24

Jump Start # 3010

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3010

2 Timothy 4:5 “But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

Last week, Wilson Adams wrote a wonderful piece about the need to shepherd the preacher and especially the preacher’s wife. And, I thought I would add some thoughts here in our Jump Starts. The preacher’s wife, often standing by her man can be the loneliest person in the congregation. She hears her husband venting his frustration about the lack of leadership, the failure of others and the disappointments that come with preaching. More than anyone else, it is the preacher’s wife that reminds him of the good that he does. She is also the one that can truly analyze his sermons like no one else. When her preacher man comes home, feeling like trash and his ego trampled by thoughtless comments, it is the wife who encourages him to stay with it and keep on.

Often, people will pressure the preacher’s wife to share insights that only she and a few others know. Some expect the preacher’s wife to be a walking Bible concordance and to be able to answer every conceivable situation that some dream up in their minds. As the preacher’s wife walks into the church building, she knows all eyes are looking at what she is wearing. If it’s deemed too expensive, the whispers begin about how much are we paying the preacher. The kids of the preacher are often expected to be little angles while everyone else’s kids are little demons. It’s hard for the preacher’s wife to talk to anyone within the congregation, lest what she says gets around or else it be considered complaining.

As of late, it is the pleas of the preacher’s wives that lead their husbands to move or often just stop preaching. The pressure. The image. The talk. The loneliness. The not being invited or included. The double-standard. Some just want to be a “regular member,” whatever that means. There has been a large number of preacher’s quitting in the past couple of years. And, the number of young men wanting to become preachers seems to be smaller and smaller. There is a famine of preachers coming. This is not going to be good.

We once lived in a house that was owned by the church. Early one morning, we were still in bed, someone was walking around inside. I got up. It was one of the members. When I asked what he was doing, his response was, “We all have keys.” It was thought and believed that the house belonged to the members and they had a right just to come in when they wanted to.

Now, some thoughts:

First, we preachers can certainly be part of the lonely hearts club band and our whining is enough to make a dog howl at the moon. No one wants a complaining preacher. Suffer hardships is what Paul told Timothy. Endure, is what is found in our verse today. Putting up with a few rude comments is nothing to what Timothy had to endure. Get a backbone and be tough. The same goes for the preacher’s wife and his family. Stop this, PK (Preacher’s Kids) stuff. Be a disciple of Jesus. Don’t be like all the lukewarm, dead in the water brethren who have nothing better to do than complain and be judgmental of others. Learn that Bible. Take food to the sick. Get to services. Worship God. Greet others. Extend hospitality. Participate. Sitting in a corner, crying that no one likes me, won’t win friends. Personally, the selfie generation has made too many of us selfish. Do you think Andrew sat around crying because he wasn’t included with Peter, James and John? Do you think he felt like quitting?

I do believe no one truly understands what a preacher goes through other than a fellow preacher. This is why I encourage preachers to bond with other preachers. Not all of them. Find that one or two that can really help you, understand you and be honest with you.

The same likely goes for a preacher’s wife. It’s hard for others to understand these things. There is no security in preaching. At any moment, the preacher could be fired. Many have. Many have for no other reason than some want a change or some blame the lack of growth upon the preacher. Most have zero retirement. Most have to supply their own insurance. I know. Been there for decades. You must take care of yourself. The time will come when the church wants a young preacher and the old guy is shown the door. That’s the history of how brethren have treated older preachers. However, you signed up for this knowing this. The doctor has his own stress and trials. The mechanic has his. School teachers these days are certainly going through so much. It may be good that some are quitting. If you cannot endure, you will give up.

Second, few places of business if any, post the salary of the employees on the bulletin board or had out to everyone the stated incomes. In many places of business, if one talks to another about their income, that’s grounds for dismissal. But, before the eyes of everyone, there is the preacher’s salary. So they look at that and the house he lives in, the car he drives, the clothes he wears. Maybe if we put ourselves in that spot, we’d have second thoughts. Maybe there is a better way than what has been done.

Third, maybe if more consideration to how the preacher’s wife was doing, more preachers would remain where they are and more would stay in preaching. Shepherd that preacher’s wife. Just because the preacher is doing fine, doesn’t mean she is. Conversations ought to be a part of the shepherding process with the preacher’s wife. Don’t’ intimidate her by having her come into the “board rule” full of men. She’ll be scared, guarded and the purpose will backfire. Build a relationship of trust between a shepherd and his wife and the preacher and his wife. Go out to dinner. Build an atmosphere where one can talk openly without fear of “being fired” for what was said. How is the preacher’s wife doing? Do you know?

