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Jump Start # 2926

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2926

Proverbs 23:24 “The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him.”

As many of our readers know, I have a son that preaches. He is preaching well. He knows how to connect, deliver and punch a sermon out. He is preaching all over the place and I am hearing about it. Some will tease and say, “He’s better than you,” of which I won’t argue but rather agree with them. There was a time when he used my sermons. Now, it’s the other way around. And, this will be an occasion when the son out shines the father, which is just the way it ought to be.

And, all of this brings us to our passage today. A happy father. He wasn’t happy because it was Father’s Day and he received all kinds of gifts. He wasn’t happy because of the accomplishments and awards that hung on his wall. No, it was his children that made him happy. And, generically, that’s true in many, many homes. We love our kids. We want them to do well. I have sat in the stands and watched my children get awards, do well in sports and sing their hearts out on stage. What a joy it is to see your children do well.

But our passage as a specific direction. It’s not the kid that hit the homerun and won the ball game for his team. It wasn’t the child that got a full ride scholarship to a college. Those are great, but here it is spiritually driven. The father rejoiced because his child was righteous. The father was glad because his son was wise. What mattered and what ought to always matter is the spiritual. Seeing your child on the field of sports is great, but what if his character isn’t great? What if he hangs out with the wicked? What if his attitude is selfish? What if there is no kindness in him? Or, certainly he can excel in sports, but what kind of person will he be? What happens when the days of sports end? This father, in our passage,  knew what was important. His son was wise. His son was righteous. Right choices were made. A life was directed toward that eternal home.

Some thoughts:

First, too many parents live through their children’s experiences. This is especially true in sports. Maybe mom and dad weren’t good enough when they were in high school to make the team, but driven hard, very hard, their child is. Team sports. Camps. Off season leagues. Traveling leagues. Been there with my kids. One must wonder who wants this more, the child or the parent? And, what’s the price? First, it is expensive financially. A new glove. Better running shoes. This fee. That fee. It can sure add up. Second, there is the cost of the kid’s childhood. Summer days of playing outside, exploring, having fun can be lost to a world of traveling every weekend to another game. It’s good to let kids be kids. Let them play. Get them outside to see God’s world. Third, there is certainly the cost spiritually. We always made sure to get to a church when traveling to games. But weekend after weekend, your child is out of his routine of Bible classes back home. He doesn’t know what’s going on. He doesn’t connect well with the kids at church because he is never around them. Is the cost worth it? That’s something moms and dads need to talk about.

Second, parents can become jealous of their own children. The fact that we may not want to admit is that our children can be better than we are. And, in time, your child may make more money than you do. This can be hard to understand, given the fact that you have decades into your career and yet here comes your child and within a few years, he’s passed you financially. If not careful, this can sour your relationship with your child and make you bitter towards him. When people said to me, “I’d rather here your son preach than you,” my first reaction was, “I trained him.” Then I thought, “I was just like that when his age.” But let that air out of your ego. It’s ok. What I generally say is, “I’d rather hear him, too.”

Third, the success of your family must be measured spiritually. Got a kid who lives in a big house, drives a Beemer, makes tons of money, but never worships God, what good is that? The father in our passage was rejoicing and glad because his son was on the right path with God. Nothing in that passage tells us how that child was doing financially? Was his house paid for? How many cars did he have? Nothing. But, that father knew come the weekend, his child would not be at the lake fishing, he’d be sitting in worship. And, knowing that the child was righteous implied that he would be raising his children in a godly way. It’s a wonderful feeling knowing that on any given Sunday, you know your children are in worship with God. They may live in different places, but they have been taught, shown and understood the ways of the Lord. The child in our verse  chose to be righteous because his father had spent the time and the effort to instruct him. Maybe dad didn’t teach him how to build a shelf or how to throw a ball, but what he did take the time to show was how to live righteously. How to be a man of God. How to help others. How to please God and how to engage in kingdom work.

