23

Jump Start # 1215

Posted on October 23, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1215

John 18:4 “So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, Whom do you seek?’”

  Our verse today tells us so much about Jesus. Judas was coming. The temple guards had gathered. The beginning of the end was about to take place. There would be a kiss by a betrayer. There would be a trial that was anything but fair. There would be accusations, lies and mean spirited words. There would be beatings. Another trial that was even worse than the first. New charges. More lies. More violence. Beatings. Spitting. Thorns. Ridicule and being made fun of. Then a cross being dragged out of town. Nails. Thirst. Pain. Prayers. Separation. Finally death. This is what was awaiting Jesus. He knew.

 

Our passage tells us that Jesus, “knowing all the things that were coming upon Him.” He knew. Most of us do not know even how a day will unfold for us, let alone the future. We make plans, but those plans get changed because of things we didn’t know about. The dog gets sick. The car won’t start. The kids forgot something and we must make a trip to the school. There are some things I’m glad that I don’t know.

 

  • I’m glad I don’t know what everyone is thinking. I always like to think the best. If I really knew, I might be crushed on the insides.

 

  • I’m glad I don’t know when or how I will die. I think I would be obsessed with that if I knew. I live making plans for the future but have the understanding that this could be my last day.

 

  • I’m glad that some things are still a surprise. I watch a ball game not knowing what the outcome will be. I vote not knowing for sure which candidate will win. When my daughter, Sarah, had her baby this year, she did not find out what the sex was ahead of time. That is rare these days. There was an element of surprise about that.

 

Jesus knew. Not only did Jesus know, the text tells us that He “went forth.” He went forth knowing what was about to happen. It’s one thing to think Jesus got caught up in these things and they came upon Him very suddenly. But that’s not the case. He knew. He knew all the things that were coming. Knowing, He still went forth. Sometimes knowing can make things worse. We think about those things before they actually take place.

 

The Father did not keep these things from Jesus. He knew. He knew all things. He knew and still went forth. He did so to please His Father. He did so because it was the only way to save us. He did so because He loved us.

 

Something else:

 

1. Jesus knows what you said, thought and texted yesterday. You never surprise Jesus. There is nothing you can tell Him that He didn’t already know. We do a good job of trying to keep certain things secret. He think we can cover our tracks and hide things fairly well. We can, except from Jesus. He knows. When we finally confess to Him, He is not shocked. He already knew.

 

2. Jesus knows you and loves you. Sometimes the reason we hide things is because we think if people really knew us they wouldn’t like us. So we keep up an image. It’s not really us, but it looks good and it gains the approval of others. We are so afraid of what others may say if they really knew. God does. And God loves you. He loves you, even though He knows. There are no masks with God. He sees through them all. I think some fear going to church services because they think God wouldn’t love them if He really knew. Guess what? He knows. He has known for a long time. Yet, He still wants you to seek Him, follow Him, praise Him, and obey Him. God knows and God still loves. Amazing.

 

3. Jesus knows the truth. Sometimes we can get sideways with a person and what really happened gets tossed out the window and we are declared guilty when we are actually very innocent. God knows. He knows the truth. He knows who lied to make themselves look good. He knows who really did what. Some actually get away with murder. Not with God. He knows. Sometimes in a disagreement, the best thing to remember is, “God knows.”

 

4. Jesus knows what we’ve done. We don’t have to tell God, He knows. We don’t have to brag to Heaven. God knows. He sees the little things like a cup of cold water. He sees the cards sent. He sees the pats on the back. He also knows the big things. Helping a college kid with school costs. Teaching a grandchild the story of the Bible. He knows how many miles you traveled to help someone. He knows what costs you paid to make the meal, help the person out. He knows the gifts you have given. God knows. If God knows, no one else really needs to. Remembering God knows, keeps me from tooting my own horn. Maybe no one even said ‘thank you.’ God knows. Maybe no one noticed, God did. Maybe we wonder if it’s even worth the effort. God knows. That’s all that matters.

