30

Jump Start # 3177

Posted on September 30, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3177

Psalms 37:23 “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord; and he delight in his way.”

A good man has walked among us. He touched our hearts with his kindness. His smile was infectious. His handshake was strong. He was a big man in stature and size. He was a bigger man in faith and love. I have known him for nearly twenty–five years. For ten of those years I worshipped with him and was guided by his tender counsel. He was a friend to my family. A veteran of the Korean War, distinguished as one the Presidential honor guard, his image was used on billboards across the country to encourage others to enlist and serve.

The memories of this good man run rich and deep within my heart. The stories are many. He was amazed at how many boxes of books I had when I moved them into the office at the church building long ago. He’d look at all those boxes and say, “Preacher, you better keep those boxes,” implying that I may have to fill them back up again and move. But he couldn’t say that, without a smile on his face. He and I knew of a secret blackberry patch out behind the church building that we shared with each other. We’d bring each other cinnamon rolls that were nearly as large as a hubcap. He and his lovely wife became adoptive grandparents to my children, even visiting the school in that role. We went on a field trip out into Missouri looking for the grave of some long ago preacher that I was interested in. He would take my younger sons out to get a frosty root beer and he would tell them war stories. I wasn’t invited. He wanted to be just with the boys. And, what a wonderful and delightful impression he left upon them. He had a voice that was rich and deep that he’d use to lead the congregation in singing praises to our Lord. He was a hunter. He was a wood carver. I have in a china cabinet at home an image he carved of me. Late in life, his memory and mind left him and it was so hard for those who cared so much for him and loved him so dearly to struggle with this. And, now the Lord has called him home. The door of death swung open and this gentle giant, this kind believer, was welcomed into the presence of God.

There are many people that run through our lives. The Lord allows us to intersect with all kinds of people and every once in a while, not very often, one of those crossings and intersections sticks with you. It did for my family. The joys, love, faith and laughter that we shared and enjoyed with this good man will long be part of our family heritage. We met and we were made the better because of that.

Let me share some lessons:

First, crossing two generations, this wonderful soul became a friend to my boys. It is so easy for us to only associate with those within our age group. No one asked him to befriend my children. But he did and he shared his life, his stories and his faith and left a lasting impression upon them. For those of us that are blessed to serve in the kingdom as shepherds or preachers, we may well be the first impression that many of the younger ones have of elders and preachers. Make it a good one. Get down on your knees and speak to them at their level. Let them know that you notice them and that you think the world of them. Be a friend that crosses the lines of generations. I’m somewhat envious of my sons. I wish at their age I had someone outside of the family, a man of faith, that would have paid attention to me and someone I could talk to. What a blessing this was. What a blessing he was.

Second, it’s not by accident, DNA, or luck that our dear friend was the way he was. Our verse explains it. The steps of a good man are ordered, outlined, detailed, drawn by the Lord. His kindness came from the Lord. His thoughtfulness came from the Lord. When one walks with the Lord, especially for a long, long time, the Lord tends to polish our character and change our hearts. And, thus it was for this man. His journey with Jesus was decades long. He served in the kingdom in a variety of ways, including shepherding the people of God. And, one becomes this way by wearing that Bible out. I’ve seen my friend’s Bible. Marked. Underlined. Worn pages. He was one who knew the Lord. He was a friend of God.

Third, when one walks so closely to the Lord, the footsteps are easy to follow. Thus it is with my friend. His children walk with the Lord. His grandchildren walk with the Lord. Others have said, it was because of him, that they have chosen to follow Jesus. The inheritance of faith, love and goodness stretches across our hearts. Long will this man be remembered, not just by his dear family, but by those who saw, as we have, that a good man, a righteous man, has been among us. His kind is rare these days. One who thinks of others before self. One who takes the teachings of the Lord and lives them in such a way that it makes Christianity practical, obtainable, attractive and even enjoyable.

There are times in life when one wishes that they could just push the pause button and remain in that season for a long, long time. But life is not like that. Life is very fluid, changing often. People come and people go. People move on. People pass away. Things are always changing. Puppies grow up to be old dogs. Little trees grow into mighty oaks. We get older. The river of life moves on. More things to be done. More places to go. More people to meet. But among God’s people, when a righteous man has walked through our lives and our hearts, we are not soon to ever forget. An impression is left. A significant marker and milestone is placed. A good man has been among us.