Through the shepherd’s wife include the preacher’s wife. Make her feel welcome, loved and a part of the congregation.

I look forward to more of Wilson’s blog as he continues this series. May these thoughts get some wheels turning in our minds and begin the process for positive change. Lest anyone think that I have a real bone to pick with the place I’m at, that isn’t the case. I see my wife included, loved and appreciated. It has not always been that way for us in other places. And, it has been hard for her to make close friendships within the congregation. But my wife has been a real comfort and blessing to my work. She has supported what I do, been honest and truly the greatest encouragement I have ever had. I am blessed. Not all preacher’s have that. The nagging wife. The complaining wife. The never-happy wife. All of that wears upon the heart of one who tries to be a servant of the Lord.

There is an ole’ saying, “Behind every good man, stands a woman.” I think it best to say, “Beside every good man is a loving wife that wants him to do well. “

Roger

21

Jump Start # 3009

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3009

Romans 12:18 “If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.”

I’ve been reading, “The Heart of the Yale Lectures,” by Baxter. A statement caught my attention. “Sixty generations after Jesus the people of the world are still unable to live together in peace.” What a sad, profound and true statement that is. This past year our country saw many riots. Hatred, division and the inability to discuss differences mark our times. To disagree with someone means you will be labeled, mocked, called names and isolated. The world is still unable to live together in peace.

Why is it that way?

First, it’s not for a lack of example and instruction. Jesus illustrated getting along nearly every step of the way. Among the chosen apostles were opposites. A zealot. A tax collector. Beyond that, Jesus purposely traveled to Samaria. He went to the home of a tax collector. He touched and healed lepers. He allowed an immoral woman to wash his feet with her tears. Jesus healed Gentiles. He sent His chosen into all the world with the mission to preach to every person. The early church was a mixture of Jew and Gentile. It brought both master and slave together. The saving message of Jesus Christ is the bond that breaks the divisions that existed.

But the world ignores Jesus. The world thinks it is smarter than Jesus. And, yet, all these generations later, we cannot live in peace. Several nations would love to remove Israel from the map and the history of the world. In major cities today, it is dangerous. Criminals do not wait for the cover of darkness. Not anymore. They are brazen and bold. Car jackings, shootings, smash and grab happen so often, they rarely make the news. The standard is before us, but the world ignores it. And, by ignoring Jesus, life sinks deeper into ruin. Fear. Worry. Prejudice. Hatred. Those are common today. Without Jesus, life isn’t getting better, it’s getting far worse. The moral decay of our times is a stench that reaches up to Heaven.

Second, our verse puts a responsibility upon the disciples of Christ. If possible and as far as it depends on you—that puts the ball in our hands. We can’t change others, but we can certainly calm situations down and be peaceful.

Now, just how does one go about being peaceful?

First, don’t push the buttons of others and don’t pick scabs off of wounds. Some people are just waiting for a fight and all you have to do is knock on the door of their heart by saying the wrong thing and you’ll be in the middle of World War III. Don’t do that. Remember kindness. Remember your tone. Remember the Golden Rule. Some do not want to discuss openly, they want to argue meanly. Stay away from those one sided discussions. Your tone. Your attitude. The way you talk to others. The way you talk about others. Your opinions. All of that matters and you must be careful. Now, it seems that everyone else can say what they want, but you can’t. Everyone else can be rude, obnoxious, opinionated, out of line and allowed to push buttons but you can’t. That’s right. Everyone else is causing dog fights. You are living under the principle of as much as possible, be at peace with all men.

Are there exceptions? Certainly. But not to be loud, out of place, rude or ugly. Those should never be named among the people of God. But some village idiot trash talking God, His word or His people may get a response. Not loud. Not ugly. But a well thought out statement that doesn’t attack the person, but defends the Lord may be appropriate. It also may be nothing more than casting pearls among the swine and a waste of time.

Second, many people reveal their ignorance and prejudice when they are upset, angry and trying to defend themselves. Social media is a huge illustration of this. Read the comments that some post. Amazing. Rude. Offensive. And, a large percentage of them, wrong. If you read enough of them, your blood pressure rises, you get upset and you feel compelled to respond. Then that person responds. And, his response isn’t nice. Just don’t read the comments. That will avoid much of this.

