23

Jump Start # 2703

Posted on October 23, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2703

Revelation 22:17 “The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who hears say, ‘Come.’ And let the one who is thirsty  come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.”

Our focus yesterday and today is upon marriage. Our fortieth wedding anniversary is tomorrow. There has been a lot happen in those forty years. Our journey has not been unlike most folks. Lots of memories. Good times, stressful times, and several just plain everyday days. Four kids, ten grandchildren, with number eleven on the way, eight different houses, too many cars to remember, and a multitude of faces that have crossed paths with us. We’ve buried those dear to our hearts. We shed tears of joy at weddings. We’ve sat in hospital waiting rooms in the middle of the night. We’ve had to put beloved pets down. We’ve fussed at our kids, worried about budgets, and prayed a thousand prayers.

Twice God draws from marriage as illustrations of great spiritual concepts. In Ephesians, it the relationship that Christ has to the saved that is illustrated by a husband and wife. In Revelation, our passage, it’s the invitation from the bride that welcomes hearts to Christ.

Forty years of marriage and one ought to know something. Here are a few of my thoughts:

First, it’s easier to preach about marriage than it is to live it. We know the principles, concepts, and what God expects from us. It’s hard putting those things into practice. Golden rule, grace, forgiveness are not once in a while concepts, but are the platform upon which we walk every day. Every day. And, those days when we choose not to walk that way, life gets hard. Words are said that shouldn’t have been. The relationship can become like two porcupines trying to hug each other—it’s hard.

Second, one never stops learning, growing and doing. Never. You learn about yourself. You learn about the other. You always do. And, the more you understand and learn, the more you love and the better things become. Love through the years becomes richer, stronger, deeper and more important, than anything else. You stop thinking so much about yourself and your thoughts and energy is focused upon the other. Some days, just sitting beside each other and looking at nature is one of the best things ever. Nothing has to be said. You’d rather do that than anything else.

Third, you only let bug you what you let bug you. When my little grandchildren are with me out in the flower garden, they’ll see bees, worms and all kinds of creeping things. They’ll scream and take off. I tell them every time that a bee won’t bother you unless you bother it. And, there’s a lot of similarities to marriage. You can focus on what irritates you and allow the other person to bug you, or you can let those things go. Love, we remember, does not take into account a wrong suffered is how it’s defined in Corinthians. Love doesn’t keep track and forgiveness doesn’t remember. Some people bug people on purpose. I see those videos about practical jokes. Sure looks funny when it is happening to someone else. But when it happens to you, suddenly it’s not so funny. Love puts yourself in the other person’s shoes. Making fun of someone, especially your mate, may be funny to you, but it may hurt their feelings or even hurt their bones. Little things go along way in a day. Picking up things on the floor. Putting away dishes. Helping out. That not only shows your interests in things, but it lightens the load for the other person. Just get in the habit of doing good deeds, all the time.

Fourth, the more and more you draw closer to God and the more and more your mate draws closer to God, it will naturally draw each other closer. The concept of a triangle is that as each side gets closer to the top, the two sides are drawn close to each other. It’s that way in marriage. The best thing you can do for your marriage is for you to get as close to the Lord as you can. I know someone who just went to a wedding. His words, “I’ll give it three years at the most.” Everything was wrong. It’s a train wreck ready to happen. He sees it. And, what’s missing the most is God. He’s not there. Booze is there. Offensive behavior and language is there. Selfishness is there. Three years may be too optimistic for that disaster. Some people just shouldn’t get married. They are not in the mindset of caring for others. Your spouse ought to be helping you get to Heaven. Your spouse ought to pull the best out of you and encourage you to be your best. In this way, marriage honors God and illustrates Jesus and the church. And, you need to be helping your spouse get to Heaven. You are helping each other. You are looking out for each other. You want the best for each other.

Forty years with my sweet Debbie. It’s been a wonderful, wonderful, blessed journey.  Lou Gehrig in his famous farewell address at Yankee stadium said, “I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth.”  It hasn’t been luck, but the blessings of the Lord.

Paul began his famous declaration of love in Corinthians by saying, “love is…”. And, it is. Love is joyful, good, kind and sweet, if you want it to be. Love is.

Roger

22

Jump Start # 2702

Posted on October 22, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2702

Matthew 19:6 “So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.”

