29

Jump Start # 3480

Posted on December 29, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3480

Psalms 31:21 “Blessed be the Lord, for He has made marvelous His lovingkindness to me in a besieged city.”

Note: With Monday being a holiday, there will not be a Jump Start posted. We look forward to starting the New Year with you on Tuesday, Lord willing.

We have come to our final Jump Start for this year. We have produced 244 articles this year. We presented a new booklet on the story of Jimi, the prisoner who became a Christian before he was executed.

How has this year been for you? Was it a good year? Was it a tough year? There are many markers that we use to determine those things. The birth of a baby brings joy and happiness to a family. The death of a loved one brings tears and sorry to our hearts. And, for most of us, this year, like most years, is a series of ups and downs, highs and lows. We had a new grandbaby born this year. We had some tough waters to navigate through as a church this year. Some began a marriage this year. Others ended a marriage. There has been vacations and visits to the doctor and even the hospital. Some began their walk with the Lord this year. Others, finished the race this year. Tears and smiles. Rejoicing and deep prayers. Precious memories and scary moments. What a year it has been. And, as we stand on the shoreline and look into what’s ahead, we wonder, will this next year be any better, or will it be worse?

Here are some thoughts for you to consider:

First, God is amazing. So many prayers offered to Him. So much comfort and guidance through His word. The darkness just doesn’t seem so dark with the Lord nearby. God’s patience with us is indescribable. He simply never gives up on us. And, as we march through a year, making turns and twists, God has been there. He has helped us so much.

Second, God’s people are incredible. You can count on them. So many prayers. So much concern. Where would we be without the fellowship, encouragement and help from the people of God. There are times we fuss at one another. There are times we bump and annoy each other. But, just like our families, we wouldn’t do without these people for anything.

Third, faith makes all the difference. I have sat in a waiting room while a child of mine was having a major operation this year. Prayers were flowing constantly. On another day, I sat in another hospital waiting room, as another child was bringing a baby into the world. I’ve faced some unkind words spoken about me this year. I’ve seen shepherds opening their hearts to learning more about leadership in God’s kingdom. I’ve heard some remarkable sermons this year coming from passionate hearts that love the Lord. And, through it all, faith in Jesus has not only gotten us through, but it has made it possible for us to stand triumphantly.

Think about what you have been able to do this year:

  • You were able to help support the kingdom of God and see it grow
  • You were able to lift the names of others to Heaven
  • You were able to open God’s divine word and learn more about our Savior
  • You were able to encourage the people of God
  • You were able to let your light shine before those who do not know the Lord
  • You were able to sing praises to our amazing Lord
  • You were able to remember the wonderful sacrifice of Jesus multiple times this year
  • You were able to attend worship services with the saints of God. What an honor that is.
  • You were able to attend Bible classes and dig deeply into God’s word
  • You were able to walk yet another year with your Savior

What will this next year bring? What ever comes, we know through faith, God will help us.

God bless each of our readers. Many of you have been with us for a long, long time. So many of you send me emails and I appreciate that. Many of you are passing these Jump Starts on to other people. That has built a readership larger than I ever dreamed. I am thankful for the ability, opportunity and tools that God has blessed me with to be able to share these thoughts with you. The fact that anyone is interested in what I think about amazes me.

I am blessed to be part of a great congregation that has the vision to reach others through this medium. May we honor our dear Lord and continue on strongly until He calls us home.

I am thankful to Him and I am thankful for you.

May you be a blessing to others this coming year.

Roger

28

Jump Start # 3479

Posted on December 28, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3479

Philippians 4:14 “Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.”

There are a variety of words that come from our word ‘fellowship.’ Partner is one. Participation is another. From our verse today, “share” or sharing is another. It is a joint effort that is found within fellowship. Paul preached and the Philippians took care of Paul. And, that beautiful exchange continues on even down to our times.