Lord, I am thankful for my sweet friend, Don Nolte. A journey completed. A faith kept. A battle won. A good man, whose steps were ordered by Lord. Thank you. Thank you for him. Thank you for putting us in the same place. Thank you for his sweet kindness, his love and his faithfulness to You. Bless his dear, dear wife, Faye, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Bless all those who called him friend.

May we never be too busy for each other, even those younger than we are. May we never forget the power of impressions and influence that we have upon one another. May we live for You dear Lord, knowing that as we do, our hearts and character are being shaped by You.

A good man has been among us. A good man will not be forgotten. A good man has made us better. Rest sweetly dear friend, your mind is now strong, your faith is now realized and into the eyes of our dear Savior you now see.

The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Don Nolte was one of those good ones.

Roger

29

Jump Start # 3176

Posted on September 29, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3176

Genesis 8:1 “Then God remembered Noah and all the beasts and all the cattle that were with him in the ark; and God caused a wind to pass over the earth, and the water subsided.”

Noah and the ark. What an incredible story of faith, love, justice and the grace of God. Noah had been in the ark sometime when our verse takes place. Then God remembered. Interesting expression. Then God remembered. Are we to conclude that God had forgotten? Maybe God got so busy doing other things that Noah just slipped His mind? Did an angel tap the Lord on the shoulder and say, “What about Noah?”  Was Noah like a child left at the church building?

Some thoughts for us:

First, God doesn’t forget. He’s not like us. He doesn’t need to be reminded. He’s not so busy that less important things are shoved to another date and time. Not God. I expect Noah and his family were praying to God every day. Did God hear those prayers? Was that not a simple way to know where they were? God did not have to pull out a map and find where the ark was. God knew. He always knew.

Keeping everyone alive in the ark for that long time involved some incredible actions by the Lord. Food, water, waste—that alone was a task that a fleet of engineers could not figure out. The hand of the Lord was with them the entire time.

And, the same can be said of us. God remembers you. God knows your situation and what you day was like. God hasn’t forgotten you. You do not have to wear name tags or reintroduce yourself to the Lord. He knows. He always knows.

Second, the concept of “remembering” is about a covenant. God made a promise to Noah and the Lord was fulfilling and keeping that promise. When God promised Abraham a child and twenty-five years later it was fulfilled, God had not forgotten. It was all according to His timetable and His divine plans.

Many modern writers try to define God like one of us. I don’t want a God like us. We forget. We change our minds. We make promises and don’t keep them. We make a mess of things. I want a God bigger, better and more righteous than we are. Making God as one of the good ole’ boys doesn’t help us. It insults God and leaves us in a world of trouble. Our God is big and powerful and eternal. He is not like us. When God makes a promise, He keeps it. He keeps it according to His timetable and not ours.

Third, the remembering of Noah was the keeping of His promise. Noah was kept alive by God. Noah endured because of God. I expect the first couple of days in the ark would be exciting for most of us. But it wouldn’t take long until those walls seem real confining, the smells too strong, and the desire to get outside too great for most of us. Noah was on a divine mission. This wasn’t his idea. This wasn’t his plan. This was all according to the Lord.

God has made a promise to us. He promises to forgive us. He promises to take us home to Him. He promises to be with us. These promises are built around our relationship with Him. God doesn’t need to be reminded of these promises. He knows. He remembers.

When Hezekiah was told to set his house in order because he was soon to die, he prayed, Lord, remember how I walked with you.” Nehemiah ends with the words, “remember me for good.” You don’t have to convince God of your good deeds. He knows them. Even the cup of cold water that was given to another is seen, remembered and recorded in Heaven.

God remembered Noah. The sad truth is that there are times that we may forget God. Caught up in the moment of temptation, in the heat of anger, chasing the carrot of materialism, God can be very far from our thoughts. The early disciples were told to let the word of Christ richly dwell within them. Don’t forget. Don’t forget who you are. Don’t forget where you are headed. Don’t forget what you are supposed to do.