It’s been a while since I wrote about marriage in our Jump Starts. This upcoming weekend is an anniversary for us. It’s a big one—forty years. That’s a long time. I know many who have been married fifty, some sixty years. Few of us drive forty year old cars. I hope we still don’t have forty year old clothes hanging in our closets. Our TVs have changed in forty years. Our phones have changed in forty years. But some things that really matter remain the same, such as faith, dedication, trust, love and marriage.

Our verse today comes from the exchange Jesus had with the Pharisees. The topic was marriage, but that wasn’t the point. They were set to trick and trap Jesus. They asked a loaded question that they believed even He couldn’t answer correctly. It was about divorce. Jesus centered the discussion around the purpose of marriage. He saw through their traps. God has joined, don’t unjoin that.

For years and years the report was that more than 50% of marriages ended in divorce. I don’t know what the current stats are. But even with that, a large percentage of marriages were staying together. Why do some marriages make it and some don’t? Many factors from expectations, whether or not God was included in the marriage, sin, influences, the in-laws, money, kids, keeping promises. There is not one simple answer.

But in our passage today, we find a key word that has a lot to do with whether or not a marriage makes it. It is the word “let.” Let no man separate is what Jesus said. Let means allow. Let involves us. Let is about us. Let is a choice.  Let is about what we let.

In a wonderful way, Jesus is telling us to protect our marriages. Put up a fence and don’t let the bad stuff in. Keep out the things that will hurt the marriage. We understand this concept with our front doors to where we live. We shut them. We keep things out. There are certain people, animals and things that we do not want coming through that front door. Most keep that door locked, especially at night. You do this to protect your family and to protect yourself. Without that door, anyone and anything could come in, and that would be bad. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night to see a raccoon starring at you or bats flying around the ceiling or a skunk who has made his way under your bed. Imagine all the rain that could come in or the dust, leaves and bugs that would be in your house. You have a door and it allows you to let in what you want. The same must be true of our marriages. Jesus said “let no man separate.”

Here are some things that we need to keep out of our marriage:

First, negative attitudes and harsh words. The world is full of that. Political ads are full of that. Work can be like that. Friends can be like that. Shut that door and don’t let those things in. So, having spent an entire day with negative and complaining people, drop all of that before you walk through the door of your home. Keep it out. Don’t let that come in. When we are negative, we tend to become touchy. Everything bothers us. Nothing is right. All we see are problems. And, then the river of harsh words begins to flow. That’s not the way to keep your marriage going. It doesn’t take too much of that for a person to want to get out and find some peace and quiet. A person needs encouragement, hope and love. Don’t let those things in.

Second, things that take us away from the Lord. We need to be as close to the Lord as we can be. You can’t get too close to Him. There are things that pull us away from Him. Our friends can. We may have a good time with them, but little by little we let them pull us away from the Lord. Less talk about Jesus and more talk about unimportant stuff. More worldliness. More materialism. More pushing the limits of what I find acceptable. Can’t let that happen. Can’t allow friendships to ruin your relationship with the Lord. Given the choice, the friends have to go. Don’t let them destroy what you have in Jesus. Wonderful worship. Amazing fellowship. Powerful faith. Engagement in the kingdom. A destination that is in Heaven. That’s what a disciple has. You want to keep those things inside and those that don’t appreciate that on the outside.

Third, other people who do not need to know what goes on within your house. Some things belong just between a husband and wife. And, when we share with others our issues, disappointments, secrets you are letting someone come in between you and your spouse. This includes parents—in-laws and outlaws. As parents, we got to let our grown children live their lives. Unless they are doing something that will keep them from Heaven, we must allow them to do things that we would never do. Too many of us want to continue to parent our children even though they are married and have their own children. Can’t do that. Don’t let that happen. Shut that door and keep somethings inside and other things outside.

Your marriage will experience the roller coaster journey of life. There will be exciting moments such as the birth of children and grandchildren. There will be some real lows such as financial troubles and deaths. But as long as that roller coaster car stays on the tracks it will reach it’s destination. The problems come when it jumps the tracks and we crash.