And, just why would that make a father happy? The father knew that the righteous choices were molding his son’s character and heart. The father knew that when he no longer walked this earth, his child would continue to live righteously. When the world was bowing down to the idols of culture, his child would be facing the Lord. This dad got it. He knew what was important. This didn’t start when the child was a teen, nor was this passed off to the local synagogue. This dad knew because he had been the one teaching, guiding and showing his child all along the way. Can you imagine the deep discussions this grown child and his dad could have. Not superficial stuff about what team is going to trade what player where. Conversations about life. Conversations about the future. Conversations about helping others. Conversations about God. Those things too often never come up in a home because Mom and Dad have so little interests and knowledge in those things. Not here. Not in our verse. The son was righteous. The dad was glad.

Am I proud of my son who preaches? Absolutely. President Harry Truman’s mother was once asked, “Aren’t you so proud to have a son in the White House?” She responded, “Yes, and I’m just as proud of my other son who lives two houses down from me.” And, that’s exactly how I feel. Proud of all of them. Most happy that all of them are walking with the Lord. That’s a parents greatest blessing.

Let’s get our children pointed towards the Lord.

Roger

22

Jump Start # 2925

Posted on September 22, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2925

2 Timothy 2:15 “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth.”

Do you ever get the lazies? It’s not that you don’t have things to do. It’s just the opposite. Your list is long. But this day, you just don’t feel motivated. You don’t want to do what needs to be done. And there starring us in our face is the opening words of our passage, “Be diligent.” And “diligence” means to get about it. Get up and get going. Do it. Oh, you know you should, but you sure don’t feel like it at the moment.

Getting the lazies is not something that a lazy person understands. He’s always lazy. Procrastination is his favorite hobby. The lazy guy spends more time talking than doing and more time watching TV that helping others. The book of Proverbs addresses the sluggard or lazy person. Go to the ant, we are told. That little ant has more ambition than the lazy person.

No, most times it’s the busy person that occasionally catches the lazies. He’s been busting it over and over, but now he just doesn’t feel like it. Preachers can get this way. It would be good for shepherds to understand this. As soon as Sunday night rolls around, it’s time to be thinking of yet another sermon. Another podcast. Another article. Another class. For me, another Jump Start. There is little taking the foot off the accelerator. There is too much to be done.

Here are a few things that might help:

First, getting the lazies is common. Don’t make yourself feel worse by piling on guilt. No one is Superman. Even the Lord got away for reflection and rest. You are not a failure nor a bad person because there are days that you don’t feel like doing what needs to be done.

Second, pace yourself and get organized. Not everything needs to be done today or even this week. Make lists of what must be done today. There will be interruptions, that’s life. On that list of things to be done, start with things that are easy and quick to accomplish. That gives you some momentum. You are getting things done. Things are being crossed off your list.

Third, take a breather. Take a day off. Take your vacation. Many preachers don’t practice that. We are running all the time. As a result we are tired. Few know it, but we do. The quality of our work isn’t top notch. We know. We justify it because there are so many things to do. But what happens is that we get stale and after a while it shows in our preaching, teaching and work. So, take a mental vacation. Rest your mind. Try to unplug your thinking about sermons, classes and articles. That’s hard for most of us to do.

This is where sharp shepherds will add value and years to their preachers tenure. Schedule a time for others to preach. Your preacher will fight you on this. He would as soon preach if he is home. But tell him it’s for his good. Send him on a sabbatical to read, recharge and come back fresh. It’s only good for the whole church.

Fourth, learn to delegate. That’s hard. Sometimes it’s just easier and faster to do it yourself than it is to train someone. But there are many things others can do so you can focus upon what only you do. Mailing meeting fliers is something others can do. Get more of the deacons involved in the total work and that will help so much.

Now, these same simple points apply to all of us. There are days when moms do not feel like being a mom. You can’t resign. But what you can do is catch your breath, delegate, get organized, pace yourself, make lists. There are days you may not feel like going to work. There may be days you don’t feel like going to worship. We push ourselves to work because there are bills and a mortgage that must be paid. But worship, for many is easy to skip. Don’t start that. It will get you into trouble.

When you don’t feel like worshipping, try sitting some where different in the auditorium. Try singing without looking at the words. Try to talk to some you rarely talk to. Shuffle things up a bit. Make things fresh in your heart.