God will remember…but will we?

Roger

28

Jump Start # 3175

Posted on September 28, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3175

Numbers 14:1 “Then all the congregation lifted up their voices and cried, and the people wept that night.”

The twelve spies that Moses had sent into Canaan returned. They had been gone for a long time. They brought back examples of abundant fruit, but they also brought back stories of how terrifying it would be to try to take the land. God had promised them that land. Joshua and Caleb were among the spies and they saw what the others saw. However, they also saw the hand of God. What about those Egyptians? What about the Red Sea? Joshua knew. Caleb knew. The others only saw large fortified cities that were occupied by a people much stronger than they were. There is no way this can be done. It’s a suicide mission.

And, from the gloom and doom of the ten spies, our verse is found. The people cried. The people, in the following verse, grumble. Can’t we go back? Why do we have to do this? Fear rather than faith filled their hearts. They saw giants but they never thought of God.

There are some great lessons for us here:

First, it is important to be factual and accurate. They could have hidden the truth. The large branches of grapes is all they could have talked about. But they didn’t. They put the cards on the table. It is important to have all the facts before a decision is made. Some will tell you just what you want to hear and by doing this they are not presenting things honestly. Others are only gloom and doom and black is the only paint color in their bucket.

Second, even in the worst of news, faith and hope in the Lord can bring sunshine and a promise. Notice, Joshua didn’t say the fortified cities were really not that big. They were. And, the people were that strong. And, there were giants. No denying the facts. Some will do that just to try to make things seem optimistic. Joshua could have said, “I never saw any cities,” but that wouldn’t be truthful. God is greater than any troubles. Yes, there were strong cities, but God is stronger. Yes, there were giants, but God is larger than any giant. Doom and despair, whether about health problems, aging parents, church troubles, or marriage issues, can lead us to forgetting about the Lord. God can do things. God can open doors. God can put people in our lives. God is upon the throne.

Third, it takes real leaders to combat the negative impact that bad news has. This is true in our country, our families, and our congregations. Bad news is a part of life. There will be fortified cities and giants in our lives, however those very things can cripple us and make us hide in fear or our faith can soar with the Lord. This is where dads must shine. Bad news and the kids can get grumpy and want to throw in the towel. Dad leads the way. Faith, hope and trust in the Lord makes all the difference. The same is true in our congregations. Many are suffering these days. Attendance numbers are down in many places. Gloom seems to fill the air. Leaders will find ways to motivate, challenge and build hope in the members. Turning to the pages of the Bible, great lessons can be learned.

Fourth, bad news and negative spirits have a way of taking over a place. It can do that at work. It can do that at home. It can do that in a church. For us, we have the whole Bible. We know how the story ends. We see the triumphant Christ reigning in Revelation. There has been Egyptians and Babylonians and Romans. There has been fiery furnaces and lion’s dens and prison walls. But the banner of Christ still flies today. God still reigns today.

The tone at the beginning of worship can set the temperature for the entire worship hour. How we begin, what is said, whether we notice smiles, faith and hope can make that worship encouraging or it can be a long period of misery and discouragement. Don’t focus upon who is not there. See who is there. Don’t let distractions distract you. Put your eyes upon the Lord. There will be many who want to complain. There will be many who think it’s time to return to Egypt. There will be many who think we can’t go on. Be a Joshua. Be a person of faith. Don’t allow the gloom and doom of others to work it’s way into your heart. Walk by faith and not by sight. Sight people see fortified walls. Faith people see those walls coming down. Sight people see giants. Faith people see those giants tumbling. Sight people see strong nations. Faith people see a powerful God.

Our fortified cities and giants may be cancer or a loss of a job or a stinky economy or politics that turn our stomach or prodigals or people who do not like us or the push to agree with those who only vision is through their eyes.

Israel got the land. The walls at Jericho fell. Gideon’s reduced army was victorious. Goliath fell before David. Story after story in our Bibles remind us of those two powerful words in Hebrews eleven, “by faith.” By faith the mouths of lions were shut. By faith the dead were resurrected. By faith they quenched the power of fire. By faith they escaped the edge of the sword. By faith they put foreign armies to flight.