Your marriage will be what you make it. It can be close, fun and beneficial to both of you. It can be one of the greatest spiritual blessings and helps to Heaven. Or, your marriage can be a nightmare that never ends. It’s the way you make it. It’s what you have “let” happen to it. Marriage is a journey. Some steps are easy and no big deal. Some are hard. But if you both continue to walk with the Lord, it will be an amazing trip, full of memories and times you have helped others.

It begins with what you let into your home, your heart and your marriage.

Roger

21

Jump Start # 2701

Posted on October 21, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2701

2 Chronicles 29:3 “In the first year of his reign, in the first month, he opened the doors of the house of the Lord and repaired them.”

Recently I preached a lesson about “Revival.” I called it, “Revive us.” A spiritual revival is desperately needed in our country. Our churches, our homes and our nation is not only showing the lackluster impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, but for a long, long time the morals, attitudes and spirit of looking out for one another has been on the decline. Much like Jeremiah’s day, good is being called evil and evil is being called good. And, our hope is not in the White House, the Court House, or even in the church house, but in the Lord. Revive us again, is needed. We need to Jump Start our hearts and kick our faith into gear. We’ve been shut down and nearly stopped completely because of a virus no one can figure out. Our God is greater than any little bug or even, any big bug.

There are many revivals within the Bible, such as, Asa, Josiah, Joshua and even in Samaria during the days of Jesus. But Hezekiah’s reforms are my favorite. His father, Ahaz messed the nation up. The Common English Version states that “he was utterly unfaithful to the Lord.” Not only did he stop the sacrifices in Judah, but he cut up the utensils that would be used in worship and locked the doors to the temple. He closed it up. That wicked old king finally died. His son, Hezekiah, becomes king. He was young, just twenty-five years old. Today, we’d say, he was fresh out of college. Young, ambitious, a head full of ideas, but lacking experience—that’s most college grads today and it fits Hezekiah.

However, our verse today is a powerful revelation into the heart and faith of this young king. He opened the doors of the temple. He did this in his first year and in his first month. It didn’t take a committee to study this. It didn’t take a policy to be hammered out. It didn’t take years and years of research. He was on it immediately. Within the first month, those temple doors were back open. And, what follows is one of the great sweeping reforms in the Bible.

Here are some thoughts for us:

First, Hezekiah must have been thinking about this even before he became king. He was planning, dreaming and had a vision. His worthless father had closed the doors. Hezekiah waited his turn. When Ahaz was out of the picture, those closed doors swung wide open.

Here’s a thought: what if you were given the honor of shepherding the people of God next year or in a few years. You are appointed as one of the elders of the congregation where you worship. What would you do? What needs to be done? Are you already thinking about how you could help the people of God walk closer to the Lord? Are you gathering ideas that will help in communication, transparency, better involvement of the members? We often hear what the president launches in his first 100 days. Hezekiah didn’t wait that long. Within the first month, he was opening up closed doors. This was on his heart. This was something that he wanted to do immediately.

Second, sometimes we can spend so long in the huddle that nothing gets accomplished. We can kick that can down the road month after month and talk and talk and the doors remain closed. Not Hezekiah. He got things going. The most important was restoring Biblical worship to God. That starts with opening up the doors. There is a time for talk, but there is also a time for action. Wait too long, and no one may be interested in opening those doors again. We can take surveys, poll the congregation, ask others, get advice and talk and talk and talk, and weeks become months and nothing ever changes. There comes a time to get those doors unlocked and open up the temple. There has been a lot of talking this year about Bible classes and especially what to do with the kids classes. A lot of talking. Maybe it’s time to put some of that talk into action. If the kids can’t safely be in the same room, then what’s some alternatives? The year is nearly over. Maybe it’s time for some action.

Third, sometimes talk is perceived as inaction. Hezekiah could have spent the first year of his reign talking about opening the doors. But, he went right away into the action mode. Folks sometimes complain that a congregation is doing nothing and going nowhere, when action is nothing more than talk. Having specific plans that are put on paper and shared with others tends to push us to stick with what we have said. It prompts us to action. What’s the plans for next year for the church? Put it on paper. Share it with the church. Put some traction to those ideas and get busy making them come about.

