09

Jump Start # 854

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 854

Matthew 24:38 “For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage until the day that Noah entered the ark”

This week we are taking a look at marriage and especially weddings. My daughter is getting married in a few days that that thought has filled our house with activity, plans and so forth. There are details and details that go into making a wedding run smooth and pleasing to the bride.

Jesus used the concept of weddings often in His teachings. We love weddings. They are happy occasions. Sometimes the excitement of the wedding can blind us to what is going on about us. That’s the thought behind our passage today.

Matthew 24 is a serious chapter that tells of the coming of the Lord. The destruction of Jerusalem is foretold. For most of us, that is a historical event. For the Jewish people, that changed their history, destiny and lives. Jerusalem was their city. They thought it was God’s city. It had been the capital of the nation since the days of David. It is where the Temple was. To Jerusalem, every male Jew traveled for feast days. Records of family histories were stored in the city. Each family knew what tribe they descended from. They were proud of their heritage. They were glad to be Jews. Now all of that was changing. God’s law was now found not in Moses, but Christ. The King was Jesus. God was going to allow the holy city to be destroyed and the temple ruined. Modern Jews today cannot trace their heritage back to a specific tribe. All the records are lost. The destruction of Jerusalem was a transition from the Old Testament to the New Testament.

This event was as important as the flood. This is where Jesus found a parallel. In the days of Noah, people were marrying, just as they were in the days of Jerusalem’s fall. That is the historical context of this passage.

Now some thoughts. Our verses states that they were marrying and giving in marriage until the day Noah entered the ark. What a contrast! Noah was building the ark, while others were building a wedding. The days grew closer for Noah and the days grew closer for the wedding. The day came for Noah to move into the ark. The day came for a wedding. People gathered. Promises were made. Kisses exchanged. A happy future was planned. Then it started to rain. Then it flooded. Then everything changed. Noah had preached while building the ark. No one paid attention. They didn’t listen. Didn’t believe. Too busy with wedding plans. Too much to do.

I saw a report on ESPN recently that stated 80% of professional football players are broke two years after they retire. 80%. What happened? They didn’t plan for life after football. They spent all that they had. There is a lesson from this. In all that you and I do, we must never take our eyes off the eternal. Weddings, vacations, celebrations, building houses, going to college, graduations, birth of babies are all exciting times of our lives. We cannot allow these events to get us so busy that we forget about the eternal. Back in Noah’s days, people were so caught up with today that they failed to see a tomorrow. They didn’t pay attention to an old man who was building an ark and warning people of God.

Setting our eyes on Heaven is the key. We never take our eyes off the eternal. Even at weddings…even on vacation…even when moving into the college dorm…even when building a new house…even when holding a sweet new baby. All these events cannot make us miss Heaven.

Use those events to pray. Use those events to glean from the Scriptures. Use those events to tell the story of Jesus to others. Instead of shoving Heaven to back while these events go on, include Heaven in them.

That thought helped me last night. I was tired from working on wedding stuff. I feel that I’m doing more for my daughter’s wedding than I did my own. It was a great moment to complain and think about self. Instead, Heaven was invited in. I thought how blessed I am to have a wonderful daughter, who is beautiful on the inside and out. She walks with the Lord and has found a incredible Christian man who adores her. Their relationship has brought the best out of each of them. God has blessed me to be in a position where I can afford this wedding. Many prayers have been said through the years for what we are about to witness in a few days. God works things in His own way. I’m blessed to be a part of this. There is much to be thankful for.

Inviting Heaven into your day is the key. It doesn’t have to be a grand event such as a wedding. It can be something as common as going to the grocery store. It can be as simple as reading a bed time story to the children. It can be as normal as going for a walk in the neighborhood. Remember Jesus saying, look at the lilies, or observe the birds…and then He invited Heaven into the conversation and thought. Don’t allow busy times to push Heaven out of your life, not even for a day. Don’t allow schedules, company, plans, packing, traveling as a time to forget who you are and where you are going. Don’t forget God because you are at a ballgame, out of town or sitting in a meeting at work. Invite Heaven. Include God. Set your mind on things above.

 

I’ve been to weddings that were supposed to be outdoors, but the weather forced it inside. I wonder if a rainy day in Noah’s time made people think about that prophet from God who warned them, offered them a chance to change, or did their minds only think of hassles of having to move a wedding indoor? They forgot to include Heaven.