Third, when dealing with brethren, be the first to apologize and be quick to extend grace. It’s hard to have an argument when the other person won’t argue. Be at peace. You may be wrong. Be willing to listen, learn and change. The other person may be wrong. His feet may be dug in and he will not change. You know. God knows. Let it go.

It’s harder to be at peace with the world. The world goes by their own rules. The world is inconsistent. The world lies. The world bends the rules. But as much as possible, be at peace with the world. There is an old Nigerian proverb that says, “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers.” Our hearts suffers. Our families suffer. Our congregations may suffer. You might win the elephant fight, but what was the cost of winning? In winning, what did you lose?

Fourth, remember the Paul that wrote these words also told Timothy to “fight the good fight of faith.”  There is a balance. Paul told the Philippians that he was set for the defense of the Gospel. He told Titus that elders would have to silence the mouths of false brethren. The Romans were told to mark those who cause dissensions. It’s not one or the other, it’s both.

Throughout your life you will have people telling you how you ought to do things. You need to do this, they will say. You smile. You think about it. Then you go about doing what you think the Lord wants you to do. When I first started preaching, I had a preacher insist that I move every four years. You have to do this, he told me. It didn’t make sense then and it doesn’t make sense today. I didn’t argue. He was older than I was. I listened. I didn’t agree. I didn’t move every four years.

As far as it depends upon you…if it is up to you…do all that you can do…to be at peace with all men. Work at it. Work hard at it.

Roger

20

Jump Start # 3008

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3008

Colossians 3:4 “When Christ, who is our lie, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.”

This year I decided that I want to spend some of my reading time going through the many books that I already have, especially the older ones. In my collection is one titled, “The Heart of the Yale Lectures.” It was published in 1947. I have picked bits and pieces out of this book for years, but don’t remember reading it through. So, I started. And, what an immediate surprise I found. My copy of this book was once owned by Aude McKee, just a prince of a preacher, especially throughout Indiana and Tennessee. He had signed this book. Inside, there was a postcard that I put there from him. He gave me this book in 1988 and was encouraging me as a young preacher.

As I started reading this book, I became more fascinated with all the notes that bro. McKee had filled this book with. And, one of these gems, is what I want to share with you today. He had written on page 3 of this book, “ A preacher must be like a clean window—letting all the light shine thru and adding none.” I’d not heard that statement before.

A preacher must be like a clean window. As I write these words, I’m looking out a window. I can see the snow upon the ground, the sun trying to peek through the clouds and some trees. My attention is not focused upon the glass in the window, but what I see through the window. That’s the purpose of the window. It is so you can see out and so light can come in. To be in a room without windows can be very dark and drab. One doesn’t know what the weather is outside if you can’t see through the windows.

The clean window idea isn’t fitting for just preachers, but for all of us. Let’s put some thought to this:

First, the window must be clean. On a cold Indiana morning, many folks have to go out and scrape the frost off of their car windshields. If they don’t they can’t see. Dirty windows obscure and block the light that ought to come through. Our attention moves from what’s beyond the window to all the fingerprints that have smudged the view. A clean window points to a clean character. The attention shouldn’t be upon the window nor upon us. When the heart is not pure and the motives are not clean, the good that we do can be lost. It is simply not seen.

Second, it is up to us to have a clean character or window. No one can clean it for us. Now, in an office building, even the church building, there may be people hired to clean the windows. But spiritually and morally we can only clean our own windows. And, if our windows are dirty and the view is not clear, it’s our own fault. It’s not the job of the church to create a clean character for me. It’s not my family’s job. This is something that only I can do.

And, this is where hypocrisy becomes a real problem. Hypocrisy is all about image. It’s more than just looking good, it’s pretending to be good when one is not. For the hypocrite the window is clean only on the outside. The outside looks right. The outside is fine. But, it’s the other side of the window, the inside that is really a mess. And, when either side of the window is dirty, the window is dirty. That’s just how it is. Some are more concerned about what others see in them than letting Jesus shine through them.