 

5. Jesus knows when you are hurting. This is another thing that we try very hard to keep hidden. We don’t like others to know that we hurt, especially emotionally and spiritually. Some folks can say some very cruel things. They can be insensitive and mean. Some don’t think before they speak. The old saying, “sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never harm you,” isn’t true. Words hurt. Words are remembered. You may have carried some around with you for a long time. Words like, “Can’t you do anything right…” or, “you’re fat…” or, “you’re not wanted around here…” or, “you’re not good enough…” or, “you’re black…” or, “you’re dumb…” or, “I don’t love you any more.” Think words don’t hurt? Sure they do. They continue to hurt long after they have been spoken. Jesus knows. He knows the scars we carry. He knows how we have been hurt. He understands. There is one that will not say those kind of things to you. It is Jesus. Jesus knows.

 

Jesus knowing…went. What a great expression.

 

Roger

 

 

22

Jump Start # 1214

Posted on October 22, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1214

Proverbs 12:26 “A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.”

  Friends—we need them. All of us need them. There are a variety of levels of friends. There are school friends and neighborhood friends. There are church friends and work friends. Those in our family are more than family, they are friends. We have Facebook friends and then we have those few deep, close friends. These are the people who are honest with us. These are the people that really know us. They have seen us without the masks we wear. They have seen our struggles and our triumphs. They have sat in the audience at weddings and have been to the funeral home with us and for us. These are the ones that sat beside us when nothing needed to be said. Just their presence made things better. We could always count on them bringing a cup of soup when we didn’t feel well. They allowed us to borrow ladders and their time when we needed an emergency babysitter. Friends, where would be without them.

 

There was a time in my life when I didn’t have very many close friends. I was too much of a lone wolf. I was sailing my own direction and doing pretty good. But that doesn’t work too well in reality. It sounds good, but life is made to share with others. We need others. God knows we need a fellowship. Togetherness, connections, friendships are valuable. They help us, mold us, make us accountable and strengthen us.  Men, especially have difficulty having close friends. Too many of us do not share things. There are times when a woman needs a woman to talk to and a man needs a man to talk to. Work, marriage, family, even church life can bring pressures and stress upon us and it helps talking to someone else. It helps when that friend is a friend in Christ. Not all friends are helpful. Their advice could be hurtful instead of helpful. They could get in the way of things being done right. The end of our verse shows what can happen when friendship is abused and not right. A wicked friend leads them away. Because of those wicked friendships, a person is worse off. His friendship did not strengthen him morally and spiritually. We remember David’s son, Amnon, who was lusting after his half-sister, Tamar. His friend concocted a wild idea of pretending to be ill so she would be alone with him. He listened. He took that dumb advice. It gave him the opportunity to rape her. Not all things our friends tell us is worthwhile. We need those strong friendships in Christ.

 

I’m not that lone wolf anymore. I have many, many friends. I love them and they are so important to me. God has blessed me with so many friends. Our passage today shows the influence of friends. A righteous person is careful. He is cautious. The ESV says, “One who is righteous is a guide to his neighbor…” The righteous man realizes the power of influence among friends. He is careful, thoughtful and cautious. He thinks about what he says. He remembers that he is a light in the world.

 

Here are some things a righteous friend will do:

 