Joshua saw what the other spies saw. The other spies never saw what Joshua did. He saw the Lord.

Don’t let the gloom and doom of others to keep you from seeing the Lord.

Roger

27

Jump Start # 3174

Posted on September 27, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3174

Philippians 4:15 “And you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone.”

In my office at the church building stands a very old pulpit. It looks old and it is old. Best that we can gather is that it was one of the first pulpits used by this congregation, likely around 1914. Was it new then, no one seems to know. Some were going to toss it, but I’m a pack rat when it comes to saving old things. Inside this pulpit has become a treasure chest of items given to me through the years that pertain to the history of this congregation. I have bulletins from the 1950’s. I have old photos. I have dozens of different directories through the years. I have some financial ledgers. The insides of this old pulpit is stuffed with the history of this congregation. I now have been given another special item to add to this wonderful collection. Two small wicker baskets, believed to have been the original collection plates in this congregation were donated to my stash of items. The baskets are small, but so were the contributions back then.

As I looked at those wicker baskets many thoughts came to my mind. I wonder how many wonderful preachers were helped through the years by the monies collected in those small baskets. Very likely, the men that stood behind that old wood pulpit in my office, were given money out of those wicker baskets. It’s like two old friends being reunited again after all those years. The old pulpit and the old baskets, back together again.

I also wondered how many hard working men and women put what they could into those wicker baskets hoping that the congregation would continue to grow and continue on through the decades. That little house where this congregation started in 1913, moved to a frame building, then to a large Bedford stone structure for half a century. Today, the congregation meets in a different location, in a massive building but it was the love and generous contributions a long, long time ago that opened the doors for where we are today. Those early folks of this congregation would never dream of a congregation the size and a building like we have today. And, as we give each Sunday, it’s with that love for the kingdom and that desire to keep things going that compels us to give as we do.

Our verse today comes from a thankful Paul who was reaching out to the Philippians for helping him. No one else did. His travels were not funded by some organization. He didn’t have sponsors that allowed him to travel freely. There was no one to turn expenses in. There were times when the apostle made tents. There were times when he went hungry. Many of the first Christians were poor. Many were servants and slaves. And what the Philippians had, they gave to help Paul. It made a difference. He was so thankful.

And, through the years, our contributions to our congregations have allowed the Gospel to be spread worldwide. Podcasts, blogs, class material, mics, lights, air conditioning all have to be paid somehow. Bringing in guest speakers, helping needy brethren, pushing the message out, costs. It’s the generous hearts that have made all of this possible.

I wonder what little boys might have dropped a penny into those baskets long ago. And, those same boys, grew up and they preached God’s word or went on to serve as shepherds of this very congregation. I would love to have a display case to put these old items in. There just isn’t much room to do that. Knowing the history, the sacrifices and the love that fueled a congregation is something that every member out to know about their own place. Most congregations have had some ups and downs. There were some bright moments and some sad days. But those that endured, have done so because of sacrifice, dedication and love.

In those early 1920’s, there may have been more pennies and nickels than anything else. As the depression years hit, congregations were hurting financially. Times were tough. Paying a preacher a chicken is about all that some could do. And, that poor preacher was glad to have that chicken because he could feed his family.

Today, it’s checks and electronic giving. The costs of buildings, the salary of preachers, and the upkeep expenses would shock those long ago wicker basket brethren. But the principle remains the same. We give because we love the Lord. We give because we want the doors to stay open. We give because we want the kingdom to expand. We give because we want to put the devil on notice. We give because the Lord first gave to us. God gave the best of Heaven, Jesus Christ. We can never match that gift. We can never thank the Lord enough for that gift.

Two old wicker baskets. They tell a story. They are a reminder of our past. They are a reminder of the love of others who are now on the other side. I’m so glad to have those baskets.

Roger

26

Jump Start # 3173

Posted on September 26, 2022 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3173

2 Timothy 3:6-7 “For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sin, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth.”

