31

Jump Start # 3439

Posted on October 31, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3439

Exodus 15:1 “Then Moses and the sons of Israel sang this song to the Lord, and said, ‘I will sing to the Lord, for He is highly exalted; the horse and its rider He has hurled into the sea.”

Recently Matt Bassford passed through the doorway of death into eternity with the Lord whom he loved so dearly. I never met Matt, but I have sung many of his hymns. Matt had a wonderful gift of writing lyrics for hymns. His catalog of songs is long and extensive. Although he died young, at the age of 45, from the terrible ALS disease, Matt has left hymns of praise that may well be used for generations.

Our verse today, coming after Israel’s triumphant march through the parted sea, reflects their praise, joy and hope in the Lord. Trapped with no way out, God opened the sea. And, when the Egyptians pressed onward, God closed the sea upon them and they died. It was a victory in which no arrows were shot in the sky and no soldiers fought. God protected and saved His people. Highly exalted is the Lord.

Exalted is one of Matt Bassford’s well known hymns. The name of the Lord is exalted and lifted high. The way of the Lord is exalted and followed dearly by those who cherish the Lord. And, in the end, the people of God will be exalted.

There are some wonderful lessons that Matt’s life teaches us:

First, he used his talents for the Lord. He was given a special talent by the Lord and to the Lord he used that talent. Few can do what he did. And, rather than writing songs to hopefully be picked up in Nashville by a country star, he wrote songs that honored the Lord.

Our hymn books are filled with hundreds of songs. Why write more? Some would say, “We haven’t sung all the ones in the book yet?” Matt wasn’t competing with the earlier song writers. He wrote lyrics that came from a heart that was saturated with the word of God. His goal wasn’t to be honored, but rather to honor the Lord. He used what God gave him to honor his God.

Among us today, there are so many talented disciples. Find your talent and use it for the kingdom.

Second, he shared his talent with others. I have learned so many wonderful stories about how Matt would help others who were working on hymns. Finding the right word and saying it in the right way is difficult. Rather than see these others as competitors, Matt encouraged them and shared what insights he had.

Jealousy and pride have no place in the kingdom. Together we honor our Lord. Together we help each other to walk with the Lord. Preachers, shepherds and teachers all understand this. We help one another. We want each other to excel. It’s not about who has the most listeners to a podcast or most readers to a blog, or who holds the most meetings, but who can we all help in some way. Matt got that.

Helping each other become better furthers the kingdom.

Third, Matt’s courageous battle with life and death left a lasting impression upon us. Often asked, “How are you doing?” Matt would reply, “I know how I’m doing. How are you doing?” His focus was Heaven. His suffering was intense. His pain was severe. But, no more than our Lord’s. And, it is into the arms of our Lord that he now rests. His journey here finished, but through those wonderful and marvelous hymns, his heart, faith and love continue on.

Someday, you and I will leave this place. Are we leaving it any better than what we found it? Long after the funeral is over, and the flowers have faded away, what footprints do we leave for others to follow? Are we making an impact in our families spiritually? Are we pointing the way towards Heaven for those around us? Our attitudes. Our words. Our passions. Long after we are gone, what will people remember?

I expect from what I have seen about Matt that he wouldn’t want to go down in history as a hymn-writer. He’d just rather be known as a disciple of Jesus. He used what he could, for as long as he could, to honor the Lord that he loved so much.

Exalted.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3438

Posted on October 30, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3438

Jeremiah 6:15 “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; they did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall along those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be cast down,’ says the Lord.”

It’s Halloween time again. It seems that more and more are decorating their houses with giant spiders, tombstones and great big skeletons. More and more outlandish seems to be where people are headed. I’ve never thought too much about the Halloween season. Let the kids put on customs and go trick or treating is about as far as I go. Some love horror movies. Some love haunted houses. Not me. Don’t need to pay money to get scared, just drive on some of these highways around here or jump out of an airplane.

But I saw a decorated house that was so fitting for our times. A whole family of skeletons, mom, dad and the kids. All different sizes. There was even a dog skeleton. In the dad’s hand, was a can of beer. I looked at that and thought, that’s what drinking will do for you, turn you into a skeleton. What a statement. Some likely honked their car horns and cheered when they saw that. I shook my head. How sad. No shame. No embarrassment.

Our verse today, taken from the prophet’s sad lament of the condition of the nation, states that they did not even know how to blush. That expression is interesting. We don’t normally teach someone to blush, it just happens. The reason why it happens is because someone has a moral compass and a sense of right and wrong. We’d say that they had a conscience. But when the compass is busted and nothing is wrong and everything is right, a person no longer blushes. That’s why obscene words do not bother some. That’s why immodesty doesn’t bother some.