 1. He will lead his friend in righteousness. He is cautious. He is careful. He is thinking. He wants to strengthen the friendship not weaken it. He wants to help his friend be a powerful Christian and a keeper of his promises. His advice will be based upon Scriptures. He may tell his friend that what he did wasn’t right. He may tell him that an apology is in order back home, or at work. He doesn’t defend his friend no matter what. He defends what is right. Righteousness comes before and above friendship. He will not encourage nor be a part of things that are not right. He will not support mistreating marriage vows, unethical choices in business, cheating the system or finding ways to get ahead that are not above board. A friend may share wild and even illegal ideas with you. The righteousness in you will try to reason with the friend. The righteousness in you will walk away from wrong schemes. You will not be a part of them. Rather, the righteousness in us will lead prayers with our friend. That righteousness in us will lead us to inviting our friend to church services. Our friend will know how important God is to us. They will recognize the spiritual fiber that is part of our DNA. It comes up often. It comes out often. God is important to us and that is one thing that our friend appreciates about us. Together, with a godly friend, we make each other a better person. We share ideas and dreams that are good and helpful. We encourage and push one another to continually raise the bar spiritually. We look back and wonder what we would have done had our friend not been there. This is what righteous friends will do.

 

2. He will love his friend at all times. Love is demonstrated. Love is shown. It’s not an emotion, but a choice. You will love your friend. That’s the righteous thing to do. Even when your friend has hurt you, you will love them. That’s what God does and that’s the lead we follow. Sometimes our friend may make wrong choices. They may hurt others, including you. They may let others down. They may make some selfish choices. The righteous friend will still love. Even when he is out in the far country, the righteous friend loves. When he returns, the righteous friend leads the way in forgiving and extending grace. That’s the call of love. That’s what friends do.

 

3. He will be honest, open and sharing with his friend. James tells us to confess our sins one to another. James didn’t have in mind someone standing before the congregation and baring all. Rather, one on one, two friends, pouring their hearts out, trying to conquer sin in their life, reveal, confess and are honest with each other. This is hard to do. Few get to this sacred level. We fear what the other might think. We fear gossip. We fear our friendships being crushed. Helpful. Truthful. All masks removed. One soul pouring out to the other. Both seeking the Lord. Both wanting to be right with the Lord. Both wanting to do things better. Both trusting, loving and believing in each other. Righteousness leads, conquers and strengthens.

 

Real friends. Righteous friends. Friends that make us better with the Lord. Do you have such? Are you that kind of a friend to others? It’s a rare find to have such, but if you do, you treasure that friendship. You guard that friendship. You benefit from that friendship.

 

Bless be the ties that we have in Christ Jesus.

 

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 1213

Posted on October 21, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1213

John 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”

 

Our passage begins a long section of dialogue between Jesus and his disciples. The end was near and He understood that. They didn’t. There were many things to talk about. Our verse today reveals that Jesus was going away and in the next verse, He tells them that He will come again to take them where He is.

A few thoughts here:

First, in some of the older translations, the expression “many mansions” is used. It took me a while to get that ironed out in my thinking. The idea from many mansions is that we will each have our own “estate.” I’ll have my mansion behind a tall iron gate, you’ll have yours, behind another iron gate and we will line the streets of Heaven with mansion after mansion. When my wife and I were first married, we were so poor, but we’d dream. We’d dream of that mansion in Heaven. In fact, we even drove around the wealthy estates in Indianapolis, I’d say, “my mansion will be like that one.” A little later, she’d find one she’d like and proclaim, “My mansion will be like that.” It was a lot of fun and dreaming for us back then. Later I learned that the passage and the principles of Heaven do not allow separation. I won’t be behind my gate and you won’t be behind your gate, rather, we’ll be together. Fellowship demands togetherness. We’ll be around the throne of God, together. A better reading of that passage is, “In my Father’s house are many rooms…” We are in one room now. When we die, we simply leave one room and go into another room. We are still in the same house. Folks in one room can’t see those in the other room, but we are all still in the same house. I like that idea. I like to think that dear brethren are simply in the other room. Remaining in the same house, God’s house, brings thoughts of love, acceptance and fellowship.