Recently, our congregation began supporting a few preachers from Zimbabwe, Africa. And, in an effort to get everyone excited and on board with this new project, cards and letters were collected that were sent to these preachers. Several of our in-house class books were also sent to the preachers. This additional step is so important to both the Paul receiving and the Philippians giving. Often, a support letter is posted on a bulletin board in some hallway and few read it. Most don’t know much about who they are helping to support.

Earlier this year, another preacher that we share with, from Italy, made a video interview with a couple of our shepherds. We played that video before the congregation one evening. A face, a voice and some helpful insights were shared before all.

Keeping a congregation informed, connected and sharing with those we partner with in the preaching of the Gospel is valuable. Putting names in prayers of those you support is yet another way to keep the congregation connected and informed.

Sharing in the Gospel is a wonderful thing you can do. Here are a few suggestions:

First, most congregations have a junk room that is filled with old Bibles, song books, class books. Rather than taking them to a dump, see if someone overseas could use those things. Our junk may well be their treasure.

Second, so many preachers overseas can be reached through email and Facebook. Begin a personal connection by contacting these men. Get to know them. Pray for them. If opportunity allows you to travel to those areas, be sure and visit with them.

For many overseas, the work is hard and lonely. We have an abundance of congregations in this country. They do not. We have so many tools to learn and grow. They are limited in what they have available. Words from someone far away, letting them know that they are not forgotten and that, in fact, they are appreciated means so much.

Many of the preachers overseas have family with children. Get your children to draw pictures and write to the children of these disciples in other congregations. Good things can come from that.

The kingdom is large. It’s greater than any one congregation. It’s everywhere in the world. Helping those who are pushing the borders of the kingdom is something we all can do.

Sharing in the work of the Gospel is an important aspect our work and walk with the Lord.

Roger

27

Jump Start # 3478

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

Jump Start # 3478

Mark 16:15 “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.’”

Have you noticed that the flavor of the month in the TV markets are stations that add a + programing for additional cost? There is Disney +. ESPN +. MGM +. Discovery +. Peacock +. Paramount +. Apple TV +, BET +. AMC +. Now, if you don’t sign up and pay the additional monthly costs, you don’t get the +. The + is for a select group of people who pay the monthly fee. They get shows that others do not. It’s an exclusive club.

Our verse today, commonly called the ‘Great Commission,’ shows us that God intended the Gospel to be available to all people. All people—that means every continent on the planet. That means every nation on every continent. That means every city in every nation on every continent. That means every street, in every city, in every nation, on every continent. That means every house, on every street, in every city, in every nation, on every continent. That means every person in every house, on every street, in every city, in every nation, on every continent on this planet.

Can you imagine if there was a “Church +”, or worse, a “Gospel +”? For a small monthly fee, more details, information, blessings, promises and benefits are offered to the + members. If you didn’t sign up for the + program, then you would be left out of these special benefits.

God doesn’t work that way. The hope, promises and salvation found in Christ are available to everyone. Now consider some thoughts about this:

First, the Bible applies to everyone. Whosoever, surely meanth me, is an old hymn that reminds us of this. In Matthew 5:22, our Lord said, “But I say to you that everyone who is anger with his brother shall be guilty before the court…” Who is the “everyone?” It’s everyone! Multiple times, running through the sermon on the Mount, Jesus used the expression, “Everyone.”

Some have the idea that the Bible only applies to a person if he is going to be religious. But if a person decides not to be that way, then the Bible doesn’t apply to them. If you’re going to church, it is thought, you have to go by the rules. If you don’t, then you don’t.

The everyone and whosoever expressions teach us that whether a person ever opens a Bible or not, these things apply to him. If ignorance was an open gate that allowed a person to live apart from the Bible, we would be doing that person a disservice by teaching him the Gospel. Let him remain in the dark. Don’t teach him, he can remain outside the commands of the Bible. This may be wishful thinking for some, it doesn’t fit in with the “everyone” concept.

