getting your finances in order. It’s the saving message of Jesus Christ. God did not tell the apostles to go into all the world and clean up politics. He didn’t tell them to go and protest against unfairness. The church wasn’t a voice for the abused and the homeless. It was the sounding board for Good News. The saving message of Jesus Christ is what we are about. And, that message is the theme of the Bible. Therefore, what the church is about, is the Bible. Churches today, do everything and anything but teach the Bible. Many leaders in these churches do not even understand the message themselves. Back to the book we must go. Drop all the psychology, mental awareness programs and teach the good news of Jesus Christ.

 

Finally, this message must be heard. It won’t save anyone locked away in a box. The Lord told the apostles to go. Get out there and tell others. They walked. They road in chariots. They sailed the ocean blue. They preached. They wrote. They taught others how to teach. And, today, we use every available tool we have to get this message out. Facebook. Twitter. Email. One on One. Face to face. Pulpits. Classrooms. Print. Video. Get the message to the people. There is good news. God hasn’t given up on us. God is giving us another chance. God is showing us how to do things right this time.

 

No one wants to follow a pessimist. One must wonder if we are making the good news bad. Let’s put some sunshine back into our messages, our faces and our worship. Good news has come from Heaven. Be thankful for that!

 

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 2471

Posted on November 20, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2471

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”

 

In a class the other day, we were talking about how the Christian is different from the world. This is something that some do not understand. It’s more than simply adding worship to your life. The disciple of Jesus has a different outlook and is traveling a different direction than the man of the world. And this difference trickles down to things such as modesty, attitude, forgiving, and even how one views death.

 

The child of God is simply “wired” differently than the person of the world. It’s not that the child of God is “better”, he has simply put on Christ and filled his heart with the word of God. By doing that, he has changed. He is different. He sees things from God’s perspective. Anyone can do this. Everyone ought to do this. But most don’t.

 

And, one of the most remarkable differences between a Christian and a person who is not a Christian is the inside-outside direction of life. That has switched in a Christian and that change has made all the difference in the world.

 

The man of the world is influenced and driven by the outside. The outside shapes and determines his inside. On gray, dreary, winter days, the man of the world often feels gloomy and depressed. He has allowed the outside to color the inside. The circumstances he is in determines his mood and his spirit. So, if the line is long at the restaurant and the service is slow, it will cause the man of the world to boil on the inside. He gets upset. He often has to say something, usually, unkind and mean. If the traffic is slow, it will change how he is. If work piles up, it will change how he is. The outsides are always setting the tone for the insides. And, the real problem with all of this is that no one can control the outsides. The weather, the traffic, the mood of others are all beyond what we can do. So, in essence, the man of the world, is always on a ride. He allows others to shape his day and his spirit. Because of others, he is grumpy and down in the dumps. Because of others, he is impatient and angry. For the man of the world, the outsides control the insides.

 

It’s just the opposite for the man of God. His insides shape his outsides. He is transformed rather than conformed as our verse expresses today. Paul sitting in a Roman prison could be thankful, prayer and even joyful. Beaten and in a Philippian jail, he was singing praises to God. He was not allowing the outside to set the temperature of the inside. Patient. Content. Joyful. Thankful. Happy. No matter what was going on, no matter what was happening.

 

So, at the restaurant, when the service is slow, the people at the next table are fuming and fussy, but where the man of God sits, he speaks kindly to the staff. He understands how busy they are. In fact, he leaves a generous tip because his heart feels for them. In long lines of traffic, the man of God, doesn’t consider driving down the shoulder to pass everyone else. First, that is illegal, and there may be an accident up the road. He uses the time to talk to others in the car with him, or to pray if he is by himself. Cold, dark weather doesn’t make the man of God feel that way on the inside. He bundles up and heads out with a sunny and cheery spirit. He doesn’t let the weather set the tone for his spirit and attitude of the day. The man of God is driven by his insides and not his outsides.

 

The man of God is driven by the Word of God. His heart is wrapped around the teachings of Jesus. He understands that this world is not our home and that problems come and go, but God remains upon the throne. He knows that everything will be ok, if he just continues to walk closely to the Lord.

 

Now, with this inside-outside difference, you will notice things when you are around people of the world. First, they tend to complain more than they are thankful. They’ll complain about the traffic, the weather, the long lines, and high prices. Things are always gloom and doom for the man of the world. Politics, sports, even Thanksgiving dinner, and he’ll find something not right and something to complain about. You get the impression after awhile that some folks are never happy unless they are miserable.

 

Second, you’ll notice the difference in the willingness to lend a helping hand and help others out. The man of the world is often cautious and uneasy about things like that. He’ll help a friend or family, but he doesn’t go out of his way for those he doesn’t know and especially for those he doesn’t like.