 

Second, this passage shows us that Jesus doesn’t keep secrets. We do. He doesn’t. If it were not so, our passage says, “I would have told you.” In essence, I don’t tell you things that are not so. I do not make things up. I do not stretch nor exaggerate things. I do not keep secrets. If it wasn’t that way, I would tell you. Jesus told us all things. We don’t do that. We hide behind nice masks and pretend all things are well, when they are not. We tell people what we think they want to hear. We tell them things so that they will like us. One of the worst is lying in church. A guy sleeps through a sermon and then tells the preacher at the door, “Great sermon.” Really? One of these days I just may ask a guy who does that, which point he liked the best. Jesus told us all things. There are no surprises. We know what we must do to please God. We know. We know what we must do to go to Heaven. We know. He’s told us. We know what’s coming. We know what will happen to the earth. We know what will happen to us. We have been told all things. There is no need to speculate, guess or walk in darkness. What a blessing this is. What a benefit this is. God shares. God tells.

 

Thirdly, Jesus was leaving to prepare a place. That phrase also was fuzzy in my mind. I saw Jesus making beds, sweeping floors, dusting– doing all the things we do before company comes. We get things ready. When the family comes for the holidays, our house is prepared. We’ve stocked up on food, we’ve polished the place and we are ready for them to show up. Some how I saw Jesus doing that. It’s a nice idea, but it doesn’t fit with the concept of Heaven. Where Jesus was going was Heaven, but immediately, it was Jerusalem. Specifically it was to the Cross. That’s the preparation that had to be done. We can’t go to His place until there is a way to get there. We sing, “The way of the cross leads home…” That’s it. That’s it, exactly. Jesus had to go to the cross so we could be with Him. Without the cross, we aren’t invited. Without the cross, our sins get in the way. Without the cross, there is no Heaven, not for us. Where Jesus went, wasn’t to dust Heaven, He went to die on the cross.

 

That was the preparation. It had been prophesied for centuries. It was the hope of  Heaven. Now it was time. Jesus was going to the cross so you and I could be with Him. It was a heavy price that He paid. It shows how much we really wants us there. It shows that there is nothing that He wouldn’t do to help us get there.

 

God really loves you. God thinks about you all the time. One author wrote, if there was a refrigerator in Heaven, and I doubt there is, God would have your picture right there on it. It’s amazing how busy I can get doing nothing important, and not think about God, yet there is hardly a moment, if ever, that He isn’t thinking about me.

 

Jesus was opening the door to Heaven for us. He was making preparations. This tells us that we also need to be making preparations. We need to get ourselves ready. We need to be thinking more of the eternal than the present. We need to make choices that have an eye on Heaven. We need to be more spiritual in our hearts and in our attitudes. God must be first in all things.

 

Someday, we are through with this place. Someday, we will be in the eternal. Everything will be different. Jesus has done His part. God is busy doing His part. The Holy Spirit is doing His part. Now, are you doing your part? God won’t take you to Heaven without some effort on your part. It starts with opening that Bible and reading about the Lord who loves you and has told you all things. It begins with faith. It doesn’t end with faith. No, a changed life, a living hope, having an eye on Heaven, living righteously—those are on our end of things. That’s what we must do.

 

We are one day closer to Heaven. Aren’t you glad!

 

Roger

 

20

Jump Start # 1212

Posted on October 20, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1212

Proverbs 7:6-8 “For at the window of my house I looked out through my lattice, and I saw among the naïve, and discerned among the youths a young man lacking sense, passing through the street near her corner; and he takes the way to her house”

  Our passage begins the sad eyewitness to a wreck. I’ve seen different kinds of wrecks before, but what unfolds in the next few verses are the worst kind of wreck, a moral wreck. A young man is about to make a huge mistake. The section ends by saying, “it will cost him his life.” It is a sad and sinful departure from God into lustful sexual immorality. This scene is repeated everyday in our country. It is glorified and viewed as entertainment by a sin-sick society that drinks everything Hollywood produces. It’s a sad picture.