Fourth, opening the doors wasn’t the only step for Hezekiah. Throughout the next two chapters, he restores the priests, the sacrifices, the worship and tosses all the idols his father had built. Opening the doors was just the first step. It was an important step, but stopping there wasn’t enough. More reforms. More restoring. More reviving needed to be done. Hezekiah led the people back to God. We might stop too soon on things. We get the nerve to open the doors of the temple, but that’s all we do. And, if that’s all we do, very little change will take place and it won’t last. Open the doors, but get the priests consecrated. Get the sacrifices to God going again. Get worship going. Get the people back where they need to be. Get the hearts restored.

Opening the doors of the temple was just the beginning. There was much more to be done, but it all started, in those first few weeks, when he opened the doors. What needs to be done in your marriage? What needs to be done in your family? What needs to be done in the congregation? What needs to be done in your heart? Start, with opening up but don’t stop there. And, don’t take a long time opening up those doors!

Revive us, again!

Roger

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Jump Start # 2700

Posted on October 20, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2700

Acts 8:2 “And some devout men buried Stephen, and made loud lamentation over him.”

With this Jump Start, we reach yet another milestone, 2700. Who would have thought that we would have such a collection of writings. Our Jump Starts now have a Monday podcast, Jump Start Rewind, which can be heard from the Charlestown Road website (www.charlestownroad.org). There are also 25 Jump Start books which are themed and always for free. Many, many thanks to a congregation that supports this endeavor and to the many readers that encourage, share and tell others about Jump Starts. Thank You!

Our verse today centers around the execution of Stephen. He had preached a powerful lesson. It is recorded in Acts 7. It is one of the best O.T. summaries. But the Jewish hierarchy had enough. They must have thought with the death of Jesus that this movement would had fizzled out. Instead, it was growing. It seemed unstoppable. And, with Stephen’s pointed message, they decided right then and right there to execute him. They did not go to the Roman officials for permission, as they had done with Jesus. On the spot, the audience became a mob and they turned violent. Stephen was killed. Faithful men buried the preacher of God’s word.

Last week I learned of the quiet passing of a preacher in my area. His long life of service had touched many hearts. He worked with many congregations and was kind and gentle, the marks of someone who knows the Lord. I have a picture of the two of us in my office. Our paths never crossed very often, but I have always heard of him and the good work he did in the kingdom. He gave me a book of some of his writings about four years ago when I got to spend a couple of hours with him. What a delight he was. He talked and talked about preaching and was such an encouragement. It was the noon hour and time to eat. His wife was ready to eat, but he had yet another story to tell. That followed with still another story. He was a prince.

The older guys are passing on. That is life. That is the way it is to be. Moses died and Joshua took over. Paul died and the work fell to Timothy, Titus and Apollos. A generation comes and a generation goes is what Solomon tells us. But before we pass that baton on too quickly, I think it is good for us to take a moment, reflect, and be thankful for what those old soldiers of Christ have done for us. They fought battles that we never will. They endured hardships of congregations dividing and mean things being said. Younger preachers, you do yourself much good if you could connect with a preacher of another generation and spend an afternoon with him. Here are some things I have seen and learned:

First, many, many of those preachers of the last generation worked hard with low pay, primitive equipment, small offices, but they had a heart of gold. They loved the Lord. They preached and preached and they preached everywhere. They preached in small places. They preached before small crowds. They poured hours into producing bulletins that taught a generation the way of the Lord. These soldiers often had radio programs that spoke the word of God throughout a community. They poured their very souls into what they were doing.

I wonder how many today would do what they did? They sure made it easier for my generation and the generations that follow. Preachers are paid so much better today than ever before. The working conditions, equipment and involvement of others has made our work so smooth. Elderships that actually shepherd the flock of God and deacons that are really servants are a wonderful blessing.

Second, many, many of those preachers of the last generation had a heart that put the kingdom before themselves. So many did with so little. They were of the time when preachers were shuffled about like a deck of cards. About every four years it was expected for the preacher to move. Congregations owned a house for the preacher to live in. It may not have been a house the preacher would have bought on his own. It may not have been in a neighborhood he wanted, but there it was and he was expected to live in it. He couldn’t paint it, change carpet or do any repairs without permission from the church. It wasn’t his house. He put up with those things because he wanted to preach. His poor family moved about every four years. Crisscrossing state lines, new school, new congregation, knowing that in another four years or so, they’d move again. I expect most today wouldn’t tolerate that. But those old soldiers did, eventually getting congregations to see that moving preachers around so often wasn’t the best idea. Times are different. Things are better. We owe a world of thanks and gratitude for what they have done. They have made it better for us.

