Jump Start # 3215

Mark 14:8 “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for burial.”

NOTE: Tomorrow is Thanksgiving. There will not be a Jump Start tomorrow. Enjoy the day with family and friends and be THANKFUL.

The other night nothing much was on TV so I pulled up the movie, Mr. Holland’s Opus. I hadn’t seen that movie in a long time. Mr. Holland is a frustrated high school music teacher who wonders if he is making a difference. He has dreams of composing a classical piece. Time goes by, he is always busy with school activities and he never seems to accomplish what he really wanted to. His life is spent with students who don’t appreciate music like he does.

We teachers of God’s word have had our own “Mr. Holland’s” experience. It’s a Wednesday night, people have gathered but it seems they are somewhere else. The teacher pours his heart out but his words seem to fall flat. Blank stares. Little interaction. And, on a cold, dark night, the teacher questions his ability. We preachers have had our “Mr. Holland’s” experience. We work hard all week to develop a sermon that we think is helpful and needful, only to feel after we have preached it that we are wasting the audience’s time.

There was a defining moment in that movie when Mr. Holland made some adjustments to the way he taught. He found a way to connect. He joyfully expressed, “I love to teach,” which was a complete opposite of how he began his teaching career. It’s hard not to watch movies like that and wonder about yourself. There was a time in my life when I wanted to write some restoration books about God’s people in Southern Indiana. I’ve been told many times, “You ought to write a book.” I always think, “Sure. When? Who has time for that?”

The movie ends with an auditorium full of former students who showed up to express their appreciation for all that Mr. Holland had done. And, an orchestra composed of former band students played his Opus, that he had tinkered with for a lifetime. The governor of the state, a former student, declared, “We are your music. We are your notes.”

As we head towards Thanksgiving, some thoughts for us:

First, God knows the wonderful work you have done. Even a cup of cold water that is shared is noticed by Heaven, Jesus tells us. The hours you have poured over sermons, class material, cooking food for someone, helping someone move, is seen by God. Your efforts were not wasted. You were doing exactly what God wants you to do. Engaging in good deeds is characteristic of a disciple of Jesus. Maybe you didn’t get a thankyou that should have come your way, but God knows.

In our passage today, a woman poured costly perfume on Jesus. She was scolded by the apostles. It was wasteful they thought. Jesus defended her. “She has done what she could,” is a powerful statement. She couldn’t do it all, none of us can. But what she could do, she did. She didn’t wait for others to join her, because there were no others with the heart to help. This wonderful story reminds us that we need to do what we can. Don’t wait for others. Don’t get discouraged if others complain. Don’t stop if you are the only one. Do what you can.

Second, there is much good that is done that you will never know about. A thought in a sermon, a passage explained in a class, a text sent in love, a helping hand, these are all the things that make a difference. Some never say a word, but what you said helped them. Some never express thankfulness, but they are. As preachers and teachers, ours is to present the word of God accurately, practically and plainly so it becomes understandable and useful to the audience. When that is done, we have done our job. Blank stares, minds that wander, are not to be indicators that we have failed. With just as many blank stares are those who have held on to every word.

Third, it is good to try to improve yourself as a teacher of God’s word. Mr. Holland was bombing as a teacher. He wasn’t connecting. He made adjustments. He found a bridge that he and the students could meet on musically. We must not get stuck teaching the same way. Find ways to connect. Address things that are currently on the minds and hearts of the audience.

Fourth, it is helpful for us to express our appreciation to those who have labored hard among us. There is a lot of work that goes into planning and teaching God’s word. Let those who teach know that you recognize what they are doing and that you are thankful.

Finally, as we live for Jesus, let our lights shine, we do make a difference. Every parent sometimes wonders if they are making a difference. Every shepherd. Every preacher. Every Bible class teacher. Am I doing anything worthwhile? And, the answer is “Yes.” You may not see it right now. It may not be expressed to you right now. But deep down, lessons are being learned and the good you are doing is helpful. When we do not feel like we are doing good, we tend to quit. We give up. We become discouraged. We count all the hours that we poured into those lessons and no one said a single word. Why, we wonder, do we keep doing this? And, the answer is because we are making a difference and it is the Lord’s will. Don’t give up. Don’t cut corners. Don’t look for shortcuts. Keep plowing the fields. Keep sowing the seed. Keep at it and with it.

We all touch the lives of others. We are impacting and influencing others for the betterment. And, for that, we are very thankful.

Roger

Jump Start # 2554

Mark 14:8 “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.”