 

However, today, I want to talk about the opposite. It’s not found in these verses but it’s the glorious message of the saving Gospel of Christ. Because yesterday, I saw among the wise, a young man making an incredible choice to give his life to Christ. With tears in his eyes, which were shortly joined by tears in the congregations eyes, a young man with an honest and good heart, responded to the powerful preaching of God’s word. This young man was baptized into Christ for the remission of his sins. He joins the thousands, worldwide who unashamedly bow their knees to Jesus. His love for Christ and his desire to be right and do right led him to the open arms of our Savior.

 

You won’t hear about this story in the news. No, we hear about drunken college students causing a riot. We hear about fights at a high school football game. We hear about binge drinking on campuses and young people killing others in drunk driving accidents. This young man is pulling away from a culture that has no place for God. A culture that thinks it has outgrown God and is smarter than God and is demonstrating by it’s foolish choices that it knows nothing. This young man is different. He is interested in going a different direction. He is interested in the things spiritual.

 

He was baptized, immersed into Christ as the Bible teaches. His submission to God and his obedient heart led him to that. Too many balk at baptism. Read the Bible. It’s there. It’s plain. It’s simple. After the resurrection, without exception, everyone, and I mean everyone, that wanted to be saved, was baptized into Christ. Start in Acts 2 and follow it. All through Acts. It’s in Romans. It’s in Corinthians. It’s in Ephesians. It’s even in Revelation. Washed. Buried. Baptized. Sins removed. Raised new. Put on the new man. Crucified the old self. Those running themes are everywhere in the N.T. It’s time folks stopped listening to their prejudiced preachers and opened the Bibles. Just read. You’ll see it. Don’t hang your hat on the thief on the cross. He was begging for salvation. He’d do anything. If he was in your shoes, he’d be baptized. Jesus wasn’t dead. He wasn’t resurrected yet. The law had not changed yet. AFTER the resurrection, everyone was baptized who wanted forgiveness and Heaven. Not one exception. None. Don’t listen to “water salvation,” or “you’re earning your salvation,” hype. Really? It’s not water, it’s Jesus that saves. Had Jesus said, learn a language, we’d do that. He’s in charge. He’s the forgiver. Had He said walk a mile, we’d walk a mile. He DID say be baptized. He told the apostles to preach that and they did. Everywhere they went, they preached that. And yet some preachers today, who have graduated from seminaries that do not even believe God wrote the Bible, are telling folks you don’t have to do that. Really? What memo did they read that changed that? More likely, what have they been smoking lately? Just read the Bible. Humble and broken hearts, like that young man last evening, respond to the preached word of God, repent and are baptized for the forgiveness of sins. Just as the Bible says. When folks claim that they are saved without being baptized, they have no support of Scripture to stand behind them. It’s just a hope. It’s crossing the fingers. It’s not what God said. Your faith, if it’s real, will move you to do what the Bible says. And that Bible will tell you to be baptized and walk with Christ. It’s there. Read it.

 

Now, if you haven’t done this, why? Why don’t you want to do what Jesus told you to do? Why don’t you want to obey what the Bible says? Why not?

 

A young man gives his life to Christ. What a blessed scene that is. His choices, his friends, his outlook will all be shaped by that decision. With his great family, he’ll grow and serve the Lord in grand fashion. The old Gospel still works. It always has. There is nothing broken about it.

 

Maybe it’s time some of us just got back to doing what the Bible says and stop accepting the junk that churches are doing today. The fun and games, and shallow messages, and playtime that dominates far too many places don’t cut it. Not with God and not at home. We need that real Gospel message. Our marriages need it. Our families need it. We need to be servants that forgive. We need to see the ugliness of sin and stop flirting with the Devil. We need to see that you can’t mix the Gospel message with the Hollywood message. They don’t fit. It won’t work. We need to see that God wants all of our hearts, every day of the week, not just an hour on Sunday. Greed, indifference and a lack of Biblical understanding are killing this generation.

