14

Jump Start # 3470

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3470

Acts 18:26 “and He made from one every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation.”

In the autobiography of restoration preacher, J. H. Garrison, written in 1926, the author begins, “No man is permitted to choose the time or place of his birth, nor his parentage. These are provided by that gracious Providence that lies behind the mystery of personality and of all being. To have been born at all, and to have a distinct personality, and a place, however humble, in the marvelous drama of human life with all its mighty hopes and possibilities has always seemed to me a boon for which I could not be sufficiently thankful” (Memories and Experiences, pg 15). Garrison was born in Missouri in 1842.

Our time, our looks, our place, our parents and even our names are things that have been given to us. For some, this has been a wonderful blessing. You were raised by godly disciples who loved and obeyed the Lord. Certain things were already decided for you. You were kept safe and many moral decisions were made for you. What a blessing that has been. What an advantage you had.

Others were not this blessed. They had to overcome dysfunctional parents, denominational error and learn quickly how to make the best decisions for themselves. It has been a struggle and a long journey for them.

Here are some lessons for us :

First, we can fail to see what a blessing it is having a mother and grandmother as believers as Timothy had. The fog of error and the confusion of what is right is something that we have not had to experience. Some fight this background and want nothing to do with it. Knowing the Lord at a young age can be a great benefit. It can keep us out of much trouble and begin a long and beautiful walk with the Lord.

Second, God knew what He was doing when He put us in this time period. God knows what you are capable of and what you can do. He knows the tools of our times and the opportunities that are presented to us. You can do God’s will today, because the Lord chose that you you would live in this time.

Third, every generation faces unique challenges and wonderful opportunities. We can get discouraged because things are not as they once were, but here we are and here is where we must work for the Lord.

Can you imagine what it would have been like if the Lord allowed us to pick and choose when we would live? Through Jesus, many of us have become dear friends. We have worshipped and worked together. Had we not lived now and here, that would not have been possible.

Someday we will be with those of all generations. Have you ever thought about how we are going to communicate in Heaven when most of us only know English. What if we are put beside an Egyptian from long ago? Or, even someone of our times, but not of our language? How will we fellowship when we are unable to communicate? Great problem that would be for us, but it’s not for God. The Lord will take care of this. He always does.

The blessings of birth and these times…something to think about.

Roger

13

Jump Start # 3469

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3469

Hebrews 11:38 Men of whom the world was not worthy, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.

Paul Earnhart has died. He passed into the eternal last Wednesday. Paul was an amazing preacher. He was an encourager. He was a help. And, for countless in spiritual Israel today, we knew him as a friend. The tributes have poured in from so many who loved him, learned from him and were touched by his life.

If I could build a modern Mount Rushmore, I’d have the face of Paul Earnhart, along side of Dee Bowman on that mountain. But Paul would have none of that. He’d tell you immediately that he doesn’t belong up there. He’d remind you in his kind manner, that all honor belongs to the Lord.

Here are some things that impressed me about Paul:

First, he was a man of the book. As he preached and as he wrote, it was always about the Lord. His dress was simple. His speech filled with Scripture. There was nothing about him that would draw attention to him. It wasn’t charm, flash, or being cute in his nature. He’d tell you that he was just a common preacher. But the insights he brought and the way he opened Scripture, he put the Lord right before your eyes. He brought passages to life and made Christianity practical, possible and desirable. When you heard Paul preach, you just wanted to be good.

Second, Paul was a friend to preachers. He loved us. He was kind to us. And, in just a few words he could lift our spirits and help us in our work and our journey. Having Paul in the audience made most of us nervous, but he would be the biggest encourager. Just a couple years ago, we had a cancelation in our summer series at Charlestown Road. Our theme was specific and the topic was about older Christians. When looking for a fill in, we turned to bro. Earnhart. He voice was soft spoken but what he said was powerful and as I looked about, nearly everyone was taking notes. He emphasized finishing the race and never retiring from the Lord. Words spoken from a man who lived that way. Long after many have retired, Paul was preaching everywhere he could. He preached until the Lord stopped him.

Third, Paul was kind. His smile when you walked up to him just warmed your heart. He could say things in just the right way that would help you. He was truly a friend.