When a person comes to Christ, they are not only forgiven of their sins, but that moral compass gets realigned in their heart and shame, guilt and embarrassment naturally follow. Culture has moved the out of bounds line and nothing is wrong these days. Lie, cheat, steal, do what you have to for your own well being.

And, this moral compass is first set correctly in the home. It is in the home where certain words are not allowed. It is in the home that parents approve of what is being worn before the teens leave the house. It is in the home that the moral structure of what is expected and what is right and wrong is taught.

As children age, they find others who do not have much of a moral compass. Kids say things that they shouldn’t say. They do things that they shouldn’t do. As they try to influence your child, it is that moral, godly compass that will protect them and help them.

Learning to switch channels when indecent commercials come on. Learning to stop a movie because the language is out of bounds. Learning to say “no” to others is part of developing that moral compass. Shame, guilt and sorrow are emotions and feelings that many want to deny, run from and do all they can to remove them. But shame, guilt and sorrow have a place in our lives. They have a way of keeping us in bounds when we step on the line of right and wrong. Filters are necessary, not only on our furnaces, but in our hearts. Recognizing that some things are not good, decent or helpful can keep us where God wants us to be.

Here are some reminders for us:

First, telling someone it is ok when something is not ok, is simply not ok. We don’t do well when others cry. We don’t like it when others feel bad. But putting band aids on the problems will not change behavior. It is good that the prodigal felt terrible. His actions were wrong. And, those feelings led him back home. Had someone told him, “It’s ok, you’ll be fine,” he may have stayed with the pigs.

Second, some people stay in the land of shame, guilt and sorrow. These emotions, though God given, are not intended to be our story nor define our character. Peter wept bitterly after he denied Jesus. But we know Peter as that courageous preacher of Acts 2. We know him as the steadfast, unbending faith who refused to be silent when he was told not to preach Jesus. We know him as going against all his upbringing and speaking to the Gentile Cornelius. We know Peter who wrote the powerful letters near the end of our Bibles. Peter did not continue to weep all his life. Peter did not drown in his sorrow. He moved on with the Lord and he did incredible things for the Lord.

Guilt, shame and embarrassment ought to move us to better choices and better behavior. We ought to learn. We ought to do better.

Third, the more blasphemous and ungodly our culture moves to, we must make sure that we don’t follow that at a distance. The first use of the “D” word in a movie was Gone with the Wind. That was shocking. Today, there are places that use that word in advertising and on cups at fast food places. Other words, once shocking and off limits, are becoming the norm and are becoming accepted. We must make sure that we are not accepting things that years ago we wouldn’t. Society is always shifting and moving and the direction isn’t towards the cross. We must remain where we are, steadfast and unmovable. And, it’s not just a language thing. Indecency, immodesty, and accepting things we once believed were wrong, becomes a huge problem in our faith. Has God moved? Has the Bible shifted? Why have we?

Unable to blush—that’s not a compliment. A skeleton with a beer in his hands—the sad sign of our times.

Roger

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Jump Start # 3437

Posted on October 27, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3437

Luke 8:14 “And the seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.”

Our passage today comes from the Lord’s explanation of the parable of the Sower. Seed was scattered. Some landed on the hard road and nothing much happened. Some of the seed was eaten by the birds. And, in our verse, some of the seed fell among the thorns. The plant started, but it was quickly squeezed out by the weeds. There wasn’t enough room for the plant to grow. It was choked out, using the language of the passage.

And, of the three negative soils, the road, the rocky soil and the thorns, it’s this last one that seems to trip us up the most. Worries, riches and pleasures seem to fill our days and our hearts. There just isn’t enough time to get done all that needs to get done. The worries, riches and pleasures of this life do not have to be bad things. They can be, but the text doesn’t necessitate that they are wrong. One of the key expressions from the verse is, “of this life.” It’s the worries of this life. It’s the riches of this life. It’s the pleasures of this life. And, before one realizes it, they have spent a life time chasing after the things of “this life.”

Here are some things to remember:

First, “of this life” doesn’t last. It’s the next life, the spiritual life, that truly endures. The problems of this life that causes us to worry, will not last. Think about the things that bothered you years ago. Most of us have a hard time remembering what those things were. We stressed about paying for cars that today we no longer own. We worried about our kids in school, and now they are grown and out of school. We worried about economy, politics, wars and storms. And, those things have moved on.

The same is true about riches. We shopped and shopped to buy furniture that we no longer own for a house that we no longer live in. We bought clothing that has since been pitched, items that have been put in the trash.

