29

Jump Start # 2952

Posted on October 29, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2952

Matthew 28:13 “and said, ‘You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole Him away while we were asleep.’”

It was a true mystery. There were police cars gathered at a house. The state police were there. An ambulance was there. A crime lab vehicle was there. The owner was taken out on a stretcher but he wasn’t moving. Bags were removed from the home. The police came out of the house and wiped their feet on the ground. And, at dinner with a group of others, the theories exploded. Was it a meth house? Was it a suicide? Was it a murder suicide? One of the items carried out of the house was a pizza box. Was poison involved? We had this thing going around and around and it was better than any episode of Law and Order. A policeman who is one of our members was told all the details. He thought it was nothing more than a medical emergency. But that was too bland of a answer for us.

And, that leads us to our verse today. Jesus had risen. Angels were present. The stone was rolled away. The soldiers came to the Jewish hierarchy and reported what they knew. The Jews wouldn’t have any part of that. The soldiers were bought off. Large sums of money was given to them. They were told to lie. The disciples came and stole the body while we were sleeping, was the story that they came up with.

And on a much larger scale, this takes us to the concept of theories. The word theory can be just a more civilized way of saying ‘you are guessing,’ or, ‘ you are speculating,’ or, worse, ‘you just made that up.’ And Biblical theories abound such as where did Satan come from? Or, what happened to the Dinosaurs? Where did Cain find a wife? What was Paul’s thorn in the flesh? What was it that Jesus wrote in the dirt? Ideas. Theories. Guesses. Speculation.

Here are some things to remember about theories:

First, a theory is just that, a theory. It’s a possibility without any evidence. There are no facts to support it. Theories can seem reasonable and even logical. Our crime mystery was full of ideas. We even had the grown son returning and knocking off both of his parents. No proof. No reason to believe that. Sounds good and that’s all we had. And, some folks put more faith in theories than they do the word of God. Wild ideas about Heaven and what we will do there. Where do those ideas come from? Someone’s imagination. A dream. But, not from the word of God.

Second, theories must stand the test of examination. This is where the soldier’s story about Jesus’ body unravels. They were paid to say that the disciples came in the night and stole the body. All of this happened while all the soldiers were sleeping. The soldiers were not awakened by the light of torches that the disciples had to have in the middle of the night? The soldiers were not awakened by the sound of the stone being rolled away from the tomb? And, why would the disciples take the time to unwrap and even fold some of the grave wrappings around Jesus? You’d think, take the body and run. Why would they take a naked body? All of those questions needed to be answered.

But more than that, person after person saw Jesus alive. Mary did. The two on the road to Emmaus did. The apostles did. Thomas did. As many as five hundred saw the resurrected Jesus. Now, what’s the answer to all of that? And, why would the disciples be willing to be executed for something that never happened?

A theory must be looked at. For us, it’s putting the theory to the test of the Scriptures. Like the Bereans, it’s a matter of seeing if these things are so. Logic. Common sense. Evidence. Those will either prove the theory or they will discount the theory.

Third, some are so wedded to a theory that even with evidence pointing the other direction, they will not accept that. This is especially true when it comes to the theory of evolution. So many questions, such as how does life come from non-life? How does time and chance work within complex structures of DNA and microbiology, when all systems have to be right at the same time? How is it that there is no evidence for the theories of evolution? How is it that the created world points to order, systems, design and creation? How is it that the fossil world does not support the theories of evolution?

There are so many holes in that boat that it sinks. Yet, the common understanding today is that evolution has been proven, when it hasn’t. The theory is false. Yet, thousands will cling to that without any support or evidence. This is when things move to blind faith that has no support or evidence. A person wants it to be, so in their mind it is. Don’t confuse me with the facts, is where this leads to.

Fourth, Biblical preaching is intellectually driven not emotionally driven. Our faith stands upon the facts of the Scriptures. The apostles preached truths, not theories. They were witnesses to the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. They were there. They gave their lives defending what they saw and heard. Yet, we are to believe, thousands of years later, by those who were not there, that none of this happened and beyond that, they have no proof, evidence or way to convince us otherwise. We preachers must preach the truth of the Bible and leave our speculations at home. We must drive the proven word of God into a world of darkness and doubt. As Paul said, “I know whom I have believed…” He was certain. He was absolute. No fingers crossed. No four leaf clovers saved. No hoping without reason or facts. He knew.

That confidence and assurance builds faith. It fuels our courage. It enables us to stand. God is and we know that.