There are a few things that came to my heart when I heard of Paul’s passing.

First, we are blessed to have known him and been a friend to him. His model of preaching Christ, being humble, and doing good is something we will long remember. Our hearts have been strengthened by his life. There will be others coming along who never knew Paul Earnhart. A true giant in our times. What a blessing for so many of us to say that we heard him preach.

I have talked to old timers who said that they saw Babe Ruth play. That is something they always remembered. Among disciples, it will long be remembered that we got to hear Paul Earnhart preach. That will always be something special to us.

Second, the torch is being passed on to us whether we are ready for that or not. Those wonderful heroes that helped us are crossing the river to the other side. Robert Turner. Dee. Paul. Ed. Their writings helped us. They weathered storms and criticism and stayed the course. Dee once told me that it all came from Paul. Paul would tell me it all came from Sewell. But that generation has laid down their pens. Their voices are now nearly all silent. And, to those of my age, it falls to us. That’s scary. We cannot be what they were, but we must do what we can. There is a generation following us. We must set forth a path that points to the Scriptures and be the kind encouragers and helps as these spiritual giants were to us. We must work hard to set forth examples of Biblical preaching, encouraging and kindness. We don’t want to be the cause for some to quit. We don’t want to be too busy that we do not have the time for others. The torch is in our hands. We must wave it so all can see it.

Third, the glory of the Lord is what defines the life of Paul Earnhart. His love for the Lord showed in his preaching, his writing and his living. He truly loved the Lord. May we come to know and love the Lord that way. I love Paul Earnhart. We had a special conversation about a long ago forgotten preacher named Henry Fricklin. Fricklin was one of the last living pupils of legendary J.W. McGarvey. Late in his life, Fricklin lived with Paul Earnhart. We loved to talk about those things.

I love the Lord. Had it not been for Jesus, I would have never known this Paul Earnhart. Heaven shines a bit brighter the more we know people on the other side.

The world has little time or place for someone like Paul Earnhart. It didn’t for the heroes of Hebrews 11 either. But for you and I, there were giants walking among us and we got to know them. May we live well, do good, and help all. May we bring Jesus before the eyes of the world.

I a blessed to have crossed paths with Paul Earnhart.

Roger

12

Jump Start # 3468

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3468

Acts 26:29 “I would to God, that whether in a short or long time, not only you, but also all who hear me this day, might become such as I am, except for these chains.”

Just a reminder, if you don’t see your Jump Starts in your email, some servers place them in spam folders and others will drop them completely. I’m sure there is a technical response to that, but it’s beyond me. Just last week I did not receive my Jump Start. I knew I had sent it out. When that happens, go to the Jump Start website (jumpstartsdaily.com) and enter your email and subscribe again. I had to do that, and I’m the author.

Our verse today comes from that grand assembly featuring King Agrippa, his wife, Festus, the governor, the chief captains and leading men of the city. There was a lot of pomp as these prestigious people entered the room. They had gathered to hear the apostle Paul. And, flowing through our chapter today, Acts 26, Paul tells his story of how he became a Christian. Festus shouted, he is “mad.” Today, we’d say, “he’s crazy.”

It is here that Agrippa makes that statement that has been the heart of many sermons, “Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Our verse is Paul’s reply. I wish you were a Christian. I wish you were like me, except for the chains.

Paul was not persuading God to accept Agrippa as he was. He was not persuading Agrippa to just go to church. He was not persuading Agrippa to start being nice. He wanted the king to be a Christian. He wanted the king to know the real King. And, this persuasion was not based upon false promises, offering the king physical gifts, nor guilting him into doing something he didn’t want to do. None of those things took place. In essence, Paul said, “I wish everyone could be like me.”

Now think about those words: I wish everyone could be like me.

First, do you wish everyone had the faith that you do? A faith that begins the day with prayer and a faith that thinks about the Lord all the time. A faith that leads one to reading the Bible. A faith that shapes our choices, our words and our attitudes. What if everyone in the congregation had a faith like yours? Would that be an improvement or would there be some serious problems?

