Jump Start # 3000

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “But beyond this, my son, be warned the writing of many books is endless, and excessive study is wearying to the body.”

CELEBRATION!!! MILESTONE!!! A NEW RECORD!!! This is Jump Start number 3,000! Unbelievable. Our verse today talks about the endless writing of many books. It seems our Jump Starts have become just that, endless. We started this journey in January, 2010. It was intended to be a 30-day experiment. Now, a dozen years later, our Jump Starts have become international, the number of subscribers are at an all time high, and a total of 27 theme books have been published from these writings. On Mondays, I read one of the Jump Starts from the past. It’s called, “Jump Start Rewind.” It’s part of the Heaven Bound podcast family that our congregation broadcasts. I estimate from a typical Jump Start size that I have written 2.7 million words. The Jump Starts began as a simple reflection from a verse—a devotional type of style. But, through the years, it seems that the writings have become more personal and almost like a diary. I’ve written about my daughter’s wedding, the birth of grandchildren, travels, preaching experiences, the death of friends and preaching heroes and the passing of my father. I have focused heavily upon worship, elderships and preaching.

My ole’ friend Jim Babcock would be calling me about this one. Jim was one of my finest early supporters of Jump Starts. Jim is on the other side now but what a great encouragement he was in those early years. David Parr in Alabama has taken Jim’s place as being one of my best cheerleaders. He even made me a Jump Start polo shirt with our logo on it. When David calls, he doesn’t say, “Hey, Roger,” he calls me “Jump Start.”

I can not celebrate this milestone alone. There is a host of people that without them, Jump Starts would not exist. First and foremost is the wonderful Charlestown Road congregation and their shepherds. It takes both finances and personnel to get these out to you. The leadership of this church has always supported me in this and have graciously allowed me to take this journey. Beyond this congregation, of which the Jump Starts are a part of our work, you the reader must be thanked. I have thought that if the number of readers starts to fall off, then it will be time to stop this. But so far it hasn’t. So many of you have shared these and talked about these and have your own group of people that you send them to. We have some special media people who make this possible to be presented to you. I don’t know what they do, but they do it well. I also need to thank Amy who takes care of all the mailing of our Jump Start books. She has saved me an enormous amount of time and she does such wonderful work in this.

Writing every day, Monday through Friday, has become a daily part of my life. I’ve run into folks who have told me, “You must never stop writing.” That’s sweet and I appreciate it, but I do know the end will come. I’m thankful to have had this unique period in time where we could encourage, share and help one another through this avenue. I truly doubt there will be another dozen years for these Jump Starts, but who knows. I would have never expected it to go as long as it already has.

So, here are some things I’ve learned from a dozen years of writing every day.

First, don’t be afraid to open your heart, share your story and be honest. I have sent a few Jump Starts out that I later thought was just a bit too much about my life. However, we all have a story. You have a story. Sometimes outsiders may think that we are all perfect, we never have a bad day and Satan never bothers us. That’s not the way it is. Creating an image of perfection may hide our flaws but it also can become an obstacle for others. “I can’t be like you,” is something that may keep some away from Christ. Be honest. Be real. Be yourself.

Second, pushing yourself is a good thing. I generally take no more than 30 minutes to write a typical Jump Start. I really do not have any more time than that. There are sermons to prepare, class material to write, and lots of people to engage with. I write in one setting. Most times, I read it over one time and send it out. Later on, I find typos, mistakes and other things that should have been edited out, but there just isn’t time. There are days when the well is dry. Just not sure what to write that day. I’ve had some who have even encouraged me to write less or even stop because of the work load I carry. But I push myself. I find something. I write.

And, so it is for you. There are days that you may not feel like going to worship. There are days you may not feel like preaching or teaching another Bible class, but people are counting on you. You step up and you do it. I think about the apostle who was dragged out of town, stoned and left for dead. Acts tells us that he got up and went right back into that town. Unbelievable. We must push aside excuses and reasons to stop.