As for the neighborhood mystery, it’s still a mystery. I expect most of our theories will fall to the wayside once we know what really happened.

And, for us, put your faith in what you know. But your hope upon what is, not what might be or what could be.

Roger

27

Jump Start # 2950

Posted on October 27, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2950

Revelation 20:10 “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.”

The other morning I was getting ready to head out for the day. There in my driveway was a snake. Readers of these Jump Starts know how I feel about snakes. It was dead. It looked like bird had dropped it. I grabbed a shovel and tossed the dreaded beast into the woods behind my house. As cooler weather comes to Indiana, the snakes are soon to go underground for the winter. There will be one less now. And, maybe because this one died, there will be fewer snakes next year.

And, all of this takes us to our passage today. The word ‘snake’ isn’t found in this verse, but my feelings towards Satan are about the same as I feel towards snakes. It would be a grand day to look in my driveway and see a dead Satan laying there. That won’t happen. Our verse tells us the future of Satan. Interestingly, the Bible begins with two chapters in Genesis before we read about Satan. And, the Bible ends, in Revelation, with two chapters without Satan. The clock is ticking. The time is coming when Satan won’t bother us anymore.

Some thoughts from this passage:

First, Satan is headed to Hell. That’s where he belongs. God made Hell just for Satan. People are not supposed to be in Hell. The devil is. His future is certain. It’s absolute. There is no changing his destiny. He has no Savior and he has no hope. Forever and ever, night and day, he will be tormented. He has polluted the minds of man, deceived our hearts and led multitudes away from the life that God intended for us to live. The devil doesn’t make anyone do things against their will. But he can sure deceive, blind our eyes and get our attention away from the Lord.

Second, Hell belongs to God. The old cartoons often showed the devil with his pitchfork irritating a line of people in Hell isn’t Biblical. That image leaves the impression that God has Heaven and the devil has Hell. But that’s not the case. God has both. In Hell, Satan is not in charge. In Hell, Satan doesn’t get his way. Satan is being tormented. Who is tormenting him? God is. God is in charge. God has all authority, everywhere. Satan is going to get it and there won’t be any grace, comfort or second chances for him.

Third, Hell is not pictured in the Bible as a rowdy, drunken party where people are having a blast. Author Mark Twain said that he liked the idea of Heaven for the climate and Hell for the company. He had it all wrong. No one will like Hell. The devil won’t like Hell. It’s not a wild party. It’s punishment unlike anyone has ever witnessed. When people are stressed and their lives seem upside down and they declare, “My life is Hell,” it’s not. It’s not close. No matter how bad things are here, you have life, you have options, you have choices. There is more hope for a live dog than for a dead lion. Hell is not a party boat. It’s not laughter, giggles, and good times. It’s tears. It’s terror. It’s torment. And, modern churches and modern theology has given up on the topic of Hell. No one preaches it anymore. No one talks about it anymore. Out of sight and out of mind, most do not believe it’s even real. There’s nothing to fear. Weak and timid preachers would rather tickle the ears of their congregation than speak the truth of God’s word. Jesus believed in Hell. Jesus talked about Hell. He talked about it a lot. And, in Matthew, Jesus put Heaven and Hell in the same sentence. If there is one, there is the other. If one is missing, so is the other. Moderns want Heaven, but they don’t want Hell. It doesn’t work that way. Annihilation may be comforting to many. Live like an animal and die like an animal. You might miss Heaven, but that’s ok. What a blast you had here. You can go to church and not even change. You can even get drunk the night before, laugh your way through life and when it’s over, it’s just over. Not so bad. That’s why many sign up for that journey. However, they ignore the teachings of the Bible. There is a Hell. It’s real. It’s bad. It’s forever. And, we best preach it, teach it, and fear it. The wrath of God exists.

Fourth, the message of the Bible is not about getting your “Get out of Hell free” card. It’s about living the way God wanted you and intended for you to live. It’s not just about eternity, it’s about a life of holiness and godliness here. It’s about serving others. It’s about being a disciple of Jesus.

A dead snake in my driveway. Someday Satan will bother us no more. He won’t tempt us. He won’t deceive us. Error won’t exist. Lies will never be told. Sin will be done away with. Until that time, onward we go. Onward we fight. Onward we resist. Onward we walk with the Lord.

Roger

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Jump Start # 2949

Posted on October 26, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2949

Psalms 116:3 “The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol  came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.”