Second, do you wish everyone was a thoughtful and generous as you are? Some like to hold that judgmental radar gun and point it at everyone except themselves. Some can act so much like the Pharisees you’d think they are related. Out to eat, some would never dream of paying for the other person’s meal. When a special need arises, some wouldn’t give a nickel. Are you like that? Do you wish everyone was like that?

Or, would you rather be like the opposite. The one who is always quick to help others out. One who is kind and praying for others. One who sends a text to someone in the middle of the week to just thank that person for leading songs on Sunday. Someone who is always seeing the best in others. Someone whose face always has a smile on it.

I wish everyone was just like me.

Third, do you wish everyone was as committed as you are? When the doors of the church house are open, you’ll be there. Are you like that? Or, do the shepherds have to work and work with you to come? Does the preacher have to spend time in a sermon convincing you to do what you already should be doing? Are you always looking for a reason not to attend? When the search is on for Bible class teachers, your name is one that is near the top of the  list. You are one that can be counted on.

Fourth, do you wish everyone was as strong as you are? Beyond knowing facts, you know the Lord. You know that when the storms come, the Lord is still there. You know when there is a tragedy, the Lord is near by. You know the kindness, compassion and grace of Jesus. You know because you have spent a long time with the Lord in His word. You are a breath of fresh air in the place where you work. You are making a difference with your family. You have become one of the pillars and backbones of the congregation. It stands strong today because of people like you.

I wish everyone was just like me? Can you say that? If not, what do you need to do?

Roger

11

Jump Start # 3467

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3467

1 Samuel 20:3 “Yet David vowed again, saying, ‘Your father knows well that I have found favor in your sight, and has said, ‘Do not let Jonathan know this, or he will be grieved.’ But truly as the Lord lives and as you soul lives, there is hardly a step between me and death.”

It was just a typical Sunday morning. I was driving to the church house bright and early like I do each week. My mind was thinking about sermons, people and the Lord. And, suddenly two cars going exceedingly fast, likely more than 100 MPH, racing each other, rocketed past me. The cars were so close to each other, one nearly touching the car in the front. To get around a car in the left lane, they served rapidly into the right lane. That’s where I was. I swerved into the emergency lane, while going about 70 MPH. One of the cars swerved into an on ramp, but there was a car coming down that ramp. He swerved to the right and violently took out a highway sign, spun and crashed. Debris, flying pieces, smoke, grass filled the air as I was right behind all of this. The crashing car was filled with smoke and air bags. I pulled over and called 911.

At first I was angry. Life is not a video game. You crash and you don’t just hit a button and get another life. Had those speeding cars hit me, I would have flipped multiple times through a ditch. That could have been it for me.

As I worshipped that morning, that thought ran through my mind. How terribly worship would have been ruined for so many people had the announcement been made that I died in a car wreck on the way to services. I had many thankful prayers going Heavenward since that moment.

And, moments like this put our verse right before our eyes. David was been chased by the jealous King Saul. To complicate matters, David and Saul’s son, Jonathan were deep friends. Saul seems to ignore what was going on in the kingdom. He was centrally focused upon killing David. And, here in our verse is that profound statement, “there is hardly a step between me and death.”

Now, consider some thoughts:

First, just a step between me and death is how we all live. A life can end so quickly. Just like that, a life can end. And, most of us can put names to this principle. Car wrecks. Boating accidents. Murder. Plane crashes. Falling down. Sudden catastrophic storm. Fatal heart attacks. All of this reminds us how special today is. Life is fragile. All we are given is today.

Second, most never realize when that divine appointment with death will be. We live, work and play expecting to be around tomorrow. It won’t be that way for everyone. It is easy to kick down the road the things we don’t want to do. We live thinking that we’ll get to them eventually. But for many, eventually never comes. Their last day is today.

Third, living each day with the Lord gives you a peace and a comfort. I was really more concerned about having multiple broken bones and being in a hospital for months recovering had I been pushed off the road. That bothered me more than dying.

God had anointed David as the next king of Israel. Yet, having spears thrown at him and being chased throughout the nation must have made David wonder how God was going to bring all these things about. David was innocent and it’s often the innocent that suffer from wicked and evil hearts.