 

Third, the man of the world tends to see everything as it relates to him. His perspective is himself. “Why should I,” is a statement he often makes. There is no greater good than himself. If it is not to his advantage, why pursue it? The man of God sees things from God’s perspective. The good Samaritan got nothing out of helping the injured man on the road other than it was the right thing to do. It was putting the golden rule into practice. Don’t get involved would be the thought of the man of the world.

 

Finally, the child of God realizes that there was a time when he too, was the man of the world. He thought this way. He was an outside-inside person. But, now, through Christ, he has changed. He is now an inside-outside person. His heart has been rewired. He thinks differently now. He is different. He is a child of God.

 

The religious community tries to blend the world in with believers. They want to erase differences and have us to think that other than going to church on Sunday we are the same. We are not. We think differently. We pray that all could think the way God wants us to. And, that difference makes all the difference.

 

Roger

 

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Jump Start # 2470

Posted on November 19, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2470

1 Thessalonians 5:3 “While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.”

Our verse today describes the sudden wrath that will fall upon those who are not prepared. Some believe this is referring to the destruction of Jerusalem. Others lean toward the coming of Jesus. Suddenly, implies quickness and often catching one off guard and unprepared. The illustration is of a woman going into labor. It can literally happen anywhere and at anytime. The verse before, uses the illustration of a thief in the night. If you knew when the thief was coming, you’d have a welcoming party that included the police to greet him. But, as it is, you don’t know.

 

Throughout the Bible this principle of being prepared and not being caught off guard is emphasized. The foolish virgins in the Lord’s parable in Matthew 25, had oil. They did not expect the groom to be delayed. They ran out. They went to get more and he came and they missed out. Life was going on smoothly in the days of Noah when suddenly, it started to rain. Folks were getting married. Now, who would get married if you thought the world was about to end. They were caught unprepared.

 

There are a lot of events in life that come suddenly and unannounced. It’s not like preparing for a wedding or retirement or even the holidays, when we know what day the event will be on and we are just counting down the days. Suddenly is something that catches us off guard. Had we known, we would have been better prepared. But that’s the point of suddenly, you don’t know.

 

You hop in your car in the morning to go to work. Just another typical day. But SUDDENLY, a car pulls out in front of you and you have a wreck. Your day now changes. You’re in your garage, putting something together. All is going smoothly, until something SUDDENLY happens and now you are on the way to the urgent care to get stitches in your hand. You sure didn’t see that coming. Or, in the middle of the night, one of the kids starts throwing up in his bed. That always happens in the middle of the night, for some reason. Now, your day has changed. A phone call and someone in the family has passed away. You must reschedule your world so you can attend the funeral. It came SUDDENLY.

 

Often, these SUDDENLY events come with costs. Car repairs. Doctor visits. Furnace goes out. And, that can be another layer of stress and problems. Had you known this was coming then you would have stuck some money away and been ready. But you didn’t know. Not only do you have to deal with this sudden emergency, but now you have to figure out how to pay for it.

 

 

There are some sudden events that can happen to us.

 

Suddenly, you can be cast into eternity. Death doesn’t always come slowly. Music doesn’t play in the background like in the movies. Sometimes, in an instant, just like that, death can take a life. It can happen at any age, at any place. People have died at theme parks. People have died in bed. People have died on airplanes. People have died in church. The Lord died slowly. John the baptist died quickly.

 

Suddenly, you can be put in an awkward situation by someone blaming you, accusing you, or trying to hurt your reputation. In just an instant, people can blow up and shout all kinds of untrue and unfair statements about you. Put on the spot, all eyes looking at you, it’s a very uncomfortable place to be.

 

Suddenly, you are standing at the crossroads of right and wrong. That’s what temptation does to us. Often, it’s not long and drawn out and well thought out. An image flashes before our eyes. Now, in an instant, what do we do with that? It could be on TV. It could be on a billboard or a magazine cover in the grocery store. It could be the way a person is dressed as they walk by you. Immodest. Indecent. David saw Bathsheba bathing. It just happened. Suddenly. There a person must decide, just like that, to linger, dwell and store those images in his mind, or to look the other way and think pure thoughts. Temptation puts us at the crossroads of a decision. You must decide and you must decide right now.

 

All of this comes back to knowing who we are and being prepared. The guy who has an emergency fund saved up at home won’t be crushed when his furnace goes out. The woman who has her bags backed and is ready to head to the hospital won’t be in a panic when her labor starts. And, the disciple who knows that he wants to spend eternity with the Lord, is prepared. He knows to walk daily with the Lord. He knows each day could be his last day. He knows how important it is to express his love to his family and to make it his ambition to please the Lord. Temptation will come, but so will the answers as to what he ought to do. His heart is filled with the word of God. People may put him in a corner, but he knows how to be respectful even when attacked. And, when death comes, he doesn’t fear. He’s longed for that day to be with the Lord.

 

Suddenly—it’s not so bad when one is prepared.