Our verse is found in a long stream of expressions that describes the coming troublesome times that the young preacher Timothy was being warned about. Rather than loving God, these people loved self, they loved money and they loved pleasure. Sure sounds like our times, doesn’t it? And, among them, as our verse indicates, is a planned and concentrated attempt to mislead some to follow them. And, those who would dance to the tune of these pied pipers are described as “weak women” who are “weighed down with sin.”

Weak women weighed down by sin. Now, that’s a statement! It could just as easily be, “weak men weighed down by sin.” Now some thoughts for us:

First, spiritual weakness is caused by a lack of faith and little spiritual desire to engage in the kingdom. Doing as little as one can is all that some are after. What’s it going to take to pass the test, is what some students ask. Wrong question. What they ought to be asking is, what’s it going to take to get an A in this class. Doing as little as possible often isn’t enough to make a difference in the heart or the lives of a family. Barely coming to services. Barely interested. Never bringing a Bible. Sitting in a pew, with no intentions of taking notes, singing a hymn, or praying along with others. Just starring off into space, bored, day dreaming, playing on the phone and convinced that they are Heaven bound because they are sitting in a church building.

In the Thessalonian letter, the apostle said, “Help the weak.” In dealing with the abuse of the Lord’s Supper among the Corinthians, Paul said, “for this reason many among you are weak and sick, and a number sleep.”

It’s hard to imagine being weak in a time when apostles walked among the people. How can one be weak when some were witnessing miracles and spiritual gifts? But they were. And, they are today. Too much world and too little Christ. Too much time spent on self and not enough time spent doing spiritual things.

Second, spiritual weakness is a choice. It’s not about the church building. It’s not about who is preaching. It’s not about the size of the church. It’s a choice that happens because faith was not built and spiritual habits were not developed. I don’t think anyone starts off planning to be weak. Often, it’s just the opposite. The were weak, have been weak and were always weak. They never got strong. They never had good spiritual health. This is all that they ever knew and it’s all that they want to be.

In these days, it’s so easy to be spiritually strong. So many tools available for us these days. One can read passages from dozens of translations right on their phone. Blogs, podcasts, recorded sermons  – all around us. Every day we can connect, grow and become what God wants. But in the midst of an amazing spiritual banquet, there will be some who starve. There will be some who are undernourished. It’s their choice. All they want is to stick their big toe in the water and no more.

Third, to our passage today, the weak are vulnerable. The weak women were captivated by the smooth talking false teachers. They didn’t know. They couldn’t recognize error. They would not know a serpent if he introduced himself to them. And, being captivated, they dance off to new fads, new ideas, new teachings, embracing the fascination they have with these slick and smooth talking teachers that are peddling poison and not the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Captivated.

  • They are the kind who worm their way into homes and gain control over gullible women (NIV)
  • For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women (ESV)
  • Some will slither into households and control immature women (CEB)

You get the picture from these various translations. Weak women now believing what is false. Weak women chasing after ideas that are not Biblical. Weak women unstable in faith, now influencing their children in the false and wild ideas that captivated them.

Fourth, you notice from the passage that the impact is upon weak women. It’s not strong women. They know better. They can see through the fog of error. They search the Scriptures and realize that what these false teachers are saying is false. They know. They recognize a snake when they see it. They are not fooled by charism, charm, twinkling eyes and popularity. Sound words are not coming from the lips of these foolish teachers. They are not confused by the persuasive speech, the phony humbleness, and the promise to only say what God says. No. Not the strong women. They see right through it. They look beyond the messenger and look at what he is trying to sell. And, what they see is fake and they will have no part of it.

How does one get strong? Get into the book. Then, get the book into your life. Don’t be persuaded by “one of us.” Know God’s word. A wolf wearing sheep clothing can be very convincing from a distance. But up close, one sees the difference. Jesus said you’ll know the tree by it’s fruit.

It is a challenge working with weak brethren. Their attendance isn’t consistent nor good. They won’t help out. They are a constant struggle. So much time and effort is devoted to those who haven’t made up their minds if they are walking with the Lord or dancing with wolves. The leaders often care more for their souls than they do. Constantly praying, teaching, and influencing is what shepherds must do.

But in the end, if a person doesn’t care about their own salvation, little can be done. There were weak folks then and there will be weak folks today. We never give up, but onward with the Lord we must go.

Roger