Third, one never realizes the good that he does. This is so true with these Jump Starts. I write what I feel like. I don’t know if the readers will read this stuff or even like it. Then I will get an email or a card from someone. They will tell me about a death in their family or a prodigal in their home and how my words helped them so much. I’ve had people tell me that they have used these writings for invitations, sermons and Bible classes. All of that amazes me. But you are just like that. Your smile at services, the kind words you said to a young preacher, the food you took to a family that was experiencing a hard time, those little blessings from you are not forgotten and they have made a huge difference. We do things not to get a “thank you,” from someone, but rather, we want to do our part. We want to help others.

Fourth, one never knows what he can do until he tries. A dozen years ago, if someone had told me that I would be writing a devotional five days a week and it would be read worldwide, that likely would have caused me to run the other direction. So many have asked, “How do you do that every day?” I just sit in front of a keyboard and let the words flow. These come from years of reading, studying and thinking. Sermons have found their ways into Jump Starts. And, Jump Starts have found their ways into sermons. But to say, “I could never do that,” really isn’t true. There are other very good blogs being written today. I follow them. I use them. I do not feel that there is a competition among us. We are on the same side, just wanting to help others. Find what your talent is. Try it. Use it. Develop it. Expand it. Don’t go about trying to make a name for yourself. Honor the Lord in all that you do.

If you are not familiar with our Jump Start website (www.Jumpstartsdaily.com), you can find all the Jump Starts posted there. There is a search engine in which you can look up key verses or even words. One can search by dates as well. Also, we have 27 Jump Start books. The first one was on Psalms. The latest one is on the Land that Jesus Traveled. These are always free. Just send me an email (Rogshouse@aol.com) and your mailing address and Amy will take care of these for you.

If a history of our times is written, I’m thankful that Jump Starts had a small part in the lives of so many. Most of all, I’m thankful to the Lord who has given me this talent and put me in a place where it can be most effective.

God is so good…He is so good to me!

Thank you,

Roger

Jump Start # 2460

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”

Books, are a lot like the topic of history. It seems either people love them or they don’t. I’m definitely in the “love ‘em” category. I grew up in a family which made reading books a high priority. I’m surrounded with books, at home, and definitely in my office. Old books. New books. Great books. Some that were not so great. Rare books. Very popular books. I’ve got ‘em and I have a lot of them.

All of this came up recently because a friend asked about books. He wanted my recommendations on some reference books. We met in my office so I could show him. On the last pages of inspiration that Paul wrote, he asked Timothy to bring books. I’d love to see what books Paul had. I have been to some extremely rare libraries. I saw the signature of Martin Luther, the reformer in a copy of one of his German translations of the Bible. I saw Isaac Newton’s signature in a very old book about astronomy. I’ve seen parts of the Dead Sea scrolls. And, I think one reason I like books is because God does. He wrote a book, the Bible. Of all the avenues of communication and ways to preserve His message, God chose writing a book. A large percentage of the books I own have outlived the authors. That’s the unique thing about writing. It can go places we can’t and it can last longer than we can.

There is a lot you can tell about a person by the books he reads. And, in our current culture, books are dying. People are not reading much these days. Bookstores are closing. The percentage of college grads who never read a book the rest of their lives is staggering. We are in a Youtube, video, bullet point, TV age and the printed page is being ignored. Newspapers are dying because you can catch the news on TV or get the highlights on your phone.

For a guy who writes this blog every day of the week, there are a few things about writing and books I want to share.

First, some people prefer electronic versions of the Bible. There’s nothing wrong with that, it’s still the word of God. I have the Bible on my phone and tablet but I prefer the printed version. I like to write in my Bible. I like to underline words and I have things taped on those blank pages in the back. But I must be careful not to look down at those who prefer electronic versions of the Bible. I must not think that I am better or that I am more spiritual than the electronic crowd. Not so. There is a convenience with electronic versions of the Bible. You don’t have to carry around a big book. You’re likely not to forget it. You have access to multiple translations in an instant. So don’t frown upon a person for not having the Bible when he does, it’s on his phone.