Second, the blessings of God are given freely and equally to all. There is not a special tier for the elite. In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, those who worked only one hour were paid the same amount as those who had worked all day. Those who were hired first, were the apostles. They worked in extreme conditions. They started congregations where there were none. Yet, those who came in at the last hour were made equal to the first group. You and I will receive the same blessings as the apostles.

Third, our fellowship with each other makes us equal. The Galatians were told that all were one in Christ. That included opposites such as master and slave, Jew and Gentile, male and female. Now, we may have different functions and roles in a congregation, but that does not put us in a special circle that is not available to others. The shepherds who are watching over the flock, are also sheep themselves. No one should ever say “I’m just an ordinary member. I don’t count.” No one is just an ordinary member. We are the body of Christ. We have been purchased by God. The blood of His Son has cleansed us. We are a child of the King. We are Heaven bound. We are part of something big, eternal and powerful.

Church +, I don’t think so. Thanks be to God, that includes us, uses us, and forgives us.

Roger

26

Jump Start # 3477

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

Jump Start # 3477

Luke 2:7 “And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.”

The religious community loves to talk and sing about baby Jesus this time of the year. There are a lot of Christmas traditions that are not found in the Bible. For instance, there are no recorded conversations with the inn keeper. The Bible does not tell us that Jesus was born on December 25th. The Scriptures do tell us that the Roman Emperor had called for a census to be taken and every male was to go to his hometown to register. It seems that if the emperor wanted an accurate counting of the people, he would pick a season in which travel was easy. December wouldn’t have been the choice month. And, those wise men from the East, we are not given their names or their races. And, when they find Jesus, He is more than a month old and in a house, not the manger. And, the manger is actually a feeding trough for animals.

Recently I talked about the humility found in the birth of Jesus. Consider:

First, Jesus was born to a poor, unwed woman, who was away from home. Multiple scholars believe that Mary may have been a teenager. She was a virgin, who would later have more children. When she and Joseph made a sacrifice in Jerusalem, they offered turtledoves, not a lamb. The Law in Leviticus said that if a lamb could not be afforded, two turtledoves could be used. This is an indication that they were poor.

Jesus was not born in a hospital, with the best doctors and His grandparents anxiously waiting in the lobby. He was born in a stable, on a road trip, and placed in a feeding trough. Mary wasn’t from Bethlehem. Did she know anyone there? The King of Kings was not born in a palace, with servants attending Him, and the best comfort that could be afforded.

Second, the first visitors to see Jesus was strange shepherds. They had seen the sign and they came to honor Jesus. Not being from Bethlehem, it is very likely that Mary did not know who these shepherds were.

Third, the Biblical record is silent about the child Jesus growing up. There is a sentence or two about Jesus being in the temple at age twelve. But what about His first birthday? What about when He first learned to walk? What about His first words He spoke? What was His favorite toy? Nothing. We know His first miracle was at the wedding in Cana.

But like us, He learned to think, speak, and connect with people. He learned to do things. He learned obedience, Hebrews tells us. And, unlike us, He was without sin. He never had thoughts that He shouldn’t have. He never had to apologize for doing something wrong. He never lied. He never stole anything. He never got drunk. He was the unblemished, perfect sacrifice. He was perfection.

We wonder what Jesus did for the first thirty years of His life? Why didn’t He come fully grown and ready to go from day one? Why years of growing up? We can come up with all sorts of theories and ideas. The Scriptures tell us that He had to be like us in all things.

Fourth, humility was a quality of all of Jesus’ life on earth. He came to serve others. He fulfilled and accomplished everything that He was sent to do. People were comfortable coming to Jesus. He was not standoffish. He was not arrogant and boastful. He was not too busy for others. He was not too good to be around the outcasts and misfits of His time.

Only two of the four Gospels tell the birth story of Jesus. It is remarkable and important. However, many want to keep Jesus as that cute baby in the manger. A baby is innocent and not a threat to us. A baby doesn’t command. It was that baby that became our Savior. It was that baby that is the Lord of lords and the King of kings. It is that baby that became the Jesus that rules the world and someday will judge all of us.

