31

Jump Start # 3502

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3502

1 Thessalonians 5:14 “And we urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all men.”

I have a young friend who really loves Jesus. She is a disciple. However, she has a problem. She cuts herself. She knows she shouldn’t do this. It took her a long time to be able to tell me that. She has come a long way in this journey. There are weeks that she does great. Then there are times when she really wants to cut herself. We talk about this and I try to help her.

I have shared this Jump Start with her before I ever published it. I wanted her to read this first. She, as so many of us, have issues that we are dealing with. This journey with the Lord can be very long and hard. She has professional help, for which I am very thankful. I recognize that I’m just a preacher. Any counseling I give is from that perspective.

For a long time I have wanted to write about this. I believe she is in a place now where I can share some thoughts.

First, it is hard to know what each of us are going through. Most would be shocked to know. While one is dealing with cutting, there is another who struggles with porn, and another who fights the love of money, and another has real anger issues. We do a pretty good job of wearing masks and keeping these things hidden. We do this because we are ashamed. We do this because we fear what others might think. Often, we have had a bad experience with someone gossiping or instead of lending a listening ear, they used the moment to judgmentally point fingers at us. Like Job’s friends, they made things worse. It shouldn’t be that way, but it is. It could be that we have created an atmosphere of perfection within our congregations, even though no one lives up to that. And, that high standard that we don’t reach makes us feel that we are failures. We feel that we let God down. We feel that we are letting others down. All around us are people like us who are a work in progress, but they don’t seem that way to us. They seem perfect. The only one that is not perfect is ourselves. We are perfectly imperfect. In fact, if all the cards were on the table, many of us feel that if the shepherds really knew, they’d be talking about withdrawing from us.

In most situations, that is the last thing that would happen, but we have that fear. We struggle silently. This is where many of us are. Rather than in the fellowship of the godly, we’d put ourselves on the island of misfit toys. We doubt our salvation. We want to go to Heaven, but deep inside, we are not sure we’ll make it. We are good at putting on smiles, and telling others what they want to hear, but deep, deep inside we struggle. Anger. Fear. Doubt. Addictions. Troubles. When those things surface, we tailspin.

For my friend, it’s punishing herself by hurting herself.

Second, in our lowest moments, when we feel that we have hurt God so much, He truly loves us so much. It’s hard to understand. There are times when we don’t love ourselves, but God still does. Like any addiction, it’s hard to get off the merry-go-round. We sometimes feel that we have to get this all figured out before we can come back to God. But that is just what Satan wants us to believe. Get fixed, then come home to the Lord. But what we have found out, is that on our own, we are stuck on that cycle. We can’t get off. We must have the Lord’s help. His grace, His power, His promises, His expectations for us, His word, that’s what will bring about changes. That’s what will break the cycle. That’s what will help us.

Thirdly, cutting, porn, addictions, are really surface issues of something greater. We are looking for instant gratification. We want to punish ourselves for what we have done. We are looking at the moment and not long term. While we struggle and fight these surface problems, they remain, until we dive deeper and do some real surgery on our hearts. God created us for better. This is not the way God wants you to live. Shame, guilt and embarrassment are the way of Satan.

Sometimes the hardest person to forgive is yourself. If God will forgive you, then you must forgive you. The problem isn’t cutting, alcohol, pills, porn, gambling, but  faith. When we turn to these things, we are looking in the wrong direction. These things will never last and never bring what we truly need. We must believe that we can break free from these habits. We must believe that God hasn’t and won’t give up on us.

Instead of trying to live an entire lifetime today, get through each day. Set specific goals. Change your environment, friends and culture that allows you to dip into these addictions so easily. Be accountable to someone nearby. Fill your heart with the word of God. Be led by the Spirit.

Find someone that you can trust that will guide you to God. Forget worthless friends of the world. They are no help. You need solid, spiritual disciples who will listen, be honest and not give you a pass because you complain. Not everyone is like that. Be careful who you talk to. And, if someone comes to you in such confidence, be a person of integrity and honor their request and help them. Don’t tell others.