Second, reading is learning and learning is growing. Education doesn’t stop when we are finished with school. A person who is a life long reader will have great insights, understandings and knowledge because he has opened his mind to reading. It has been said that each of us will be just as we are in five years except for the books we read and the people we associate with. So, if I include quality books and quality people in my life, then I will continue to grow. Now, the choice of books is important. There is a place for fiction, but that’s not likely to move me to the next level in development. Character studies, biographies, histories, religious material can be of great value. Be sure to read with a careful eye. What is written by man, is just that, written by man. Much of what is found in religious books is wrong. Discernment will catch that and not be hurt by that. There can still be good thoughts and material in such books. Have balance in your reading. Don’t read just from one author or one slant. Don’t read just fiction. Don’t read just religious material. And, like the Bereans, search the Scriptures to see if what you read is true.

Third, reading, as music, as movies, as people, influences us and with an open heart can change us. This is the power of God’s word. When read with an honest heart, it will move you. It will challenge you. It will change you. Be careful of what books you recommend. Not everyone has a discerning eye. Not everyone can recognize error. Authors that honor God, respect inspiration, and seem to get the big picture of what the Bible is about can truly be an asset to your life. The right books can be wonderful tools to help you teach classes and prepare lessons. But books are like people, everyone has different tastes. Books that some like, I don’t. And, the books that have meant a lot to me, others have not liked. So, it will take time for you to find the type of books and authors that you like. My writings these Jump Starts have been a direct result of some authors that I drank deeply from years ago. Some of those authors had very little in common with what I believe, but they were amazing writers. They had a way of saying things in which a person would think. They had me looking at things in verses that I had read right over and thought nothing about. Now, I have learned to see things myself. For instance, with the story of the bent over woman, Luke tells us that “Jesus saw her.” Of course, He did. No big deal. But wait. He really saw her. How many others looked at her, but never saw her. Jesus calls her to come to Him and heals her. Just from that little expression, how many people do I not see on a Sunday morning. A mother who is tired from being up all night with a sick child. A man who is worried about losing his job. A couple who have to make a decision about an aging parent. A young lady who broke up with a boyfriend because he’s trying to lead her away from the Lord. An elderly person who wonders if their money is going to run out. A shepherd who has spent a week trying to get someone to make up his mind if he wants to follow Christ or not. Jesus saw her. WOW. And, it was amazing authors who I spent time with in their books who opened my eyes and now I see.

Fourth, Solomon, in our verse is warning about excessive books. There is no end to writing books. That was then. Just think about today. And, too much devotion to books can weary the body. I’ve noticed something in many scholarly books, everyone wants to quote some old dead guy. I guess that gives more punch to what they are trying to say. I’d rather quote someone who is alive, like GOD. Because someone wrote it and because it’s in a book doesn’t change the price of coffee. Just about anyone can write, especially these day. Self publishing is inexpensive and one can hang a shingle out that they are an author. Great. Now what? Stand in line, there are so many authors. No book equals the Bible. We can read books about the Bible, but it’s better to just read the Bible. Given the choice between these Jump Starts and the Bible, I’d point you to the Bible.

Want some good reading material? Ask one of the shepherds or your preacher. A great conversation piece to ask is, “What are you reading these days?”

Books—they have a place, but they are not life. Books– can help you or hurt you, be wise. Books—make great gifts, great friends, and great adventure. Surround yourself with great books.

Roger

Jump Start # 2000

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “But beyond this, my son, be warned; the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”

This is a special celebration Jump Start, number 2000! Who would have thought? Amazing! Milestones, anniversaries, records—they are important. We recognize these in several industries, especially in sports. The most home runs. The most touchdowns. The fastest horse. The most victories. Banners adorn college arenas marking great seasons that brought national championships. And, today, we recognize our 2,000th Jump Start.