Don’t be like that. Don’t let it happen today!

Roger

 

08

Jump Start # 853

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 853

Matthew 22:2 “The kingdom of Heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son.”

This week we are looking at weddings in our Jump Starts. My daughter is getting married next week and that is the talk of our house, getting everything ready, done and checking off everything on the list. It seems the more we check off, the more things get added to the list. It is interesting how many times Jesus referred to weddings in His teachings. Today, we look at one of those occasions.

Weddings, long ago, or today, are about a couple who are embarking on a journey together. The foundation of this new relationship is love, trust and mutual goodness for each other. I have been to big weddings and little weddings. I preformed a wedding years ago in the front room of our house. It was me, the bride, groom and my wife. That was it. Very simple. My wife made them a cake. Yet in the end, they were just as married as a huge expensive gala that some weddings are.

Weddings are happy occasions. Most like going to weddings. I like the cake at a wedding. We were at one wedding and the usher asked us if we were friends of the bride or the groom. I said, ‘I am a friend of the cake.’ The atmosphere of weddings is happy. People get married because they are anticipating a future, a future together. Using that setting, Jesus borrowed from weddings to teach kingdom principles.

In our passage today, a king has prepared a feast for his son. I can only image what that would have cost. How special that would have been. At the palace…food fit for a king…the best of everything. The servants go to announce that it is time for the wedding to begin and those who were invited refused to come. Back in Jesus’ world, people would be told what day the wedding was, but not the time. Things had to be ready. When the food was cooked, servants were sent to tell the guests that it is time to come. That is the setting here. The people had been invited. They knew it was the day. When word arrives that it is time to go, they refuse. A couple of verses later, the text says, they “paid no attention.” That is more than insulting, it is rude. They are doing this to the king.

What a nightmare that would have been for those who prepared the wedding. It’s ready. The food, the music, the decorations, the bride, the groom, but there are no guests. They refused to come. I expect tears would flow. Those that worked so hard would be angry. How insensitive and selfish. Those that have had weddings understand. Some RSVP and then they don’t show up. Others don’t RSVP and no one knows whether they are coming or not. And then there are those who were not on the invitation list, and they come anyway. What a mess!

The wedding Jesus is telling in this parable is not a bride and a groom, but the invitation to salvation. The king is God. His son is Jesus. God has invited. The guests paid no attention. You can now see how God feels. Hurt. Rejected. Angry. What is more important than the feast with His Son? TV? Making money? Doing what we want?

That one expression, “paid no attention,” is very revealing. When people pay “no attention” to the speed limit, they drive what speed they want. When they pay “no attention” to God’s law, they do what they want. Paid no attention. Can you imagine how special it would be to have an invitation from the palace? Can you imagine what it would be like to visit a palace? To eat in a palace? To witness a royal wedding at the palace? But they paid no attention. It meant nothing to them. These people did not live in a palace. They did not eat palace food. They had not seen an event like a wedding at a palace. How could they turn down such an invitation?

That is the very point of Jesus’ teaching. We have never seen Heaven. We have never seen the people in Heaven. We have never experienced Heaven. God is inviting us there. Some, pay no attention to that. How could they do that? There is nothing here like Heaven. There is nothing close to what Heaven is like. How could some go on with their empty, shallow lives when an invitation to Heaven, from the King, sits on their night stand, being used as a coaster. That invitation is the Bible. It leads to God. It tells of righteous living. It reveals the heart of God. It invites us to Heaven. And, too many pay no attention to it. How God must feel. How disappointed He must feel. What could be more important? He has done so much to get things ready.

Have you paid attention to God’s invitation? Maybe you need to get it out and look at it again. It’s something that you don’t want to miss.

Roger

 

07

Jump Start # 852

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 852

John 2:1-2 “On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there; and both Jesus and His disciples were invited to the wedding.”

We are taking a look at weddings and marriages in our Jump Starts. Our passage today finds Jesus at a wedding. It is here that Jesus turns water into wine. This section ends with the statement, “The beginning of the signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee…”

 

There are several things to note in this story.

 

  • Many assume that the groom was a relative of Mary. When they ran out of wine, Mary seems to take charge and asks Jesus to do something. Most guests would not do that. I’ve been to weddings where they ran out of food. I didn’t think it was my place to go find out why. I went home hungry. Weddings in the first century lasted days. Running out of anything was a huge embarrassment for the groom’s father. It was his job to feed the crowd. That’s changed in our culture. Now it’s the bride’s family that does that. Mary’s request for Jesus to do something would certainly save someone from shame. This is an assumption, that Mary was related to the groom. May have been, we don’t know that to be certain.