Fourth, do not give up. Satan wants you to believe that this is just going to be your way of life. He wants you to accept that you cannot conquer your problems. He wants you to think that you will never please the Lord. Stop believing that junk. Listen to God. He believes in you. He knows you can do better. He is pleased with you and wants you to live a life of glory and honor. Hold your head up.

Satan won’t give up easily. He’ll fight you. He’ll throw everything at you. But greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Believe that. Know that. One day, you’ll be able to help others. One day, you’ll be the one who understands, because you’ve been there. One day, you’ll be on the other side and you’ll be triumphant in the Lord. It will happen. Just stay with the Lord.

We are in this together and we need each other. As our passage says today, let us help one another. The unruly needs to be admonished. The fainthearted needs encouragement. The weak need help. And, we need to be patient with everyone. While today, you may be the one who is helping, tomorrow you may be the one who is in need of help. Remember that. As important as it is to help others, it is equally important to receive help. Drop the pride. Open up. Let others walk with you. Lean on them. As the Hollies sang, “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother.” And, so we are.

We are in this together…and, together, with God’s help, we’ll make it.

Roger

30

Jump Start # 3501

Posted on January 30, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3501

 Acts 5:42 “And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.”

Restorationist preacher Jacob Creath, Jr, wrote in his diary on Tuesday, December 9, 1862, “I rise at four o’clock in the morning. I make a fire and wash my head and feet in cold water to prevent colds, fevers, catarrh and other diseases as well as to preserve my hearing. My wife then rises and dresses herself, and we then read a chapter and pray to God for His blessing and direction. We then have breakfast between six and seven o’clock. I then take a walk abou tone mile to a wood west of me. There I spend fifteen to twenty minutes in private prayer. I then return to my house and write until one o’clock. We then dine, and I spend the afternoon in going to the post office and in visiting the members of our congregation. When my children were with me, at morning and evening devotions, I read one verse, and my wife read on verse, and each child read one verse. In this way, we read the entire Bible through more than ten times. Every family ought to maintain devotion mourning and evening” (The Life and Letters of Jacob Creath, Jr, volume one, pg 121).

Those early hours wouldn’t fit most of us. Those long prayers are great, but most do not have the time for that. Got to get to work. Kids have to get to school. So much to be done. But, with all of our modern conveniences, I wonder if we’ve missed something. Rather than having more time, we seem to have less. And, maybe we have just filled our days with insignificant and superficial matters that really do not matter.

I see in this diary entry, a disciplined believer that had some spiritual habits that set the course for his life.

Here are some thoughts for us:

First, I find it challenging, encouraging and insightful to read about the daily lives of Christians of other generations. This period in Creath’s life, as he lived in Missouri, was difficult because of the Civil War. Multiple times soldiers raided his home looking for guns and other things. He had to get signed papers to travel through armed roadblocks. His own daughter was arrested by soldiers. Yet, through this, he kept his daily practice of praise and devotion to God. Remarkable.

Second, Creath understood the responsibility and privilege of raising his children in a proper spiritual environment. Reading passages from the Bible, twice a day was an exercise that he believed in. Nothing takes the place of time in God’s word. Have we shifted all of this to our time in the church building? Are we too busy to do this? Maybe around the kitchen table, before dinner is eaten, the Bible is passed among each other and read.

Third, if this ole’ world continues on, our children and those that knew us, may reflect upon our daily habits. They won’t find me washing my face in cold water, but what would they notice? Is the first thing that happens in the morning, the TV is turned on? Emails checked? Facebook is searched? What we do each day becomes our pattern and our habits. Day in and day out, soon turns into weeks, then months, then years and finally a lifetime. One doesn’t need to flip the calendar to begin new resolutions, changes and habits. As you read those words from long ago, what impact does it have on you? Does it make you wonder what spiritual habits I have, other than showing up at the church building a couple of times a week?