This journey begin in 2010 as a little experiment to challenge folks to read the Bible every day. I never intended this to last this long, nor to have the large readership that it does. Everywhere I go, I meet people who have read Jump Starts. I have a file folder full of emails that have been written through the years concerning these Jump Starts. Originally, when all of this started, back in 2007, I expected to stop after number 30. This is why I simply put numbers on them. They’d be easy to remember. I didn’t expect them to last very long. But immediately our people were sharing them with others. The base of readers started exploding, so I continued to write. Everyday, from my home, I’d start the day with writing a Jump Start. It takes about 30 minutes to write, and send these out. My intention was to have something on your computer when you got to work. You could read it, have a thought, and then get about your day. The readership kept growing, so, I kept writing. We started putting theme books together on a variety of topics. There are now 22 theme books. One of my marvelous deacons built a great display case for our Jump Starts that is in the lobby of our church building. When he built it we had about 8 theme books. The case displays a dozen theme books. I thought that was plenty. Boy, we were wrong on that.

And, this special day brings to memory my dear, dear friend, Jim Babcock. Every milestone number, he would call me up and we’d have a great talk about these Jump Starts. He’d ask, “How much longer are you going to write?” My answer was always, “until the bucket runs dry.” Dear Jim is now on the other side. I wish he were here today to celebrate this but I know he’d rather be where he is.

I’ve noticed through the years, that these writings have become more and more personal and in some ways an online diary. I’ve talked about myself and what’s going on in my family, my travels and even my past. So many have said, “I can just see you saying those things.” Or, “you write like you talk and you talk like you write.” Someone recently asked me if I had one favorite Jump Start. I remember several being written with tears in my eyes, the fond memories of dear family and friends. But I don’t. I do know that there has been some that I felt were rushed and not well written. I remember those more than the other ones.

On this special celebration Jump Start, there are several “Thank You’s” that I must acknowledge.

First, to the Lord who has given me an opportunity and a talent that I didn’t know was there. Many of these Jump Starts have found their ways into church bulletins, been transformed into Wednesday night invitations, and some have even become sermons. There has been many people who have been touched by these simple writings. We have connected with each other and hopefully closer to the Lord because of these things. Had the elders where I preach asked me to write a daily devotion when I first moved here, I probably would have resisted that. But it just came about and so much good has been done. That has always been the driving purpose of this, to help at least one person.

Second, an enormous thank you goes to the Charlestown Road congregation. They continue to be in the forefront of getting the message out. It’s an amazing congregation that is led by the best shepherds. They have supported me and helped me in this project from the beginning. Jump Starts come to you free, but there are costs behind it. This church has covered that for years. Our theme books are all printed and mailed free of charge to you. This church has been behind all of this. They are just good folks who love the Lord. They are never satisfied with just doing what we’ve done in the past. This is why Jump Starts was such an easy thing to try here. Thank you!

Third, a huge thank you goes to our readers. Some of you have been reading these for years. You have supported me by encouragement. You have shared these with others. You have grown our readership, which is the largest it has ever been. I still do not know how many actually receive this. So many have their own little groups of people that they send Jump Starts to, and, several congregations are sending these to everyone in their membership. I’d expect the daily distribution to be close to 3,000. Someone recently told me that he believed the number more accurately to be around 5,000, but I really don’t know. That’s a lot of people. That’s a lot of people who read these Jump Starts. I thank each of you for taking the time in your day just to read these thoughts. I hope you find comfort, hope and help in reading these. That has always been the purpose. Thank you. Thank you for reading these.

Now, the question I’m asked often, “how much longer are these Jump Starts going to last?” I can honestly say, I do not see another 2,000. For now, I have two more theme books in my mind that I’d like to write about. As long as folks keep reading and our readership stays where it is at or continues to grow, I’ll keep writing. But all things come to an end, including me, someday. Because of the internet, these writings will last longer than I will. I suppose, whether I wanted them to be or not, they have become my legacy. In my files, I have articles that were written more than one hundred years ago. They still teach, encourage and help, long after the writer has switched rooms. That will be my story someday. But for now, we write.

Our verse today reminds us that the writing of books is endless. There’s always new books. I’m a lover of books and have surrounded my life with books. Books are useful, helpful and can encourage us. But there is always one book, above all books, that we must treasure, know and love. That book is the Word of God. There is no author as great as God. There is no book that surpasses the Bible. It is indeed a book of life. It gives us true hope in Jesus Christ. Through the Bible, we come to know God. We learn of His wonderful compassion, His amazing power and His great desire to save all of us. God’s book is what needs to shape our character and define our lives. We believe because of the Bible

There are a couple of old sayings I’ve always liked about the Bible:
Carry the Bible when you are young and it will carry you when you are old
A Bible that is falling apart belongs to someone who’s life is not falling apart

2,000! Amazing to me!