Be diligent…there are times when that is the hardest part of our verse to do. There are days when our tank is running low on diligence. It’s hard to be motivated when one doesn’t feel like doing anything. It might be good to take a Saturday and schedule NOTHING. Yes, there are so many things to do around the house and out in the yard. Yes, there are places to go. But for this one Saturday, you’ve decided to stay put. Pick up a book and read. Listen to some music. Rest. Let tomorrow take care of itself. Refuel that diligence tank.

All of this is better than getting burned out and quitting.

Roger

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Jump Start # 2924

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2924

Luke 15:10 “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Do you ever just wonder? I do. I really like Sundays. Sundays are my favorite day of the week. I wish everyday was Sunday. That’s the day Jesus rose from the grave. That’s the day that first Gospel sermon was preached. That’s the day saints gather. That’s the day we remember. That’s the day we worship. Great things happen on Sunday.

It hit me on a Sunday. I never gave it much thought before. Do folks on the other side know what day of the week it is? By ‘the other side,’ I mean, those who have gone on, passed away. Do they know in Heaven when it’s a Sunday? I put that before a class recently. Told them I was going to think about it.

Here’s what I came up with:

First, God knows. God knows everything. If the Lord knows our thoughts and intentions, He certainly knows what day of the week it is. I knew that. I wasn’t concerned about what the Lord knows. He knows everything. How about angels? How about our loved ones who have gone on? Do they know when it’s Sunday here?

Second, a thousand years is like one day and one day like a thousand years. Peter tells us that. Time means nothing to God. It was just a couple of days ago, to eternity, that Jesus died. That’s how God sees it. And, the flood, that was only last week. Eternity is timeless. We understand that. Still, what remains is, do the rest of Heaven know when it’s a Sunday?

Third, our verse tells us that angels know when a sinner repents. The thrust of that passage is the joy of salvation and the need to repent. What Jesus doesn’t tell us is “just how did the angels know” that someone repented? Were they told? Did they see it themselves? If they knew when a person repented, did they know what day of the week it was?

Fourth, Jesus said that one who gives a cup of cold water in the name of a disciple will not lose his reward. Somehow that deed was known in Heaven. A cup of cold water isn’t much. It’s certainly not worth remembering, but the deed is known. Now is it God who witnesses that generous cold water or were the angels able to know this as well? Do angels only see repentance? What if that cup of cold water was given on a Sunday? Would that have made a difference? Would the angels know that fact?

So, here is what I concluded:

First, because angels see a few things and God sees everything doesn’t not mean that everyone else will know or see these things. The secret things, Deuteronomy tells us, belongs to God. Now, we can build a nice impressive set of principles about what we see after we die, but most of it would be our imagination and not the word of God. The young preacher Timothy was told to “preach the word.” He’s not to push his speculations.

Do they know what year it is up in Heaven? God does. Does anyone else? There is no indication from the story of the rich man, the book of Revelation or other places that the dead can see what is happening on earth after they departed. It warms our hearts to think a family member is watching you. But that deceased family member can’t do anything for you. Make sure you do not bump God out of the way for your family member.

Second, Sunday is special. The emphasis in the Bible is what we do here on Sunday. We are to gather and worship the Lord as He has directed. We are to fellowship. We are to pray. We are to remember the Lord’s death. What are they doing on the other side when it’s a Sunday? Don’t know. And, we have to leave it at that.

Third, God has supplied us with everything we need to get safely to the other side. The Lord’s blood, and God’s guidance through His  word is what will bring us safely home. The Bible mentions little about the other side. We know it will be beautiful. We know it will be unlike anything we see here. Sunday is special to us. Sunday, done right, will keep you pointed towards Heaven. God likes Sunday. There is no indication and no purpose for preaching in Heaven. There is no need to take the Lord’s Supper in Heaven. Jesus will be right there. So don’t try to stretch worship services to Heaven. It is a different place.

Finally, Sunday needs to be special to us now. If it’s not, then we might never know what Heaven is like. The praise of God ought to touch our hearts and move us to being a better people. The internet is not the local congregation. Livestream is not fellowship. It’s a bandaid for tough times. It ought never to replace what we had. The gathering of the saints is special. We ought to long for it and make it special.