Our verse today, one of many sprinkled throughout the N.T. that gives insight into the daily practice of those early disciples. Daily they were teaching. In the description of discipleship, our Lord says to “DAILY take up your cross and follow Me” (Lk 9:23). Jesus told the disciples to pray for their DAILY bread (Mt 6:11). We are to encourage one another DAILY, as long as it is called today,” (Heb 3:13). The Bereans were busy searching the Scriptures DAILY (Acts 17:11). Daily. Habits. Part of a person’s spiritual DNA.

Imagine the good that would come from a month of deep praying and reading the Bible together with your family? Imagine how your heart and your faith would grow. Maybe we’d worry less. Maybe we’d be less concerned about this ole’ world. Maybe our lives would look more and more like our Lord’s.

Enough time has passed along that river of life that most today are not familiar with the name, Jacob Creath, Jr. His life crisscrossed and intersected with the first generation of restoration preachers in this country such as Barton Stone, Racoon John Smith, Alexander Campbell, Benjamin Franklin, all giants in the early days of returning to the ancient paths. Forgotten by most, but remembered by God.

Roger

29

Jump Start # 3500

Posted on January 29, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3500

Acts 16:14 And a certain woman named Lydia, form the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul.”

There was a gathering at the river. Several women were there. They had come to worship. The apostle Paul came and spoke about Jesus. Lydia was among the women. She was baptized. Such a simple story. Most of our readers have heard this preached and preached and preached.

There are several good lessons for us:

First, Lydia was a good person. She’s not selling drugs. She is not selling her body. She is away from home, yet she is worshipping God. The Ethiopian is another good person. He had been to worship in Jerusalem. He was returning home, reading Isaiah. Cornelius is another good person. He was praying to God.

This is a reminder to us that your life does not have to be a disaster before you become a Christian. We hear the horror stories of prodigals who all but ruined their lives. Miserable. Addicted. Jailed. Corrupt. Immoral. Illegal. Caught by the Gospel message, these lives change. They make great illustrations in sermons. They give hope to those who are broken and feel that God has left them.

But, those stories can also have a negative impact. What about the teen sitting in the audience who is a pretty good kid? He’s obedient to his parents. He studies hard and gets good grades. He is respectful, decent and kind. In many ways that was me. I went to a high school that had major drug and racial issues. I saw pills being passed around in class. We had a narcotic agent that led kids down the hallway in handcuffs. I saw that often. A kid sitting behind me in one class was arrested for robbing a liquor store with a gun. I didn’t get into fights. I didn’t do the drugs. I went to church every Sunday. I was a good kid, but I didn’t have Jesus. I wasn’t saved. Good as I was, I had sins in my life. When I finally understood that, I was obedient to my Savior and my faith became real.

All have sinned, is a message that needs to be understood. Lydia is doing great things. Yet, she was not a disciple of Jesus.

Second, Paul didn’t think it was a waste of time to preach to a group of women at the river bank. These women wouldn’t preach. They wouldn’t be shepherds in the church. They were a bunch of women. Paul didn’t see it that way. They were souls that Jesus died for. They were valuable to God and important to the kingdom.

Because women do not lead public worship, they can easily feel that they do not matter. They don’t count. Their voice isn’t heard. They are second class citizens. God never sees it that way, and forgive us men if that’s the impression we leave upon our beloved sisters in the kingdom. Remember, it was women who were first to the empty tomb. It was women who first brought the news of a resurrected Savior. It was women who financed the Lord and those who traveled with Him. And, in many, many congregations today, faithful women are the backbone that keeps the place going and close to the Lord. Paul met with a group of women and preached to them.

Third, as this chapter of Acts ends, we have a Philippian church made up of a group of women and a Gentile jailer. One might think, that’s not much to start with. But, like that tiny acorn, a mighty oak can come from that. It’s that Philippian church that supports Paul when no one else will. It’s that Philippian church that became so dear to the heart of Paul.

Don’t discount small beginnings. Don’t give up on simple things. Keep preaching. Keep plowing the fields of God. Keep going. Out of those small beginnings wonderful things can take place.