Our passage today was written by David. As dark and as sad as our verse looks, staying with the chapter shows us the deliverance God provided and the thankfulness within David’s heart. Twice he would declare, “I am Your servant.” But before we get to the deliverance, there are “the cords of death, the terrors of Sheol” around David. Those words would make a great promo for a haunted house.

Have you noticed how many times in David’s life that death was next to him? Before Goliath, David told King Saul that he fought a lion and a bear. He took a lamb out of the mouth of the beast and seized it by it’s beard. That’s close. That’s too close for most of us. David could have died. And, then there were the times when Saul threw spears at David, once pinning him to a wall. That’s close. Then there was the dowry of Philistine foreskins he had to get. That was close. Later in life, Absalom tried to kill him. That was close. David looked into the eyes of death more than once.

Most of us live fairly safe every day. For us, a near car wreck is about as close to a calamity that we ever see. Death doesn’t seem to encompass us. And, the terrors of Sheol is something that most of us don’t have a clue about. And, while it is good to be safe, secure and protected, maybe that has isolated us from needing God.

The end of this passage is most interesting: “I found distress and sorrow.” Now, that’s something we know. And, most don’t go looking for these things, they seem to find us. And, when they do, it certainly changes our schedules, flips our moods around and hangs like a dark cloud above us. Distress and sorrow. I found them. Many could say that. Once you found them, what do you do with them? Typically, people wait for them to leave. Distress and sorrow can take a long time to leave. Some try to hide these things by doing fun things, taking a vacation, or finding relief in a bottle.

David helps us. David looked into the face of death more than once. His words are worth paying attention to.

First, David prayed. The following verse says, “Then I called upon the name of the Lord: ‘O Lord, I beseech You, save my life!” And, we know God did. There are times that only the Lord can help you. No one else can. No one else understands. No one else is capable. Don’t wait until you have exhausted every option before you pray. Pray first. Pray hard. Lay the problems before the Lord. Let the Lord know that Sheol is terrifying you. Tell the Lord of your distress and sorrow. Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Second, David was thankful. He was saved by God. “The Lord preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me” (v. 6). And, “For you have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling” (v. 8). God was there. God delivered. David recognized that it wasn’t an accident that he was saved. He understood that the power wasn’t within himself. It was the Lord who rescued him. He not only understood that, but he thanked the Lord because of that. David prayed and God answered.

Third, David honored God by following Him. David was in a mess. God pulled him out of that. David didn’t go on his way until the next time he needed God. Too often that’s how some act. Not David. Stay in this chapter and notice the expressions that follow.

  • I shall walk before the Lord (v. 9)
  • I will call upon the name of the Lord (v. 13)
  • I will pay my vows (v. 14)
  • I am Your servant (v. 16)
  • I will praise the Lord (v. 19)

Having been rescued by God, David felt compelled to honor God and stay with God.

Three simple things: prayer, thankfulness and honoring God. When distress finds you and sorrow follows you, this is what you need to do. Don’t allow distress and sorrow to ruin your relationship with God. Don’t allow those ugly twins to keep you from praising God and worshipping Him.

As one looks at this Psalm, it sure appears that sorrow and distress were not only defeated, but they did not accomplish what they wanted. Rather than keeping David from God, they pushed David closer to the Lord. And, that’s just what hard times and bad news will do. Satan thought those things would lead Job to cursing God. Instead, Job worshipped the Lord. Distress and sorrow will either cripple your faith or it will propel it to soar to new heights. The choice is up to us. The decision is based upon our actions. Are we reaching out to God or ignoring Him? Do we allow distress and sorrow to keep us home or do we get out to worship? Are were bitter or better because of them?

I found distress and sorrow…and, so will you. What will you do when you find them?

Roger

25

Jump Start # 2948

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 2948

Romans 16:1 “I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea”

A young couple sent a message to the shepherds of their congregation that they were leaving. They were not upset with anyone. There was no apparent problems. They wanted a different place to worship. People move around and about. Some are looking for something and until they find what it is, they are hard to be content. Getting people to “stick” and “stay” in a congregation has always been a concern. In some places, as many come in the front doors, that many goes out the back doors. The church directory is constantly changing.

Here are some thoughts:

First, each congregation carries it’s own culture and personality. Even though two congregations can be Biblically the same, there are different “feels” to each place. Some places are laid back. Blue jeans are more common than suits and starting on time doesn’t happen very often. Other places have a different feel. Like a well oiled machine, everything clips along perfectly. The place is tidy and in order. It carries the atmosphere of excellence. Doing your best is in their DNA. Which one is better? Which one can you be a part of? Which one can you help and which one will help you? Which one will do you the most good? Only you can decide that.