 

  • Mary’s request for Jesus to do something did not imply a miracle. The text points to the fact that this was the beginning of Jesus’ signs. This was the first. Those stories about Jesus doing miracles as a child are just that, stories, with no evidence, nor Biblical authority behind them. Mary wanted Jesus to do something. Jesus and the disciples (meaning, the apostles) were together. They were invited to this wedding. Thirteen men. Surely, they could come up with a solution to running out of wine.

 

  • Many use this passage to endorse and find approval for drinking booze. That is a major mishandling of this Scripture. First, it is not certain that the “wine” here was alcoholic. The word “wine” as it is used in the Bible can describe a grape still on the vine, the “blood of a grape” , grape juice, alcoholic wine,  or, strong drink. We miss that. When we see the word “wine” we think of “wine.” In the grocery store, wine is not beer and beer is not vodka, and vodka is not Kentucky bourbon. Be careful about using our definitions of words in a first century context. Also, this section states that Jesus turned six pots (containing 20-30 gallons each) into wine. Have you done the math on that? That means Jesus made 120-180 GALLONS of wine. That is a ton. If we are not careful, we turn Jesus into the beer man at the ball game. There is nothing in this passage that says we should go and drink alcohol. There are warnings in the O.T. about giving someone strong drink. Proverbs warns, “do not look upon the wine when it sparkles in the cup…” Yet, I’m to believe that my Holy Jesus made 120 gallons of this stuff? Be careful in reading what we want in a passage.

Those that want to justify drinking booze because Jesus turned water into wine, must wonder what are we to do with Jesus turning over the tables in the temple and driving the money changers out with whips? Does this endorse trashing those I disagree with?  If one can drink because Jesus made water into wine, then I suppose folks can go to churches they disagree with and turn over desks? The point is, we miss the point!

This was the beginning of Jesus’ signs. There would be hundreds that followed. He would show that He is God on earth. That is the point. It is not about you and I drinking alcohol. It is about Jesus, doing what no one else can and on a large scale. The wine for the wedding would not be put in those six water pots. It would be hard to afford that much wine. Jesus does the impossible and the unbelievable. He did that over and over. He didn’t want people to take from this that they should go home and drink wine until their eyes close. No. Open your eyes and see Jesus.

  • This miracle showed that Jesus had the power to change substance (water into wine). When He multiplied the fish and loaves, He did not change the substance. Here He did. Not only did He change the substance, but He did that on a large scale. The quality was superb. The headwaiter was amazed how good the wine was. The best is served first. That allows everyone some. When they have had enough, the lesser quality is used for those who want more. What Jesus made was the best. It always is. This miracle was witnessed only by a few servants. Jesus did not do this before the wedding guests. It was done behind the scenes. The guests would not know where the wine came from. The servants knew. How interesting that the first miracle wasn’t something blazing across the skies, but something that only a few common laborers got to witness. Much like the resurrection of Jesus, the first to see Him, was not governors and kings, but a few simple women. The miracle didn’t involve a magic wand, special words, or some sideshow tricks. He told the servants to fill the six water pots. That must have taken some time. Then they poured some out and it was wine. Just like that. That simple, yet that special. He could do that, because He can do all things. He is God.

 

  • It is interesting to see that Jesus and the disciples were invited to the wedding and that they WENT. They weren’t too good to go. They didn’t think, “we don’t want to hang out with sinners.” Not at all. We can have an image of Jesus that is stern, against fun and always lecturing people about how wrong they are. This is the concept that some have of church services. This is the way some conduct church services. Pointing fingers, frowning, and always talking about Hell. Not Jesus. Jesus enjoyed life. He was at a wedding. He associated. He was there.

If we are always hanging out with church members, then it will be hard to let our light shine and it will be hard to find ways to evangelize. Jesus was at a wedding. We need to go to weddings. We need to go to ballgames, movies and birthday parties, and anniversary celebrations. We need to go even if the rest of the people there do not go to our church. We need to go even if others there are not believers. We need to go. We need to enjoy, smile, laugh, share good stories and make memories. These things can be done without wrong taking place. These things can be done and good can come from them. The world needs to see Christians as being real. We do laugh. We do have fun. We do like and love all people. We say that, but then if we don’t show that, our talk is only talk.