Third, the past generation fought a major, major war within the church. Congregations across the country divided. Preachers were labeled and fired. Things became hot, nasty and ugly. Debates dominated the period. Papers drove brethren to taking sides. Preachers were fired on the spot if they didn’t line up as a congregation thought they should. Reason seemed to be tossed out the door. There were many causalities and heartache. And, still, onward these noble soldiers of Christ kept preaching. They kept people looking into the book. When emotions were running high, it was solid, Biblical preaching that kept people grounded and close to the Lord. Some congregations overnight decided to fire their preacher with no consideration to how he was going to pay his bills, what his children would go through. It was an extremely difficult time. And, so many pressed onward. They wore the scars from these battles, but they didn’t become bitter. They didn’t complain. They didn’t quit. They just kept preaching and preaching.

Finally, as many of these old, old soldiers of Christ aged, they could no longer keep up with the pace of a fast generation. Their voices were silenced. Many who had given their lives to working for congregations, found that they were soon forgotten. They were replaced with younger, more dynamic preachers. No one called them anymore. No one needed them anymore. And, congregations simply forgot them. Having spent a lifetime helping churches, many were left to live their final days in tiny apartments because they had no money. They struggled to get by, never saying a word, for fear that they would be a burden. And, so these mighty giants that taught and preached for decades and decades are left alone until eternity calls them home. Like an old workhorse, many congregations simply replaced the old mule with a younger one and no thought is given to the years of service or what the future holds for the old preacher.

Here are a couple of suggestions:

First, younger preachers, spend some time with an older preacher. You need to hear the stories. You need to see the scars. You need to learn of their dedication, service and commitment. Then you need to look at your own life and be thankful and also evaluate where you are. It is easy to put ourselves, our comfort, our benefits, before everything else. Listening to these old guys will help you with that. Take an old preacher out to lunch. Become friends. He can help you more than you realize.

Second, it’s time for congregations to give some thought about what we are doing with these old preachers. Are we really practicing the golden rule in the way we treat these men? They have given so much. Maybe it’s time congregations took care of the old preacher until God calls him home. Many congregations would not be where they are today had it not been for the hard work of these old soldiers of Christ. We’ve wanted the preacher in the pulpit on holidays, even though we had it off with pay. We’ve wanted the preacher to do the weddings for our kids and bury our old ones. He’s sat with us in surgery waiting rooms. We wanted him to go talk to those with messy lives. We expected the preacher to teach every class and to come at a moment’s notice. We’ve worked and worked that old preacher and he has done so with gladness and joy because of his love for the Lord. And, now that we are done with him, how do we treat him? Best put some thought to that. The Lord may not be pleased with what we have done towards those old preachers.

Raymond Harris was a true warrior for Jesus. I’m thankful that I got to know him. I’m thankful for the footprints that he left for my generation. I can only hope to do the same for those who come after me.

Well, done, good and faithful. Thank you for your loyal service in the kingdom. Welcome Home!

Roger

19

Jump Start # 2699

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2699

Daniel 1:8 But Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the king’s choice food or with the wine which he drank; so he sought permission from the commander of the officials that he might not defile himself.”

Young Daniel, as this great prophetic book begins, has been taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon. His name has been changed that reflects Babylonian gods. He is being taught Babylonian culture. In many ways, he is being rewired to become Babylonian. Many captives throughout history would not find themselves in the wonderful care that Daniel was in. He was not in chains. He was not in a dark, damp dungeon. He was not being used as free forced labor. He was being groomed to serve in the Babylonian administration. He was excelling and God was with him.

But our verse today brings Daniel to a major crossroads. There was a line drawn in his convictions, and now he was being asked to cross that line. We are not told specifically why eating the king’s food would defile him.  It could be that the food was unclean by Jewish law. It could be that the food had been sacrificed to Babylonian gods and that would appear as a compromise. But in Daniel’s mind, this was it. This had reached the limit. He could not do this in good conscience. There comes a time and a point where if you cross that line your influence is shot, your conscience is violated and in your mind and heart you have joined the enemy.