A group of women on a Saturday, down by the river. Open hearts and the pure message of God, and the beginning of great things.

Much to think about. Much to be thankful for.

Roger

26

Jump Start # 3499

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3499

2 Corinthians 10:12 “We are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves, and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.”

I’m on the internet a lot. Multiple times a day, I’m reading, researching, chasing ideas and looking things up. I guess because of my age and a few news items that I looked at, tons of financial articles appeared. And, most of them are about comparisons. “How much the average retiree should have in their savings account,” read one headline. “Three signs that you are not saving enough,” was another. Then, “The average retiree spends $4385 on monthly expenses.” “What should your net worth be by age 60?”

Reading those news items will either make a person feel that they are sitting pretty good financially or it will just ruin your day. But running through those articles are a common thought, AVERAGE. What is the AVERAGE savings by age 60? How much does the AVERAGE retiree have in investments? What is the AVERAGE return on investments? What are the AVERAGE spending habits of retirees? Average, average, average.

And, all average is, is a comparison. Average in mathematics is the middle number. Some numbers are higher. Some numbers are lower. Combined, an average is determined. In sports, averages run the game. Before a basketball player shoots his free throws, the play-by-play announcers are telling you his average percentage of making those shots. Baseball is filled with all kinds of averages. Even when you take your child to the doctor, and they weigh him and see how tall he is, that is compared to an average number. Your child is above average in height, and dad is thinking, “he’ll be a basketball player.” Your child is below average in weight and moms get concerned.

Averages are connected to comparisons. High averages impress. Low averages discourage. And, in our verse today, Paul tells the Corinthian brethren that we do not compare ourselves with others. We don’t do that. We don’t do that as apostles. Early on, many of them had to learn that lesson. More than once they were talking about which one of them was the greatest. One reaches that conclusion by comparing. Jesus wouldn’t have any of that. The humble Jesus wanted the apostles to be humble. We don’t read much about Bartholomew. We could assume that he was not as important as Peter and John. But that assumption is just that, an assumption. God called him and God wanted him. Don’t think that he was less than others. God doesn’t say that.

Those that compare, our verse tells us, lack understanding. Those that compare, are the ones that commend themselves. Those that compare, are about ready to head over a cliff because of their arrogance and self-righteousness.

Some reminders for us:

First, don’t try to define what an “AVERAGE” Christian is like. Don’t go there. And, even if you could define such a thing, why would you? The average Christian gives this much, one might say. So, what? Do I want to be average? Am I happy with typical? Once I determine what others are doing, will I slow down and just stay with them?

We all come from different backgrounds, have different experiences and different opportunities. Like snow falling from the sky, no two of us are exactly the same. Yes, we have the same needs. Yes, we all are sinners. But, how we came to Jesus, what help we have had, what growth we achieved, is different for each of us.

I’m not a fan of shepherds calling other congregations to find out what area preachers are making to use that as a measuring rod to determine how much to pay their preacher. Once again, average and comparison. How much experience are we talking about? What all is being done? How much do we want the preacher to stay? Those are things that ought to run through the discussion table.

Second, we should not compare congregations. Again, there is no such thing as NORMAL. The study of Revelation 2 and 3 remind us that God never compared the churches to each other. In the parable of the talents, God never compared the men with each other. Different talents, opportunities make each church unique. Some are large. Some are small. Some have tons of talent. Some have very little talent. Some have all sorts of money and resources. Some are barely paying the bills each month. Some are doing well. Some are struggling. Don’t compare.

Third, your measuring rod is yourself and the New Testament. You know what you can do. You know if you are really trying or not. Are you growing? “Well, I’m doing better than others.” Don’t do that. Don’t compare. Are you growing? That’s a yes or no answer. Are you involved in kingdom work? “Well, I teach more than others do?” Stop comparing. Are you involved in the kingdom work? The answer is yes or no. Are you giving as you have been prospered? “Well, I know I give more than some.” Again, you are comparing. Are you giving as you have been prospered? That’s a yes or no.