Thank you,

Roger

Jump Start # 960

Ecclesiastes 12:12 But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”

The wise man Solomon, of all people, gives warnings about books. You’d expect and anticipate that he would be promoting books, but instead, he gives warnings about books. I love books. I have a lot of books. I have even transitioned to electronic books. Many people give up on reading. They are too busy, they say. Solomon’s warnings reveal two truths for us:

First, there are a lot of books. He says the writing of books is endless. There were 15 MILLION books published in the United States last year. There are books on every subject. All of this tells us that there are many authors and many people with opinions that they feel ought to be shared with others. There was a time, long ago, to be an author was something of distinction. A person was part of the literary circle to be published. Not so any more. With a few dollars, anyone can be “published.” Not all thoughts, ideas, and opinions are worthy of sharing. Some are not accurate. Some are biased. Some simply need to be kept to themselves.

What’s in your “library?” What kind of books do you read? It helps to be balanced in your reading. Don’t read just novels. Don’t read just one type of book or just one author. Words are vehicles that take us places. They explain, explore and persuade. God saw the value of words. He could have sent pictures, instead He had his message recorded in words. Words that could be copied and passed on. Words that could be memorized and remembered. Words that could be studied. God’s words are important. He chose them and expressed them in specific ways to convey His will. Careful thought went into God’s message. God didn’t use “filler” to simply make a big book. Every word, every thought was intended and needed. Interestingly, the word, “Bible,” is not in the Bible. That word means, “Books.” God’s book is a book of books. Books written over a long period of time, in various places and under various conditions by a group of godly men who loved Him and believed in Him. It’s hard to think of our Bible as a library. Sixty-six books—each one telling it’s own story and yet connected to the overall story of God’s redemption for mankind. Without the Bible, we do not know God. The Bible trumps all other opinions and thoughts. When Jesus was questioned about divorce, He referred to the written word of God. When the Sadducees tried to trick Jesus with a story about resurrection and marriage, Jesus went to the Bible. When Satan tempted Jesus, He responded with the Bible. A person cannot be right with God and wrong with the Bible. A person cannot be a Christian a different way than the Bible way. We do not worship the Bible. We worship God. Once the Bible was held supreme in our land. It was used to swear a person in court. It was diligently looked into for answers to life’s problems. Today, many shelve their Bibles and the common thought is, “Oh, that’s just the Bible.” Too many churches have moved away from the Bible, outgrown the message of the Bible and no longer respect the authority of the Bible. Shame on them. Many are racing to the writings of others instead of God. They are letting what others wrote shape their views about the Bible. Why not just read the Bible for itself and not what someone else says about the Bible? Let the Bible speak for itself. It will stand the test of investigation, questions and scrutiny.

Second, “excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.” Solomon is not denouncing books. He is not saying reading is a waste. The emphasis is upon, “excessive devotion.” Excessive devotion to anything, other than God is not good. Excessive devotion to chocolate is not good. Excessive devotion to TV is not good. Even excessive devotion to our kids is not good. We tend to smoother them when we do that and we become control freaks. Solomon is not tossing out books, only the excessive devotion.

Two thoughts come to my mind.