Don’t put Jesus in a box and put Him out of your mind and heart for another year. Jesus needs to fill every day of our lives. He is Immanuel, God among us.

Roger

22

Jump Start # 3476

Posted on December 22, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3476

Ecclesiastes 7:3 “Sorrow is better than laughter, for when a face is sad a heart may be happy.”

Note: Monday is a holiday. There will not be a Jump Start posted that day. Enjoy the time with family.

Here in Ecclesiastes, Solomon runs through a list of contrasts that we might argue with him about. He says a good name is better than good ointment. Now, I hear someone saying, “I really don’t care what people think about me. I’d take the expensive perfume.” Not what Solomon said.

Within the same verse Solomon adds, the day of one’s death is better than the day of one’s birth. Most wouldn’t agree with that. There is nothing good about death, especially as our current culture sees it. Our verse soon follows. Sorrow, Solomon says, is better than laughter. You won’t find many agreeing with that.

Our Jump Starts yesterday talked about tears in a bottle, from a passage in Psalms. The holiday season, rich in joy and laughter is often a difficult period for many people. A death brings loneliness. Things once shared cannot be shared now. A problem in the family has brought separation and estrangement. A divorce. People no longer talking to each other. Accusations. Angry words uttered. And, the holidays bring tears rather than smiles.

I’ll be the first to tell you that I am not a psychologist or a therapist. I’m just a simple preacher. But let me share some thoughts with you.

First, as you suffer with the pain, you do not suffer alone. God knows. Our article yesterday, tears in a bottle, reminds us that God is with you when others won’t or can’t. The Lord is good. Use the time to rejoice in wonderful memories. Don’t sorrow for what you do not have, but rejoice in what you did have. Use the holidays to help others. Don’t be a victim. Your example can left the sorrows of others. Thank the Lord.

Second, as you shuffle through different feelings and emotions, realize friends and family are uneasy about what to say. If they talk about your deceased loved one, that might make you cry and they don’t want to do that. But, if they don’t say anything, you might think that they no longer care or remember. Put others at ease. If you feel like talking about the past and loved ones who have died, take the lead in those conversations. Sometimes a good cry is helpful and healthy. Among the tears, you will find memories to laugh about.

As you talk about a loved one who has passed away, it is a great occasion to tuck a little Bible lesson in those conversations about our walk with the Lord and eternity. Death from the standpoint of God is not the end. Hope and faith can shine brightly when we talk about those things.

Third, there is a scene in the first Home Alone movie in which Kevin’s neighbor hasn’t talked with his grown son in some time. Things were said. Kevin encourages the old man to call his son. There is a moment when Kevin looking through his window, sees the neighbor hugging his son who has come to visit. And, what a great reminder for us. Maybe we need to make a phone call. Maybe it’s time to build bridges rather than fences. We may be waiting for them to reach out, and they may be waiting for you to reach out. And, as you both wait on each other, time passes. Be the first to extend grace. Be the first to try to reconcile.

And, if the other person doesn’t want a bridge, you have done your part. You will continue to pray. You will continue to be kind. You will continue to love. Religious differences have put major wedges between family members. It was so bad in the first century, that the Lord said, there would be fathers who delivered up their sons to be put to death.

Some families just never started off on the right foot. Dysfunction has been a part of every day. Sin and selfishness has ruined many homes. Disciples often have to draw lines and establish boundaries as to what kind of relationship they can have with family members who would rather walk with Satan than the Savior. Loving at a distance may be the best that some can do.

Finally, don’t wear your sorrow and pain on your sleeves for others to feel bad about. When the talk is about what everyone did for the holidays, don’t say, “Nothing. I was alone. I stayed home by myself.” That’s a plea for pity and no one likes to attend a pity party. Even if that is the case, find ways to rejoice, reflect and be thankful. Spend time with your church family. Find a friend and go out to dinner.

Home for the holidays can be a painful experience for some families. Make it the best that you can.

Roger