The same is true of pleasures of this life. We’ve been to ballgames, concerts and vacations that have long become distant memories for us.

The things of this life simply do not last.

Second, worries, riches and pleasures of this life all consume time and energy out of us. There is only so much time and when we are pursuing the things of “this life” there is little time for the things of the next life. Too busy to attend services like we should have. Schedules too filled to have someone over to our home. Can’t teach a class this quarter because my plate is full.

When we are busy with “this life” it is easy to kick the can down the road of the next life. Not now, maybe later is what we say to the things of the next life. Pursuing the things of this life can leave us exhausted, run down and uneasy. Jesus tells the disciples multiple times in Matthew not to be anxious, or worried. Yet, we get worried. And, the more we worry, the less we trust and believe in God. Worry and faith are the opposites. The greater your faith, the less you will worry.

Third, the things of this life leave us none the better. Worries, riches and pleasures do not build character within us. Riches and pleasures, especially, may put a smile on our faces for a moment, but they will not bring lasting joy. Our faith in the Lord is not enriched by worries, riches and pleasures. Worries, riches and pleasures do not equip us to face what storms we encounter in life. Worries, riches and pleasures do not create a heart that is like Jesus.

We chase these rabbits all through the weeds of life and find out that the pursuit was not worth it. It was a waste of time. The Lord has always been there for us. The Lord has taken good care of us. The Lord loves us.

Weeds grow faster than plants. Weeds grow in the worst conditions. Dry and hot, the weeds grow. Rainy, the weeds grow. Cold, the weeds grow. And, unless one stays on top of things, weeds can take over. It’s a constant battle that every gardener faces, getting rid of the weeds.

Imagine the opposite of our passage. Instead of worries, riches and pleasures choking out the good word of God, the good seed of God chokes out the worries, riches and pleasures of this life. There is no room for worry, because my heart is filled with the Word of God. Riches and pleasures can’t take root within us because the Word of God is firmly planted there.

These are things that we face, struggle with and must overcome to be the people that Jesus wants us to be. Don’t be chocked by the things of this life. Become filled with the things of the NEXT life.

Roger

26

Jump Start # 3436

Posted on October 26, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3436

Ephesians 4:32 “And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”

A few years ago I was blessed to go on a trip to Israel. Amazing. Glad I was there then and not now. Seeing the places adds color and dimension to what you read in the Bible. We have a Jump Start book about my trip to Israel. If you would like one, just email me (Rogshouse@aol.com)

Of course, when you do a trip of a lifetime, one has to bring back souvenirs, both for self and others. I got a rock from the brook where David likely picked up his five smooth stones before he faced Goliath. I got some cuff links made from widow’s mite, the small coin that we read about in the Gospels. But my prize and joy is a small clay jar that looked like it held oil. It came from an antique dealer in Bethlehem. What he says is top notch, verified and authenticated with certificates dating how old the item was.

My little clay jar sits on a shelf in my office. I have the certificate with it dating that jar from 1850 B.C. 1850, in our country is old, but when you put a B.C. with that, it’s ancient.

When I purchased that little clay jar, I wrote out my address for the shop owner to ship it to my home. He declared, “I do not need your address. We do not ship. This jar is too fragile, too old and too expensive for us to ship. You must take it with you.” I wondered how are we were getting this home? We are in Israel. We must fly to different airports, switch planes, go through security. My little jar will never make it.

We stuck the jar inside several pairs of socks and put the socks inside a shoe and hoped for the best. My little jar made it home safely. But that experience taught me a great lesson about people.

First, we are fragile and expensive. And, unless we take care of one another, we will crack and hurt each other. The little digs and comments we often say can chip and hurt friendships and fellowships. Some can say the cruelest things. Some have no filter on their mouths. And, they dismiss what they have done by saying, “I was only teasing.” Some don’t know that. Some don’t like to be teased. If I dropped my little clay jar, I’m sure I could superglue the big pieces back together, but it would never be the same. And, so it is with relationships. We can always say that “we are sorry,” but there is only so much that can be done and often those hurt feelings are never repaired.

Second, even in speaking the truth, it needs to be delivered in kindness, love and hope. The goal is not to have the last word. The goal is not to say, “I told him so.” The goal in corrective conversations is to help someone be better. Our words go down a lot easier if we said a prayer first and put some kindness to our tone. It’s like whip cream on pumpkin pie—it just makes it all that much better. Harsh words are like rubbing the fur on a cat the wrong way. One can say things without being harsh. Correct with gentleness is a common theme in the N.T. Some seem to have forgotten that.