Do they know it’s Sunday in Heaven? Could be everyday is Sunday in Heaven.

Roger

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Jump Start # 2923

Posted on September 20, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2923

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

One of the burdens that so many shepherds in the Lord’s church carry today is the belief that they must solve every problem and fix every person. That alone can be very overwhelming. The larger the congregation the more that is multiplied. So many people and so many problems. It is a wonder that any shepherd gets a night’s sleep.

Our passage written so long ago ought to help us some. The Lord was extending His loving hand to His people. They were quickly sinking into the mire of error and idolatry. There was a way out. The story didn’t have to end with defeat, shame and death. There was a better way. It wasn’t something new. They already knew. It was the ancient paths. Seek them and you’ll get out of that pit. Seek them and you’ll find hope. Seek them and you’ll find rest. Seek them and the Lord will forgive you. So easy. So simple.

The reply was quick, direct and defiled. We will not. We will not walk in those ancient paths. We will not have anything to do with what you want. We will continue on the path that we are on. We will not turn back. Leave us alone. We are happy where we are.

And, what we find here is a responsibility upon the people. God’s hand was extended but they were turning their backs on God. And, within this we find some powerful lessons for shepherds today.

First, some people do not want to be saved. That’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Some people do not want to rescue their marriages. They’d rather crash the marriage on the rocks and go over the waterfalls, as dangerous as that might be. Some people do not want to quit drinking. Some people do not want to worship the Lord.

Second, some messes created by us can only be straightened out by us. Sure the shepherds are there and would love to help and guide, but in the end, they can’t do anything unless we are willing. Jesus did not save every person. Some were bold enough to walk away from Jesus. Some saw the miracles and still refused to believe. Attitudes, forgiveness, second chances, we can preach those things all day long.

Third, we pile up pressure and guilt upon ourselves when we feel compelled to solve every problem. The truth is we can’t. And, since we can’t, we feel like failures. We believe that we ought to be able to. Some problems only the Lord can solve. Some problems are up to the hearts involved and if they are unwilling to work towards godly solutions, the problems will remain. The burden some shepherds feel shouldn’t be there. The Lord couldn’t save everyone. There were some who chose to walk away and go home. Was Jesus a failure? Should He beat himself up with sorrow and guilt? Why should it be different for us?

Fourth, some problems take a long time to solve. Problems can be created in seconds, but it can take decades to untangle the messes created by them. And, in those decades, people move, people die, life goes on. Some people move slower than a turtle when it comes to doing what ought to be done. Sure, they know that they ought to stop a sinful behavior. Certainly, they’ll agree with you that they need to apologize. But will they do it? One may change calendars before the first step is taken.

It is easy to point fingers and hang problems on leaders when it is not their fault. I’ve seen some of the best preaching done in a church that had the worst attendance. That’s hard to figure. Throughout this land there are many, many great shepherds who are doing their best to lead the people of God to Heaven. Prayerfully, they are putting their hearts into their work. They give up evenings and Saturdays to meet with others and to shape hearts that will be pleasing to the Lord. But there remains those, like in our passage, who just refuse to do what they should. It breaks the heart of these shepherds. They try one thing and then another, just to generate some spiritual interest in lukewarm and dead souls.

So, men of God, don’t fret over not being able to solve all problems. Sometimes, often times, it’s us. Some of us simply just do not want to do what is right, godly and wholesome. Jesus Himself could not change some of these hearts.

Does the church have problems? Certainly. Is it up to the shepherds to solve all these problems? Certainly NOT. Their role is to guide, shape and point the way to Jesus. In the Luke 15 parable of the lost sheep, why was that one lamb lost? Why wasn’t he following the shepherd like the rest of them? Did the shepherd do something wrong? The shepherd in that context is God. God never does anything wrong. As the shepherds are leading, it’s up to you and I to keep up with them. We must be watching and listening. We must be working out our own salvation. No one else will do that. No one else is expected to do that. They have their own salvation to work on. If we are responsible enough to be baptized, then we ought to be responsible enough to keep up our end of the bargain and walk with the Lord.