Third, as ole’ bro. Aude said so well, “…we must let all the light shine through without adding none.” That adding none, is about us. Stop being the spotlight. Stop stealing the light. Stop standing in front of the light. And, in his words, don’t add any more light. God’s word is strong enough to do the job. It’s powerful enough to cause Satan to run and to turn us from our wicked ways. You don’t need to use the sideshow tactics of carnival racketeers who are selling bottles of Dr. Hootch’s magical formula that cures all. Let God speak for Himself. Use God’s words. You don’t need psychological tricks to win people to Christ. Preach Christ.

Don’t add any more light to what is already there. The drawing power for the sinner is not the friendship and fellowship of the church. He can find that in the local bar. It’s not that the church will take care of him. The power is in Christ. Christ first. Christ always. Salvation is in no other name, but Christ. We don’t need to trick our friends or fool our family with food and games and then slip in the Gospel. Be up front. Be honest. Be a clear and clean window.

I always liked bro. McKee. I never got to spend much time with him. He passed through the doorway of death into God’s next room in 2011. I’m thankful he gave me this book. I’m looking forward to reading more gems that he wrote throughout it. What a treasure this is. What a greater treasure it is that someone can look through us and see Jesus. That, indeed is the greatest blessing of all.

Be a clean window…

Roger

19

Jump Start # 3007

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3007

Mark 4:38 “And He Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?’”

Storms, it seems that life is full of them. Storms happen when we are with Jesus. Storms definitely happen when we are without Jesus. Storms can last a long, long time. And, storms can make us really scared.

Here in our passage today, the disciples and Jesus were crossing the Sea of Galilee. A storm hit. Not, just any storm, but a very intense storm. The verse before tells us that the waves were above the boat. That’s bad news. It also tells us that the boat was filling up with water, that’s worse. Things were bleak. Hope was quickly vanishing away. I expect, though the text doesn’t tell us this, but common sense does, that the disciples tried everything they could think of. I expect they tried to row, but to no avail. I see them bailing water, but that wasn’t working. Finally, they awaken Jesus. We are going to die, is what they thought, expected and saw coming. The Lord rebukes the wind and then He rebukes the disciples. Where is your faith? Why do you doubt? Seeing the wind obey Jesus caused the disciples to be even more frightened. “Who is this,” they wondered.

The disciples chose to wake Jesus up. That was the best choice they made. And, in any storm, you and I face many choices. Some, use the storm to drift from God. Some allow the storm to lead them to unhealthy, unwise and even ungodly choices.

The disciples chose to awaken Jesus. There are some lessons for us in the midst of our storms. The storms come in many forms. For Job, the storms ranged from the death of his family, the loss of his possessions and income, to the loss of his health. Financial storms. Health storms. Spiritual storms. Mental storms. Relational storms. All storms have the potential of crashing our homes. The only hope we have is to have a faith that rests securely upon The Rock, Jesus Christ.

When your storms come, you have choices. Remember:

First, to choose fellowship over isolation. Hiding in a cave, like Elijah did when Jezebel’s men were out looking for him is what we often do. We hide. We isolate. We find our caves and we stay there. But when we are alone, the storm always seems worse than what it really is. Dark skies and dark thoughts go together. We think the worst when we are alone. Get down to the church building. Get to worship. Get around God’s people. You may not feel like it, but you need it. The prayers. The encouragement. The sermons. The classes. The hymns. They all have a way of calming our nerves and helping us to see sunlight even in the darkest days.

Second, choose prayer over worry. Prayer invites God into your life and into your storms. The disciples did just that. They woke Jesus up. You need to go to Jesus when things are bad. Worry kills us. It steals our sleep, our appetite and it makes the troubles larger than what they really are. Cast your burdens upon the Lord is what the Bible teaches. Do not be anxious is what Jesus said. Take it to the Lord in prayer will help you.

Third, choose faith over doubt. That was lacking in that water filled boat in Mark four. There was plenty of doubt but very little faith. You know what the Bible says. It doesn’t change because the storm clouds have rolled in. You know that God has a history of victories. Stormy seas, fiery furnaces, lion’s dens, giants, prison doors these things are nothing to God. Seek the Lord. Continue, even in the storm, to do what the Lord expects you to do. Your faith will cause you to see God. Your doubts will cause you to see the storm.