 

Roger

 

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Jump Start # 2469

Posted on November 18, 2019 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2469

1 Peter 5:8 “Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls about like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.”

In our verse today, Peter pulls the cover back to identify our enemy. He tells us three things about Satan.

 

First, he is our adversary. He is our opponent. He is our enemy. Don’t try to compromise with Satan. Don’t try to be friends with Satan. He cannot be trusted. He is not good. Peter likens the devil to a lion, the king of the jungle. Powerful, fast, smart and dangerous—that’s lions and that’s Satan. He doesn’t care how hard you are trying. He doesn’t care that others are counting on you. He doesn’t care how difficult your journey is. He doesn’t care that you are weary, struggling and having a bad day. He doesn’t care that he has already chased you once today. He simply doesn’t care.

 

Second, Peter reveals Satan’s style. He prowls about. He is here and there. He is not stationary. He is not locked behind a cage, as lions are in the zoo. He’s not found only in Africa, as lions are. He’s everywhere. He’s at work before you get there. He’s waiting for you when you get home in the evening. He walks the hallways of the high school. He sits in the college classroom. He’s at the movie theatre, the ballgame, and even in the church building. He’s everywhere.

 

Third, Peter reveals Satan’s purpose. He wants to devour someone. Anyone. You. Me. All of us. He will feed you lies. He will use people to distract and confuse you. He will send encouragement and opportunity to do wrong. He has many tactics and weapons. He’ll use lust. He’ll throw some discouragement your way. He knows when you are alone. He knows when you are stressed. He wants to destroy you. When a lion devours an antelope, there’s not much left of Mr. Antelope. Satan will trash your marriage, your reputation, your health and even try to wreck the church. All of these are just ways of pulling the rug from under you so you will fall. He wants you to fail spiritually. Satan doesn’t go by the rules. Satan isn’t nice, fair, nor kind. He has no problem seeing your children hurt, scared and lost. He’ll throw in a good ole’ fashioned church fight to get people upset and mad at each other.

 

Satan knows you. He knows when you are alone. He knows when you are tired. He knows just the right buttons to push. He knows what tempts you the most. He will put things before your eyes. He will have you listening to thoughts that are tailored just for your temptation.

 

In many ways, what Peter is describing for us is a journey through lion country. There are no cages to keep the lions contained. There are no safety nets to protect us. This is not a theme park or an adventure. This is life. It’s dangerous. It’s treacherous. It’s full of eyes looking at you. The wrong step, the wrong path could lead to certain death. And, there is no getting around this. There is no just going home and shutting my door where I will be safe. This is the journey that we are on. How then can we pass through lion country safely?

 

First, we must keep our eyes open. Our verse says, “Be alert.” Don’t walk through life half asleep. Don’t be naïve. Pay attention. All around us are subtle messages, used to change our thinking and to lower our guards. In picture books made for little children, one can find evolutionary teachings. TV programs try to get us to accept that fornication is ok, same sex relationships are normal, and that drinking alcohol is harmless. Music pounds thoughts into our minds. Movies shape our attitudes. Even commercials can be ways to change our thinking. Popular religious books drip with false teaching. It’s there. Many do not see it. Be alert. All around you, Satan has dropped little traps to get you. Do you see them? Do you recognize them?

 

Second, resist the devil. This is what James tells us. Resist and he’ll flee. He’ll be back, but for the moment, he’ll leave you. Resist by standing with God. Resist by knowing your Bible. Resist by filling your mind and your day with good things. Resist by digging your heels in and saying, “No.” Everyone around you is saying, “Yes,” but you. You are different. You are going a different direction. You are saying, “No.” Put up a fight. Don’t be afraid to turn that TV off, because there is nothing decent on to watch. Don’t be afraid to be the only one at a conference who is not drinking alcohol. Don’t be afraid to be classified as old fashioned because you won’t flirt around with others you are not married to. Resist. Put up a fight.

 

Third, you find shelter in the Lord. Within this lion passage in Peter, we find, “casting all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you” (v. 7) and, God will “strengthen” you (v. 10). On your own, you won’t make it. Come up with your own plan, you’ll likely fail. But sticking close to God, following His way, filling your heart with His word, you’ll make it through. He cares for you. He wants you to make it safely. Talk to the Lord in prayer. Listen to the Lord as you read His word. Rather than keeping up with the world, try to keep up with the Lord. You’ll make it safely through lion country. Daniel was safe in the lion’s den because of the Lord. You will be safe in lion country because of the Lord.

 

Someday, we will be out of this place and Satan won’t bother us anymore. Where we are going, he is not allowed in. Where we are going, we will be safe.

 

Satan is with you, but so is the Lord. And, the Lord is greater than Satan. Stick with the Lord and you’ll be fine. Follow God and He’ll get you out of this crazy world.

 

Roger