Second, some can leave and hardly anyone will notice. It’s not that the fellowship is weak, it’s that some have made very few connections. Some rarely come. Some are out the door as quick as they can. Some do not stick around to visit. Some never come to Bible classes. Some never teach. Some never volunteer. Some never go to the showers or the weddings. Some never come to the get togethers. Some never come to the Gospel Meetings. Their name is in the directory, but people would be hard pressed to know much about them. There are few tears when they leave because they never allowed people to know them.

This is just the opposite of our passage today. Phoebe was commendable. For that to happen, someone has to be on the front lines of serving, helping and connecting. Paul defined her as “a servant of the church.” Now some get real worked up about wanting to call her a “deaconess.” They want to park their cars here and find leadership roles that just didn’t happen in the early church. Not every servant was a deacon. Jesus was a servant. But Jesus wouldn’t fit the qualifications listed in Timothy. Jesus was never married. Jesus had no children. Jesus was not appointed by a church. Phoebe, like dozens and dozens of godly women I have known through the years, did what she could. She didn’t need a title. All she looked for was something to do. She served. On in Romans 16, we find Mary who worked hard. Other women follow in Paul’s list. Here are godly brethren who served. They left footprints for others to follow. They did what they could. How sad that some can worship with a congregation for decades and no one can name one thing that they have added to help the church. Not one thing!

Not everyone has to serve publically. Not everyone has to teach. But all of us can connect. All of us can show hospitality. All of us can make a difference. Be the one who sends cards. Be the one who pulls the weeds. Be the one who opens the doors. Be the one who compliments. Be the one who is generous. Be the one who is a friend to the young and a helper to the old. Be the one who invites. Be the one who shares good things on social media.

Recently, I have been looking through the records of old, old congregations. Names and names and names. I wonder how many were like Phoebe. I wonder how many were like the young couple who left to find something else. And, what about us? Are we doing anything worthwhile other than showing up on Sunday?

Third, some folks like to find a congregation where they can come and go as they please and little or no accountability is found. No one is going to ask them about their attendance. No one is going to require anything from them. No one is going to bother them. This way, they can be very distant from everyone. Some like it that way. Some like Jesus that way. When they need the church or the Lord, they’ll call someone, but most times, just leave us alone. And, in such cases, fellowship is meaningless. And, when there is a real crisis, other than family, they will have little or no support. And it is at those times that they will angrily accuse the church of not being there. Hard to fault the church when the church doesn’t even know who they are. Fellowship is a two way street. The more open, available and close you become the greater the fellowship. Those who keep people at arm’s length only find the church to be “those people,” and not one of “our people.”

Fourth, is it wrong to switch congregations? No. But make sure what you are leaving and what you are looking for is not something that could be found within yourself. Some congregations have few children and a family may want to find other children like they have. That’s understandable. Some congregations do not have shepherds and some might want that. Some gauge a congregation based upon size. “I like a small church,” some say. A small church is going to need you to step up and help them. Others fear that you get lost in a large church. Some will go so far as declaring that a congregation is getting “too large.” That’s funny. No one says that when we read Acts 2. Later on in Acts, there were 5,000 more added. A large church has just as many opportunities and even more so than a small congregation. Don’t let the size be the basis of where you attend. One must see if they can grow, serve and be helped in a congregation. There is no need to stay if you are dying spiritually. There is no need to jump ship every time a congregation runs through some rough waters.

And, just what could a young couple do? I know some that are team teaching Bible classes. I know of an engaged couple that took a visiting preacher out for dinner. I know of some that are busy helping the widows in the congregation. I know of some who are active in having a neighborhood Bible study. I know some that take meals to those who have had surgeries. What can they do? They can serve. They can be active. They can make their presence known by the good that they do.

Find a place. Settle in. Get busy. Get to know the people. Find where you can serve. Find where you can grow. Practice hospitality. Make a difference. Whether you are with a congregation for months or decades, be the type of person that has made a positive impact.

Roger

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Jump Start # 2947

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

Jump Start # 2947

Ecclesiastes 3:4 “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.”