 

But yesterday, I saw a young man. With tears in his eyes, he said ‘yes,’ to Jesus. His choice made Heaven sing. I don’t know if angels “high-five,” but if they do, they were sure doing it last night. He’s one more that Satan doesn’t get. He’s one more that God can count on. His choice reminded all of us, that God’s way is right. It reminded us that we do love God. It reminded us that we need to pick up the pace and stay on the journey.

 

Thank you, Brian. So happy for you and your family. Your choice reminds us that God’s way is still right and always the best. You have helped us.

 

And now, for the rest of us, whose side are you on? Isn’t it time to get serious about God? Isn’t time to stop dating God and get about doing what He says? Isn’t it time to simply do what the Bible says—as a church, as a family, as an individual? Isn’t it time to say, “God, you can count on me?” Sin isn’t funny. Wrong will never be right. Millions may laugh their way to eternal punishment, but the faithful of God will continue to march on to Heaven.

 

I have decided to follow Jesus…how about you?

 

Roger

 

17

Jump Start # 1211

Posted on October 17, 2014 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 1211

Colossians 3:12 “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience”

  Last evening I got to preach at a wonderful congregation in my area. The guest preacher that they had for the week got ill and so I was called to pinch hit. Glad to do it. Great people. I preached from our text today. I especially like the expression, “Put on a heart of compassion”. That simply means care. Care about others. Multiple times in the Gospels Jesus “felt compassion.” He cared. He never seemed bothered. He never said, “Leave me alone.” When interrupted, He answered a question, or went with a person to help a sick or dying family member. People flocked to Him because not only could He do something but He cared.

 

One of the complaints many patients have regarding their doctors is that some seem to lack bedside manners. That’s a polite way of saying, they lack heart. Maybe they are too busy. Maybe they never learned. This dilemma isn’t confined to doctors, churches can leave that impression. It doesn’t take too much for a person to quickly realize that they are not welcomed nor wanted at a place. Cold. Stares. Little, if any, going out of the way to make a person feel accepted. Doesn’t  matter what is said from the pulpit, the cold atmosphere from the folks sitting in the pews will kill the future and the growth of that church. The opposite of compassion is indifferent, insensitive, heartless. The Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz was looking for a heart. It’d do well for many others to get in line behind him and look for the same thing. Heartless words. Cutting remarks. Cruel tones. Mean. None of that belongs in the heart of a Christian. We are, from our passage, to put on a heart of compassion. The “putting on” part is a choice. We choose to be compassionate or we choose not to be.

 

In Mark 4, when the disciples were crossing the sea and a fierce storm rocked their boat and it started filling up with water. Frightened, they woke Jesus up and asked Him a question. Their words were worse than the storm about them. They didn’t ask if He could do anything about the situation. They never asked if He had seen anything like this before. No, what they did ask was, “Do you not care that we are perishing.” Do you not care? Why did Jesus come to earth? Because He cared. Why did He put up with all the faithless remarks of the multitudes? Because He cared. Why was He keeping an appointment with the cross? Because He cared. Fewer things hurt more than, “You don’t care.”

 

Said in a marriage, it reveals a deep riff that will take a lot of work to heal and fix. Said among friends, and it’s the beginning of the end for that friendship. Said at work, it could be the very thing that gets you replaced. You don’t care. What is interesting is that care is demonstrated. We show we care by what we do.

 

Our verse follows with the expression put on a heart of “Kindness.” Kindness is compassion in action. Kindness never goes before compassion. Because a person cares, they will do kind things. Jesus felt compassion and fed the multitudes. Jesus felt compassion and healed the sick. Jesus felt compassion and did something. Without the kindness part, all we have is words. We can say, “Sure I care,” but how have we shown it. Compassion is demonstrated through kind acts, kind deeds, kind words, kind gifts. Kindness is compassion in action. In a marriage, kindness is the little sprinkles on top of a cupcake. Kindness is having your favorite meal and it’s not even your birthday. Kindness is watching a movie with your wife instead of a ballgame. Kindness is picking up around the house. Kindness is flowers and notes. Kindness is sweet. Marriages need that. The daily grind of schedules can leave us tired, irritated and wondering why we are doing what we are doing. Kindness recognizes the effort. Kindness appreciates.