Several things for us:

First, do you have such a line drawn in your heart? If you don’t you’ll spend the rest of your life compromising your faith and tolerating things that are not right. Some do not want to draw attention to themselves so they quietly go along with things that they know are wrong. In doing that, they have just ruined their influence and watered down their faith. Afraid of others, yet not afraid of God is where this puts you.

Lines must be drawn. We need those at work. Companies will push you and push you into doing things that are wrong. Corporate American is driven by growth and profits, not convictions and what is right and wrong. Lying, cheating, and dishonesty are the steps many take to climb that corporate ladder. The environment is often toxic and for the child of God he stands in the shadows of Daniel. Do I defile myself by going along, or do I have to say, “I can’t do this.” There are always consequences that come with standing up. Some of those consequences can be harsh.

Lines must be drawn with our family and friends. As we head towards the holiday season, there many be many situations in which you have to decide for yourself, “this crosses the line with me.” I cannot go along or I cannot participate in these things. Family and friends may not understand. They may think the problem is you. Everyone else is going along, why can’t you? And, you know the answer, it crosses the line with you.

You need to have a line drawn where you cannot go any further. For Daniel it was eating the king’s food.

Second, notice how Daniel dealt with this. He was told to eat the king’s food and he just couldn’t. So he “sought permission” from the commander. He didn’t wait until the food was put in front of him and then throw it on the Babylonians. He didn’t get ugly. He didn’t protest. He didn’t burn down the palace. Some, in refusing to cross one line, cross dozens of other lines because of the way they respond and react. We can put ourselves upon the fires of a martyr by the demanding and offensive way we respond. Daniel wasn’t persecuted by the commander. His calm and kind way that he approached things invited a conversation and an opportunity for another way of doing things.

You are asked to cross a line in which you cannot. Now, how do you handle it? Do you quit your job on the spot, leaving the company in a pickle because there is no one to do your job. Do you cause a scene and make yourself look like a idiot? Do you make threats? Do you lose your cool? Do you see what Daniel did? He did not cross the line, but neither did he make matters worse by his attitude and spirit.

Third, others are watching you. There may be others who have the same problem with crossing lines, but they lack the conviction and fear repercussions. They go along because they don’t want to stand alone. Seeing how you handle things and seeing your faith makes them see you with great faith. This may have long lasting impact, even after this current issue has settled down. How we conduct ourselves and our spirit and tone can have a greater effect upon others than an invitation to come to worship. Being mean, aggressive, offensive kills the good that came from standing up for what we believed in.

From the pages of the Bible, through the first four centuries after Christ, believers went to their deaths with faith and hope. They didn’t go down swinging. They didn’t take out as many as they could. The stories abound of Roman soldiers reluctantly putting a sword to the throat of young Christian girls. She stands courageously. No tears in her eyes. One account tells how a young believer actually put the sword up to her own throat because the Roman soldier just couldn’t do it. Paul’s persecutions, Peter’s fiery trials, the death of Stephen, Antipas, James, are all powerful reminders of how the faithful dealt with persecution. They didn’t egg it on. They didn’t resist and fight back. They went to their deaths knowing that the Lord had died for them. We see courage, faith, hope in these stories. What we face is not death. It may be people talking about us. It may be the loss of a job. It may be social pressure. But how do we handle ourselves when we come to the line that we cannot cross?

Finally, Daniel came up with a plan that offered a reasonable solution. Let us eat veggies and drink water and you see who is healthy and strong. Daniel didn’t force this idea. It was presented as a reasonable alternative. It was tried. Daniel was right. Daniel gained more favor through all of this. Daniel didn’t put himself in an either or situation. If I must eat the food, then I prefer to die. Given that option, the Babylonians would have killed Daniel. When we put threats out to leave the company, report someone, or go to the news, we put them in a position to defend themselves. Daniel did not put himself in the option of food or death. He had thought out a way in which he would not cross the line of his faith and it would not threaten others. Notice, Daniel didn’t say, “Everyone eats veggies.” No, it was just the Jews. He was taking a risk that would not hurt the entire system.

Great things for you and I to think about. You need to know where your line is drawn. You need to think about what happens when you are made to cross that line. You need to think about how others are seeing you. You need to think about how you would respond.

Daniel, living in a culture that wasn’t helpful for his faith. We, too, live in a culture that is not helpful for our faith. It’s time to draw some lines and stand upon our convictions in such a way that good is done.

Roger