Jesus at a wedding. I find it interesting, that Jesus is at most weddings. God joins a couple together. Remember, “What therefore God has joined together…” God must be there. He’s joining the couple together. The difference between marriage and sinful fornication, is God joining.

So, God is at the wedding. What a pleasant thought. What a wholesome thought. We do not refer to marriage as “Happy matrimony,” but “HOLY matrimony.” The Holy part, is God.

God at the wedding…what a thought!

Roger

 

06

Jump Start # 851

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 851

Proverbs 5:18 Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth.

Things are busy in the Shouse house these days. We are counting down to a big wedding. It’s just a few days away. Two of my three sons have married, but this time it’s my daughter, my only daughter. The basement is full of wedding stuff. People are making plans to come. We’ll have a house full. It’s exciting. A daughter getting married and sons getting married are very different. I’ve been told two things. First, my opinion doesn’t count. It’s mom and daughter. My job is to write the checks. That’s my role. Write checks. I’m seeing that coming true. Second, I was told that when I walk her down the aisle, I’ll be crying like a baby. I hope not. We’ll see.

Since “love is in the air,” as the song goes, I thought I’d write a few Jump Starts about weddings and marriage. We are still living in an age which sees far too many marriages crash. Marriage problems are really relationship problems. If someone doesn’t get along with their parents, their co-workers, their neighbors, is it any wonder that they can’t get along with their mate.

It seems to me that some folks put so much into the wedding that they forget that there is a marriage behind that. The nicest wedding does not guarantee a nice marriage. If people put as much effort into the marriage as they did the planning for the wedding, maybe some crashes could have been avoided.

Marriage is the coming together of two people. I saw up in Alaska where fresh water and ocean water came together. At first you could see the difference. They didn’t blend together. But down a bit, it all mixed together and looked the same. Marriage is like that at first. Two people who love each other, but have their own ideas about how things ought to be, at first can be like fresh water and ocean water. It takes a little bit for things to settle and blend together. Simple things like how do you open Christmas presents: one at a time, with everyone watching you or like pigs at a tough, paper flying and everyone going at it at once? Fresh water and ocean water. How about paying the bills? Pay the bill as soon as it comes in or count back a few days from the due date and pay it then? Ocean water and fresh water. How about washing the dishes? Silverware first or last? Glasses first or doesn’t matter? Fresh water and ocean water. It takes some time for everything to blend together nicely.

The leading causes of divorce today are financial troubles, communication problems, unfaithfulness, and a lack of interest in each other. It’s kind of like the military when they are in enemy territory. If they know that there are land mines buried in the field, they will be careful, watchful and extra cautious. If a couple understands the leading causes of trouble in marriage, then they ought to be careful, watchful and extra cautious in those areas.

The Christian couple has a step up on the world. They have God. They have Christ in their hearts which brings in hope, joy, forgiveness, grace and God’s word to their relationship. They walk with Christ and that walk makes their marriage richer, stronger and different than other marriages.

Our passage reminds us that there ought to be rejoicing in our marriage. That often gets stuffed back behind the bills, dirty diapers, fixing the washing machine and doctor visits. The joy factor lies like a deflated balloon on the floor. Too tired for each other. Too annoyed for each other. Too preoccupied for each other. Too stressed for each other. Marriage shifts to being roommates instead of husband and wife. It doesn’t have to be. I was with a couple recently who had been married more than 50 years. We were walking and talking. I noticed that they held hands as they walked. That’s more than sweet, that’s the way it ought to be.

 

Marriage is work. You work to make it the way it ought to be. Don’t settle for average. Make your marriage incredible. When you come home, make the people there glad to see you. Turn the TV off (or as the old timers use to call it, ‘the idiot box’) and talk. Look into each other’s eyes. Go for a walk and hold hands. Be spontaneous. Bring laughter back into the home. Worship together. Pray together. Be together.

Rejoice with the wife of your youth. Remember, that was written in an age when most marriages were arranged by parents. Rejoicing in marriage can happen.

You choose to have the kind of marriage that you have. If you don’t like it, don’t shout at your mate. Don’t nag. Don’t expect him or her to change. You make it the way you think it ought to be. It starts with you. Put thought into it. Put effort into it. Put yourself into it.