 

In a congregation, compassion is expressed by kindness. Hugs and smiles and laughter and being together are all part of this. Supporting one another and being there for one another is part of kindness. The sports world has taken a fancy to those young Kansas City Royals. They don’t play conventional baseball. They are fast. They take chances. They get shallow hits that seem to work. They work well as a team and play incredible defense. When a great play is made the pitchers tip their hats to their fellow team mates. They do this so often that it catches the eyes of the commentators. They’ve never seen team players tip their hats to each other as often as the Royals do. They are expressing their appreciation for one another. It’s simply an act of kindness. Nothing big, but in a world of big salaries and big egos, it goes a long way to reinforce that baseball is a team sport. Everyone needs each other. Those tipping hats have got my attention. It’s a form of compassion and kindness.

 

We do well to tip our hats more and point our fingers less. It’s easy to complain. It’s easy to see what needs fixing. It’s easy to take one another for granted. But bless those who are working hard. Sure it’s their job and certainly that’s what they are supposed to do, but tip a hat to the once in a while. It’ll put a smile on their face and let them realize that you notice what they are doing.

 

Here’s a few tips of the hat:

 

  • To those that do a great job at cleaning the church building. It’s hard work. I’ve been some places that really look like a dump. It’s shameful. But I’ve been to many places, and especially to my place, where it’s clean, sparkling, and inviting. The isn’t a burned out light bulb to be found. The bathrooms look and smell nice. The books are stacked up. The place has been dusted, swept and readied for the worshippers of God. Now in the big picture of salvation, a clean church building probably isn’t a game changer, but it sure is nice and speaks well of those who work hard at it. TIP OF THE HAT TO THOSE FOLKS.

 

  • To those hard working teachers and preachers who are eager and ready to teach God’s word. Those folks have studied in the evenings. They have written things out, printed them and have a  heart that wants to teach. The bulletin is always printed. The lessons are thought out and ready. Young preachers who work hard learning and finding the best way to do their best are such a great plus for any congregation. Zack is our guy where I’m at. Young, powerful, dynamic, smart, talented and just busting it for the Lord. He even makes an old guy like me look good. TIP OF THE HAT TO THOSE FOLKS.

 

  • To the amazing shepherds in a congregation who truly understand that their work isn’t about buying sweepers, writing checks or doing the monthly schedule. They know that their work is the sheep. They love the sheep. They want the sheep to do well. They pray for the sheep. They are in the homes meeting families. Often their work is with broken lives and broken promises. There are working on wounded hearts and discouraged souls. They simply won’t give up on people. Hours and hours are poured into making things better for the church. These men have compassion at the core of all they do. There are a group of six where I’m at that are just like this. Amazing. Loving. Busy. Honest. Godly. TIP OF THE HAT TO THOSE FOLKS.

 

  • To the many Jump Start readers who have encouraged me and through your efforts spread our little devotions world wide. Our readership tops 2,000 people. Nearly every day someone sends me an email about something I wrote. There is a question, a correction, a thought or some heart that has been touched. It’s is amazing. Just one example, as services ended last evening where I was filling in, a wonderful gentleman came up to me and said earnestly, “Don’t ever quit those Jump Starts.” Wow. I don’t know what good we have done but through your help many people have given thought to the Lord. I would have never reached so many of these without your compassion and help. TIP OF THE HAT TO THOSE FOLKS.

 

Now it’s your turn? Who would you tip your hat to? Your spouse? Your parents? Look around today and notice who is really doing a good job. Let them know that. Tip your hat to them.

 

Kindness and compassion—the Lord knows we need those. That’s why the Bible says, “Put them on…”

 

Roger