We realize how precious and special life is. We busy ourselves doing today what we can for the Lord and His kingdom. Someday that appointment with death will come. We know that. We don’t fear that, because we know the Lord. We know what the Lord promised. We know what’s on the other side.

We may not leave this place surrounded by dear family as we take our last breath. We may be flipping end over end in a car as that happens. But we know that the Lord will be there. For His precious believers, the angels will come and usher us into the eternal.

Never alone…even at that last moment. That’s a hope and a promise that keeps us going. Just a step between me and death is how David described things. It wasn’t a leap. It wasn’t out of sight. No, just a step. Just one step between me and death. Sure is something to think about.

Roger

08

Jump Start # 3466

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3466

Mark 5:2-3 ‘When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain.”

Our verse introduces the demon possessed man to us. He was scary. He was a mess. Most would turn away from him. Screaming day and night, naked, bloodied from cutting himself, and dwelling among the tombs, this man was more of a creature than a human. He had been chained in an effort to control him and limit him, but he broke the chains. He was like a wild animal, a mad dog.

Jesus confronts the demons and drives them out of the man and into a herd of pigs and they rush into the sea and drown. The man became one of the first people Jesus allowed to tell who He was. There is a remarkable parallel to what sin does to us and the state of this demon possessed person.

Sin first comes to us as temptation. It looks fun, reasonable and something we want. So, we open the door and allow temptation to come into our hearts. Quickly, the temptation becomes sin. All the promises of sin become lies. And, what we find is that we are in a real mess. We need the Lord to help us.

Notice the parallel between sin and this demon possessed man.

First, sin makes us live where we shouldn’t live. For the demon possessed man it was among the tombs. Many graves, including our Lord’s, was more of a cave than buried in the ground as we do in our culture. Staying in a cave where there are bodies nearby is creepy, unhealthy and not the way God made us to be.

With sin, we live where we should not live. We live among the dead. We live with guilt and shame. We rely on excuses and lies to hide our behavior. There are consequences that follow us, often for a long, long time. Dead in sin is not how God wants us to be. Our choices have filled our hearts with evil thoughts and wicked ways. Sin makes us live where we shouldn’t live.

Second, sin makes us do things that we shouldn’t do. For the demon possessed man, he had been cutting himself with rocks. That self abuse isn’t healthy. And, sin leads us to mistreating others. We sneak, scheme, hide and lie, often to those we love the most. We shouldn’t do those things but we do. We want to keep an image before others. And, rather than being honest, we live a life of deception.

So many sins easily become addictions and they take over our lives. These addictions can lead us to hurting others. We lie. We steal. We cheat. Sin makes us do things that we shouldn’t do.

Third, sin makes others no longer trust us. For the possessed man, he was chained. We don’t chain people unless they are headed to prison. We chain the criminal to keep the rest of us safe. There is a lack of trust and the chains keep us safe. Sin destroys the trust others have in us. Our words no longer count because of the numerous lies we have told. People are fired from their jobs because they have shown that they cannot be trusted. Friendships have ended because of the promises that have been broken.

Sin has never strengthened a church. Sin has not made a marriage better. Sin has not brought the best out of any of us. Sin destroys everything it touches. Helpless, hopeless, and without God is what sin does to us. Just the very state that this possessed man was in. That is, until Jesus intersected with his life. The demons removed, this man showed a changed life. Clothed. Seated. Calm. He was a different person.

And, the Lord will do that very thing to us. We change because of Jesus. We become dependable. We develop a character that embraces trust, love and grace. We walk with the Lord in righteousness. Clothed. In his right mind. Decent. That was the man without demons. And, that’s our picture when sin is driven out of our lives.

Our greatest problems that this culture faces is not the environment, the economy, the wars, but sin. Lives without Christ are lives without purpose, direction and quality. They are lives without joy, peace and grace. The hatred filling our culture is not about race, but about lives without Christ. The violence seen in the streets is not about a lack of police, but a lack of Christ in the hearts of our world.

Possessed by demons…possessed by sin—there are a lot of similarities. And, only Christ could cast those demons out and only Christ can forgive us of our sins.

Don’t fail to see yourself in these wonderful Gospel stories.

Roger