Some problems are just ours to solve…

Roger

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Jump Start # 2922

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2922

Matthew 10:42 “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you he shall not lose his reward.”

The other day as I was driving in to the office, I was listening to the Wall Street Journal podcast. A discussion was focused on how to improve your career while working at home. Away from daily contact with co-workers and bosses, the good one does often goes unnoticed. This was a concern. Different people were interviewed. Tips were offered as to how to project yourself without being over the top. Subtle progress updates to your boss was thought to be one way of getting the recognition for the good that you do.

Interesting thoughts which carries us to our verse today. Here the Lord was letting the disciples know that the good they would do would be recognized. Giving water to a little one, one that may be insignificant and unable to do anything for you, is noticed and rewarded. The good that was done wasn’t much. A cup of cold water, that’s it. Not a case of bottled water. Not digging a well. Not paying the monthly water bill. Just one cup. That’s it. Not much. But good was done. Jesus tells the disciples that even that small act was seen by Heaven.

Now, some thoughts for us:

First, we must drop the business concepts when it comes to our spiritual journey with Christ. The church is not run like a business. Being recognized for the good you do, lacks humility, the spirit of service and it borders on pride. Don’t let the left hand know what the right hand is doing, were the words of Jesus. You won’t hear that on the Wall Street business network. Self promoting, whether it’s the yards we mow for others, the rides we give, the material we’ve published, the food we’ve taken, or the weeds we’ve pulled around the church building, loses the good because the attention has shifted to us. We are only the instruments. Don’t promote yourself nor brag about the things you have done.

Second, God knows. That’s what matters. You don’t even need to tell the Lord, He knows. Just keep doing the good that you can. You don’t need to tell others. You don’t need a shout out from the pulpit. The Lord knows. And, when you think about that, there standing is a long, long list from our Bibles of folks who have done so much more than we ever will. Rahab, who risked her own life to hide the spies. Joseph, who went to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus so he could bury Him. What courage that took. Noah. Moses. David. Paul. Run through the names in Romans 16. So many have done so much. God knows what you have done.

Third, promoting ourselves will get things scrambled up in our minds and hearts. We can begin to think that we are better than others. Don’t go there, because that is not true. It can also make us think that we are the only one who is doing anything. Elijah went there. He was wrong. And, we will be wrong as well. There are so many things being done that most of us never know about. Cards mailed. Prayers offered. Money given. Food taken. Little deeds and acts of kindness, every single day. We are all in this together and we all need each other. Each of us must do what we can. No one can do it all. Some are better at one thing and others are better at something else. In describing spiritual gifts Paul illustrated that with different body parts. Hands. Eyes. Feet. Nose. Each part has different functions. Each part is necessary. Each part adds value.

Fourth, we preachers must be especially careful of promoting ourselves. We can believe that our value and worth is based upon how many churches want us in meetings or how well known our names are. Be careful. Our value is based in our faith to the Lord. Do your work the best you can. There comes a temptation to come out from behind that Cross and stand in front of it so you can be seen. And, when that happens, the attention is upon you and no longer the Cross. Some have paid a terrible price in becoming famous. Some have sold their soul to the devil, softened the message and pushed themselves more than Jesus Christ. Younger preachers struggle with this. I have been there. Just do your work. Do it well. Put your heart into it and the good you do will be evident to Heaven. The church doesn’t have rock stars. Being a brotherhood name, whatever that means, is fickle, vain and shallow. Don’t go there.

Finally, do all that you can, but don’t overlook the small and the simple things. A cup of cold water is something that even a child could give. Don’t be too important, too busy, too into yourself, that you couldn’t deliver that cup of cold water. That cold water might be an encouraging word. That cold water might be listening to someone. That cold water might be having someone to your home. The big plans, the big projects, the big picture all have a place, but so does a cup of cold water. Be sure that you can do that. Be sure that you can recognize who needs the cold water. Be sure that you can do more than tell others about the need, but that you can do what you can.

Recognizing the good that you are doing…I suppose in the business world that’s necessary to climb that corporate ladder. As one climbs, he’ll find out that it gets lonely at the top and everyone below you wants your spot. Even in the business world, let us remember the value of a cup of cold water.

Roger