Here in these series of couplets Solomon paints for us what is commonly called the “Seasons of life.” A negative is placed along side a positive. Opposites are looked at. In our verse today, it’s weeping and laughing, along with mourning and dancing. We like the positives and we dread the negatives. No one likes to mourn. It takes us places that are often hard to get out of.

And, this takes us to our Jump Start today. It will soon be ten months since my dad passed away. There was a lot of emotions leading up to his death and funeral. Saying goodbye for the last time and seeing that casket lid close was tough. Preaching his funeral was hard. We’ve gone through the dividing up of his estate, the selling of his house and putting grass seed on his grave. Life goes on. I’ve been everywhere this year preaching. I’ve had some very special and unique occasions, such as preaching at the old Cane Ridge log building and preaching with my son, Jordan, at Wolf Creek. It’s been a busy season.

Our passage came to my mind recently. There is a time. A time when weeping and mourning is what needs to be done. A time to reflect. A time for such things. But how long? Months after the funeral, how does one know how they are doing? How rare it is for others to check in, even friends. Maybe they don’t know what to say, which is so true. Maybe they feel if they say anything, it’s like picking a scab and the wound bleeds again. They don’t want to do that. Aside from grief counseling and books devoted to that topic, we don’t talk much about this. You won’t sit in a Bible class about this topic. Preachers have better things to preach about.

Within our congregation, we have had so many in the past couple of years, who have buried parents. I’m one of them. Recovery, what’s the process? I don’t know if I am in the place to say, but I thought I’d share some personal thoughts with the hopes that it will help others on this same journey.

First, even months later, the tears sometimes flow. They are as I am writing this. The pain is less, but yet, there are tears. Most times, the tears flow when I’m by myself.

Second, there are things that likely will help the healing go faster and there are things that will prolong the healing. I’m leaned a bit too much to the prolonging part. I guess part of me just doesn’t want to close that book. When it’s the last parent to go, there is something that you just want to hold on to. I have a copy of dad on both of my desks, at home and at the office. I see his picture every day. When I’m working I often listen to the type of music that he liked. In some ways this may be picking scabs off, but it’s something that I want to do. I have found being busy, really busy, helps. Wearing yourself out in things that has to be done allows you to sleep better and it fills your mind as you go about the day. Preaching in so many places this year has been a good therapy for me. Being around so many people has been good. Worship has helped. Isolation is not good.

Third, mourning and grief is a journey and each person travels that road at different paces. Some seem to get along much faster than others. Don’t compare. There isn’t a magical date in which one ought to be “over” these things. In some ways, a person is never over it. The hurt heals and one can function well again, but there are times when things trigger a “time of mourning.” There has been a couple of things this year that I would have loved to share with dad. He would have loved to hear about Cane Ridge. He’d been so happy to know that Jordan and I were preaching together at Wolf Creek. I can’t share those with him. But I have found others that I can share those moments with.

Fourth, faith has made such a difference. Knowing that dad is just “in the other room” and being cared for by the Lord not only brings a peace to me, but it reminds me that the story, his story, our story, isn’t over. I’m sorry for those who have no faith. I’m sorry for those whose hope is only in this life. The closing of the grave ends the story in their hearts. But we know better. We know what the Lord teaches. The more loved ones that you have on the other side, the less this world sparkles and glitters for you.

How are you doing, someone asks. You smile. You tell them, “Ok.” And, you are. You are ok, because life goes on. You are ok, because others need you. You are ok because there are things the Lord needs you to do. You are ok because you realize that the Lord has been with you on this journey. You’ll get through this and somehow you’ll be an example to others around you. You’re ok because of precious memories. You’re ok because you are Heaven Bound and you know how this story will end someday. It’s not the cemetery, but it’s in the presence of God.

Do I miss my dad? Certainly. Immensely. He is where he has always wanted to be. He is where I want to be. Not all days are sunshine, which is good. All sunshine makes a barren desert. Rainy days allows things to grow. It allows me to grow. It has taught me that even months after a funeral, some are still on the journey of grief. Don’t’ forget them. Don’t think because you have gotten back to life that they have as well. Find that person that you can talk to and do just that. Not everyone wants to hear. Not everyone cares. And, if you can’t find that person, reach out to me. Hand in hand with the Lord things will get better.

You will smile again. You will laugh again. And, maybe, just maybe, through this process, you’ll be a better and stronger believer. This is a journey that no one wants to take, but most of us have to. You can be the worse because of this or you can be the better. The journey you can not change, but what it does to you, is up to you.

Thank you for allowing me to share my heart with you.

Roger