Fourth, choose hope over despair. Storms are tough. Statistics show that more people are injured and killed after the storm than during the storm. People come out and look over the destruction after a storm and step on nails, live wires and are injured and even killed by unsafe conditions. The storm passes, and our faith can still take a hit. We must be strong. Hope is the answer. Some day there will no longer be any storms. Some day we will be with the Lord eternally. The storm lasts for just a short while.

The disciples chose to wake Jesus up. Maybe it’s time for us to do the same. He’s never been asleep for us, but we may have set him aside so deep in our minds that He seems that way.

Choose Jesus—always the best choice.

Roger

18

Jump Start # 3006

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3006

1 Thessalonians 1:4 “therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.”

Paul liked the Thessalonian church. It was young in faith and Paul was happy to see how well they were doing. It is thought that the letters to the Thessalonians were Paul’s first inspired letters. Written to a church that did not have a long legacy, nor great experience among them. Young in faith and trying their best, is a good description of this church.

A couple of reminders that come from our verse today. First “pride” isn’t always negative. We’ve heard just the opposite of that for years in Bible class. We’ve built a fear of ever saying, “I’m proud of you,” for fear of some brother shooting us down for even mentioning that word “proud.” I find here in this passage. Paul was speaking proudly of the Thessalonian church. Now, pride can be dangerous. Pride can swell the head. I tell folks the reason why most church buildings have double doors is to get the preacher’s head through it. After his sermon on Sunday, hearing all the wonderful comments, he begins to believe that he can walk on water. Be careful, Mr. Preacher. But parents are proud of their children when they make wise and spiritual choices. We ought to be proud of the congregation that we are a part of. Not a selfish, self-righteous pride, but happy to see so many that love the Lord and want to walk with Him in righteousness.

Second, Paul was telling other churches about the Thessalonian church. That is another taboo we’ve learned through the years. Since each congregation is independent and autonomous, we take that to the extent that each congregation is isolated. Don’t ever ask what others are doing. Don’t ever borrow ideas from others. Don’t ever visit another place and take a tour. Why do we feel this way? And, when Paul was telling other churches about the Thessalonians, it wasn’t to poke a finger in their eyes and say, “Why aren’t you like this?” Not at all. I love to hear how God’s family is doing in Ohio or Florida, or Tennessee, or Texas. I want the kingdom to grow and be strong everywhere. We preachers borrow all the time. It helps us. It would be good for shepherds to get together and share ideas and talk. The fear of violating autonomy and starting an area wide organization keeps too many at home. Paul told others about the Thessalonians. It’s good to hear of the successes of others. It’s good to learn from others.

Now, all of this leads to something I ran across the other day. It was called “Four Signs That A Church Is Stuck On Itself.” We need to pay attention to those signs.

First, all the prayers are focused solely upon the members there. There is no praying for anyone else. There is no praying for the leaders of the country. There is no praying for saints in other places. The focus is internal, only internal and always internal.

Second, money is saved up and stored up. There are congregations in this country that are sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars. It seems that some churches believe that they are now banks. The money collected needs to be used and used wisely. Don’t just spend it for the sake of spending it. There are needs all over the kingdom. Invest in some good equipment to put out some quality material. Use the money to reach more and teach more. When a church sits on thousands and thousands of dollars, the members begin to wonder why they ought to give. Nothing ever happens to the money.

Third, an atmosphere of contentment fills the place. We don’t want to get too big is actually spoken out loud. We like our size. We like knowing just the people here. We don’t want new people coming in. But contentment is just one step away from becoming stagnate. And, a stagnate church slowly becomes a dead church. No vision. No plans. No goals. No legacy plans. No developing of new leaders. No training new preachers. No evangelism. Nothing.

Fourth, the only thought about others is how wrong they are. A self-righteous attitude prevails. Others are wrong because they are too big. Others are wrong because they just look wrong. Smug. Content. Stuck.

You wouldn’t find Paul being proud of such places. You wouldn’t find Paul telling other churches about such a place. Yet, why do these things not upset us? Why do they not move us to do more? Why do they not propel us to bring in ideas? Why do they not open our eyes to how we really are?

There is an old story about Alexander the Great inspecting his troops. One soldier was not dressed properly. Alexander asked him his name. He proudly said, “Alexander, just like yours.” The commander replied, “Change your name or change your ways.”

We are the people of God. Let’s honor the Lord by doing our best every time. Let excellence be the standard. Give 100% all the time. God gave His best. Now, it’s time for us to give our best.

Roger