Third, not everyone is like me and not everyone is like you. We are all sensitive in different areas of our lives. You can go up to one guy and say, “Man, that shirt is ugly on you.” He might laugh and even agree with you. Someone else may run home in tears and never come back. Think of people like my little clay jar. Our friendships are fragile. Our fellowship is important. And, I’d expect more people have walked away from a congregation not because of what was said from the pulpit, but rather what was said between the pews after services were over.

Not every has the same needs as I do. Not everyone has the same background as I do. Not everyone is at the same place spiritually as I am. Because something doesn’t bother me, is not an indication that everyone else feels the same. It may bother them.

We need to wrap our fellowship carefully and tuck it in something secure and protect it. Love one another is sprinkled throughout the N.T. And, the way we do this the best is to:

  • Be patient with each other. Some like to dominate a conversation. Some don’t know a short story. Some have a hard time getting to the point. Be patient.
  • Be thoughtful with each other. Make a person feel comfortable with you. Putting a smile at the beginning of a conversation can sure change the tone and atmosphere and attitude of a person.
  • Be supportive and defensive of your fellowship. The church is your family. You would not trash talk your physically family—not to others and not on social media. Love those people. Get to know those people. Help those people. These are your people.

My old clay jar sits safely on my self. It made it home from Israel because I protected it and did all I could to bring it home that way. And, my friends are just like that. I do all that I can to protect our relationship so we can all be brought home safely.

Can we do better with strengthening our fellowship?

Roger

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Jump Start # 3435

Posted on October 25, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3435

Luke 8:15 “And the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”

Hard soil. Thorny soil. Seed stolen by birds. And, good, productive soil. That’s the makeup of the parable of the Sower. There are three components to the good soil.

  • They heard the word in an honest and good heart
  • They hold fast the word
  • They bear fruit because of the word

And, those three simple steps make all the difference. Two people can hear the same sermon and one leaves the church building unchanged, unmoved and none the better. The other person, leaves convicted. He makes promises to himself to do better. The sermon touched him and moved him. Same service. Same sermon. It’s the three components that make all the difference.

Recently I was preaching for a congregation in Ohio. It was my first time to that church and I really didn’t know anyone there. In making the arrangements and details about that meeting, it was suggested that I come early and spend three or four hours on Saturday talking to the church about leadership, the Biblical picture of shepherding, and changing the culture in a congregation. We did that and it was well received.

And, right there I saw two amazing things about that group of people. And, it’s those qualities and characteristics that make all the difference in the future of a congregation.

There are two qualities that go together. First, is  the willingness to try something different. Most times, meetings start on Sunday. But this group was willing to spend a rainy Saturday listening to someone they had never met talk about principles, applications and suggestions about leading a church. They wanted to know. They wanted to learn.

Second, is having the heart that is willing to learn. And, whether one talks about leadership, excellence in worship, or just a one-on-one talk with your teen, unless there is an openness of the heart to listen and learn, nothing will be accomplished. In the Lord’s parable of the Sower, the good soil is described as a good and honest heart.

When you have a conversation, but the other person doesn’t want to be there, doesn’t want to hear you, and his mind is made up, nothing positive will happen. This kind of attitude frustrates parents, and it makes preachers wonder what they are doing wrong. Having a heart that wants to learn, wants to grow is where it begins.

Whenever the Word of God intersects an open and willing heart, great things will happen. It is when a person has a closed mind that nothing good is accomplished. How does one develop that honest and good heart?

It begins with humility. It is a heart, like this Ohio congregation, that was willing to listen and learn more. When we think we have heard all that can be said on a topic, then the door shuts. I had someone tell me a while back, “Do you think after doing this for thirty-five years, you can teach me something I don’t know?” And, with a spirit like that, I couldn’t. Be open to growing. Be willing to learn. Never get to the place where you think you have learned all that there is to know.

Sometimes we can get so stuck in our ways and become so accustomed to the way things are that we fight hearing and doing anything different. And, when that happens, change will never take place. Improvement is built upon growth, learning and changing. When that little puppy grows into a dog, and that little tree sapling grows into a large tree, change has taken place.

Some are afraid of change because it means doing things differently and some are afraid that they may be headed down the slippery slope of error. So, they stay the course. And, by resisting and fighting any change, they keep from growing. Everything  not only stays the same, but everything seems stuck.

Churches today are doing more than they ever have, very likely doing most in the history of the church. The message circles the planet. The classes, blogs, podcasts are reaching thousands of people who will never be a part of that congregation, but they are out there somewhere in the kingdom. It takes finances, personnel and vision to engage in these global efforts. It takes open hearts and a willingness to try something different.

The attitude within a person or a congregation can make all the difference.

Roger