Simply put, are you doing the best that you can do? Are you bringing your best to God?

Average. Normal. Typical. What others are doing. That may work in sports and finances. It’s terrible in the kingdom of God. We know better. We have understanding.

Roger

25

Jump Start # 3498

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3498

John 16:21 “Whenever a woman is in travail she has sorrow, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she remembers the anguish no more, for joy that a child has been born into the world.”

Sorrow and joy—that combination fills the world and our lives. Birthday parties, holidays, family gatherings bring much joy. Funerals, disappointments, bad news bring sorrow. In this setting, Jesus is telling the disciples that He is leaving them.

  • I am going to Him who sent me (5)
  • If I go, I will send Him (Holy Spirit) to you (7)
  • A little while, and you will no longer behold Me (16)

The Lord’s departure would bring mixed emotions. For the disciples they would sorrow. For the world, they would rejoice. The world would be glad to be rid of Jesus. But, the sorrow the disciples would experience would not last long. Jesus promised, “I will see you again” (22).

And, to illustrate this, Jesus tells the story of a baby being born. Labor and delivery is what we call it these days. Interestingly, Jesus telling the twelve male apostles about babies being born. The apostles may have heard about this or even witnessed this in their own families, but it is something that they would never fully understand. I have witnessed my four children being born. I have anxiously sat in the waiting room as several of our grandchildren were born. It’s hard for men to watch their wives and daughters in intense pain and feeling completely useless and helpless at that moment. Modern drugs help, but believe me, I’ll catch the devil from our female readers who will tell me that I have no idea what it is like. And, believe me, I have no idea. I expect if we men were giving birth, most homes would have only one child.

The point Jesus is making is that there is a moment of deep sorrow. In the delivery process, there is intense pain. But once that healthy baby is being held, the joys exceed the sorrow and the years of happiness that follows make it all worth while. Do the mamas forget the experience? No. Most mothers can tell you what day of the week, what hour of the day, what the room looked like and what the doctor was wearing. They may even remember the nurses names and the room number they gave birth in. The dad doesn’t remember any of those things.

Sorrow and joy. Let’s think for a moment about that combination.

First, sorrow and joy is experienced in the process of conversion. The sorrow comes from one who realizes that he is a sinner and he has shamed the God who loves him. That brokenness leads to repentance, coming home as the prodigal did. That leads to the waters of baptism where that sorrow quickly turns to joy. Washed. Redeemed. Justified. Cleansed. Saved. What a roller coaster of emotions. Tears and smiles. Feeling bad and feeling good.

Second, sorrow and joy is experienced when one apologies to another. The sorrow comes from realizing that you have done something wrong. You hurt someone. The shame and guilt leads a person to humbly apologizing for the sins he has committed. When the wronged person forgives, hugs, tears are followed by joy and smiles. A fragile relationship was repaired, strengthened and once again good. Grace, forgiveness and love was exchanged. Sorrow was replaced with joy. Ill feelings were changed to wonderful fellowship.

Third, sorrow and joy is experienced with the death of a Christian. The world is always a bit darker because one of God’s disciples have gone home. There is a hole in the congregation. Someone we loved, cherished and were made better because of, no longer walks among us. Their voice is silent. Their influence is left to memories. Tears flow. A funeral takes place. But, we remember the promises of God. They are where they want to be. They are in the presence of the Lord. Never again to be plagued with the troubles of this world. No more temptation. No more bad news. No more Satan in their life.

But the greatest joy is being able to see them again on the other side. A very common question is, “Will we know one another in Heaven?” I believe the answer is absolutely yes. There are passages where Paul indicates that to the brethren. The alternative would be spending eternity with a bunch of strangers. That doesn’t sound very appealing to me. The grand reunion of families, friends and brethren tugs on our hearts and makes us realize how beautify Heaven must be.

Sorrows and joy. The pain of child birth and the joys of holding a beautiful baby.

Roger