Roger

 

03

Jump Start # 850

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 850

1 Timothy 4:15 “Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all.”

We’ve been looking at Paul’s words to Timothy these past few days. There are three expressions layered in this passage: (1) your progress will be evident to all; (2) be absorbed in them; and, (3) take pains with these things. We went backwards in this study, looking at the last expression first.

Today we come to, “Take pains with these things.” The NIV states this as, “be diligent in these matters.” The King James says, “Meditate upon these things.” The English Standard Version translates this as, “practice these things,” The words, “diligent,” “take pains,” “practice,” all involve effort. The original word means, “to attend to, or, to take care of.” Put some effort into these things. Look after these things.

I like the expression take pains with these things. Work until the sweat comes on the brow. Work until the blisters come on the hands. Work hard. Get at it. Bust it. Paul is not talking about yard work, moving a neighbor, building a fence. He is talking about knowing the word of God. Take pains about those things. Work hard at it.

Most don’t like pain. If it hurts, they quit. We have shelves full of pain-relief medicines. We want to relieve the pain. We want the pain to go away. We want to stop all pain. Not Paul. Bring it on. Take pains in these things. Don’t quit because it’s hard.

How does this all fit in with knowing God’s word? Study involves sitting in a chair, Bibles opened, a pad of paper and a pen nearby. Words are looked up. Thoughts are written on the pad of paper. You notice the order of words. You notice repeated words. You notice the thought and the idea. You notice questions. You notice how the questions are answered. Insight. Observation. You find yourself there, in the reading. You see why the Jews kept testing Jesus. You see why the apostles struggled in their young faith. You learn. You grasp. God’s will becomes your will. You know what God wants.

Learning is a process. There is no convenient store for knowledge, although I fear that we have tried to develop one. Too many ask someone else their questions without spending some time thinking about those questions. They want a quick answer. They don’t know, so they ask. That sounds ok, at first. However, we get in the habit of that, and we are rely upon someone else’s knowledge and study. If what they did was flawed or incomplete, then their answer will reflect that and we won’t know because we haven’t taken pains with these things. A young preacher once asked me if I knew what a certain passage meant. I told him, “I do.” He said will you tell me? I said, “No. Go figure it out for yourself.” I was trying to teach the young man to “take pain with these things.” Do your homework. Get some good reference books to help you. Chew on it for a while. Consider the opposite. Consider all that God has said. Don’t try to force the square peg into a round hole. God’s word fits easily. It is consistent. It doesn’t contradict itself.

We remember that the Psalmist meditated day and night upon God’s word. He was thinking about it and trying to understand it. He let God’s word simmer in his brain for a while. Take pains…be diligent…work at it. Find the application. Apply it to yourself. Become the person that God wants you to.

There is an effort involved with these things. It’s not for the lazy. It’s not for those who are always looking for the quick and easy. It’s not for those who lack patience. Learning takes effort and time. Stay with it and stay at it. Worthwhile things are like this.

Do you have access to good Bible tools? You need those to get the depth of God’s word. Here are a few suggestions:

1. Several different translations are helpful. Get a King James Version, English Standard, New American Standard. Open them all up. Look at passages in each of the translations. Many computer programs and websites, such as www.Biblegateway.com, will help with that.

2. A good Bible dictionary, such as Vine’s Expository Dictionary, will help you understand words.

3. A Bible atlas will help you understand places

4. A concordance will help you find similar passages.

5. A reliable commentary will bring further research and thoughts into your study.

6. Look at  Bible passages through the lens of the people who first received the message.

Every home ought to have these tools. If I wanted a garden, I’d buy a shovel, a hoe and the tools needed to make a garden. If I just threw some carrot seeds in my backyard, on top of my lawn, they aren’t going to make it. I have to work up a place, get the soil ready, put some effort into a garden. I’d need some tools to do that. I’d need some sweat time. Otherwise, what I do is a waste of time.

 

Is it any different with the word of God? When folks show up at the church building without a Bible, pad of paper or pen, what are they expecting? Is it any different when a person rarely opens the Bible at home? It it any different when someone has no tools to study? Is it any different when someone declares, “It’s too hard to understand,” and they don’t try to find what God says?

 

“No pain…no gain,” was a common expression years ago in fitness and exercise. The same could be said when it comes to God’s word.

 

Take pains…work at it. Know the will of God, is what the Ephesians were told.

Roger