• It’s good to close the books and go outside. Life is to be lived. Life is more than thinking, dreaming, planning and reading. There are things to be done. Close the books and go do them. There are too many books to be read. A person could spend a lifetime with their nose in the books and have accomplished very little. Make a difference by connecting with others. Be a friend. Be someone’s support. Does this mean, never open the books? No. It’s about balance. Preachers need balance. Some do not like to read. Not good. Others only want to read. Not good. Balance. There is time in the office and there is time to be with people. There are classes to be studied and classes to be taught. Balance. Like walking across a room with one of Solomon’s books on your head. Steady, careful, not too much leaning this way or that way. Our lives need balance. It’s ok to have fun and laugh, but not all the time. There are times to be sober and serious. Balance.
• Learn to think for yourself. Read the books, but close them and then let the thoughts stir in you for a while. Think. Evaluate. Consider. Don’t let others shape your thinking. Examine everything carefully. Be a free thinker. Put things together in your mind. Don’t accept thoughts just because some hotshot shared his opinions. Experts can be wrong. Only God is right. He is right all the time. Think for yourself is true with sermons and Bible classes, also. Think. Explore. Consider. Chase rabbits. Jesus compared the kingdom to treasure that was buried in the field. A man had to dig at it to find it. We must put some effort into our faith. Why do you believe what you believe? Do you know? Is it because my preacher says so? That’s the wrong answer. I’ve found that many verses through the years have been misused and taken out of context. Folks have bent them to defend their opinions. These verses really didn’t teach what some claimed they did. These misuses were taught and others grabbed a hold of them and passed them on to the next generation without careful study or thinking about them. This is how error grows. We quit thinking and we just accept. Don’t do that. Ask questions. Look. Examine. Put all the pieces together.

I wonder what Solomon would think about all the books today. I wonder what God thinks about them?

Roger

Jump Start # 700

Ecclesiastes 12:12 “But beyond this, my son, be warned: the writing of many books is endless, and excessive devotion to books is wearying to the body.”

Our Jump Start today hits another milestone for us—# 700. We continue to gain more readers and we are thankful for that. Each time we have hit a milestone, we have paused, reflected, and made a few comments. Originally we started this for the folks at the congregation where I preach. Through many of those incredible people, our readership grew and grew. Today, nearly 1,000 people are reading these. That amazes me! So many of you have sent  kind words to continue writing these Jump Starts. These Jump Starts have been used in church bulletins, sermons and classes. They have been sent to people who are struggling and having hard times. They have crossed the ocean and are read in other countries. For all of that, I am thankful.

What’s next for our Jump Starts? I plan to continue writing, at least for now. I hope to do more mini-themes with these. I appreciate so much hearing from you. Many have sent in suggestions for me to write about and those have been helpful. For our new readers, our Jump Starts are not intended to be an exhaustive textual study. You won’t find many quotes or references to scholarly writings. This is just a quick, easy and reflective read to help us start our day. I am a firm believer that how the day begins often sets the tone for that day. If I start it running behind, in a bad mood and grumpy, by the end of the day, I just need to be put out with the trash. However, if I can start with a verse, and reflect upon that in a personal and positive way, then that will help me. Throughout the day, I may go back to that verse that I began the day with. As I dwell upon it, chew on it, meditate upon it, it has a way of working on my heart.

Our verse today, from Solomon, reminds us that the excess devotion to books is weary. There are too many things to read. We can spend all of our day reading and still not touch all that we want to read. A walk through a major bookstore can be expensive and overwhelming. But there is one book that draws our attention above all others, and that is the Bible. Nothing replaces the Bible.

Reading the Bible connects us to God and it opens our eyes to His will for us. The words that God chose, the way in which He states things is amazing. I especially like seeing how Jesus interacted with various people in the Gospels. He was brilliant. He knew just what to say and just how to say it. Look at those things. Reflect. In time and in a limited manner, you too, start interacting that way. The Bible has that affect upon us. After a while, it molds and shapes us and we find that we think differently, we react differently and that we are a different people than what we were just a few years ago. That’s the living word working in a good and honest heart. We can spend so much time reading things about the Bible, including these Jump Starts, that we fail to read the Bible itself. Don’t fall into that trap. Read His word. Know His word. Before long, you’ll be able to quote some verses. That is amazing! Before long, you will know exactly where things are found. Becoming so familiar with the word that it is like spending time with a dear friend. You never grow weary of the time you are together, and so it is with God’s word.

We are living in times when too many folks simply do not know God’s word. That is shaping our country. Attitudes, definitions of life, choices people make all reflect an ignorance of God’s word. It is hurting our country. We must continue on, staying on course. That is the only hope. God’s word is what is right. Become a people of the book!

Roger