He was a Russian composer by the name of Igor Stravinsky. At the end of World War I he composed a fictitious story about a soldier who trades his prized violin to the devil. The violin represented the soldier’s soul. What is special about this piece is that it involves a narrator, dancers and puppets. Stravinsky understood the times. Some of his other orchestra pieces were not being played because there were so few orchestras. The war had pulled orchestras apart. Stravinsky used a septet to play his new composition. A tiny seven piece orchestra made up of one violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone, and percussion. And, rather than preforming in large concert halls, as they had commonly used, Stravinsky took his show on the road. “A Soldier’s Tale,” was an innovative way to deal with the times that he was in. He found a way to make music and present it to the people. I recently got to see a performance of the “Soldier’s tale.” It was strange to my liking but the best thing I pulled from this was the masterful way Stravinsky adopted, changed and dealt with the circumstances that he was in. He could have sat in his office and cried and cried that there was no orchestra to play his compositions. But in stead, he found a way to deal with his times.

Our verse today is about the woman who came to Simon’s house and anointed the Lord. What she used was very expensive. Rather than keeping it for herself, she used it for the Lord. The disciples complained. They thought it would have been more prudent to sell the perfume and help the poor. They viewed her actions as being wasteful. The Lord defended her. He said, as our verse states, “She has done what she could.” She couldn’t do everything. She couldn’t heal the sick. She couldn’t raise the dead. She couldn’t inspire the Bible. And, she certainly couldn’t die for our sins. One can focus upon all that they cannot do, or they can simply do what they can do. She did what she could.

And, it is that thought, tied in with the example of the Russian composer, Stravinsky, that preachers and churches need to consider today. We are living in unusual times. There is a crisis about us. We can’t assemble. We can’t be together. Our fellowship is strained. We can stay home and cry because no one can come to the church buildings or, like Stravinsky, we can put some thought into different ways to keep the church connected, growing and worshipping the Lord. Stravinsky tried some innovative ways to take the music to the people. For us, we must try some innovative ways to take the word to the people.

Emails and texts are wonderful and easy ways to connect. Shepherds need to be out in the front so the flock can see them. Put messages out weekly that help the flock be encouraged. When we are separate from one another we can stay in touch by messages. The shepherds must still lead the flock. How are the older members doing? Are there things that they need?

Here are a few things we are doing at Charlestown Road:

Jump Starts: Monday-Friday, our devotional blog.

Quick Quotes: Monday-Friday, a pithy quote to help set our thoughts.

Jump Start Rewind: Our Monday podcast

This week at Charlestown Road: Our Wednesday Podcast

Friday Fives: Five simple point reminder about life.

Heaven Bound: Our Friday podcast

This is what we have been doing since January. These things are found on our website, Facebook and other social media outlets. Now, because of the national virus, we are:

1. videotaping adult classes and sending out handouts via email and posting them on our website
2. recording new sermons to be used on Sundays for worship
3. preparing material for parents to use with their children at home

There are many congregations stepping up and doing things like this. This is the time for the spirit of Igor Stravinsky. Maybe you are in a small congregation that does not have these resources or you are in a congregation that does not have the manpower to produce things like this. Connect with some of these other congregations and use their tools to keep you walking with the Lord. Share what you find with others.

This is the first time in American history that brethren can not assemble for a long period of time. Some might check out from the Lord. Fear may get the best of some. Use technology and the tools of today to keep teaching, growing and connecting, first with the Lord and then with one another. Put some thoughts, ideas, and plans into this. Be diligent. This is not the time to slack off. This is not the time for preachers to get lazy. It’s not a time to spend the day watching TV. Get busy Mr. Preacher. Keep writing new sermons. Start a blog. Do some podcasts. Get some videos recorded. There is so much that needs to be done. We are busier now than we ever have been.

We will get through this crisis. We’ll look back and see all kinds of lessons. In trying times, good people rise to the top. Keep the lines of communication open. Talk to those in other congregations to find out what they are doing. We don’t want any to be lost during these times.

She did what she could…are we?

Roger

Jump Start # 1547

Mark 14:8 “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.”

  We have taken a look these past few days at the role of women in the kingdom. We have looked at Biblical principles and patterns and not given thought to the political or social climate of our day. The N.T. came into a culture of it’s own but it was written in such a way to transcend all cultures. The passages that address the citizens role to the government, was first presented in a world which witnessed the powerful Caesars. Democracy, as we know it in America, didn’t exist. Those citizen principles have remained true no matter what the form of government was in power. God’s principles about marriage were first delivered into a world in which homosexuality was common, pagan worship included fornication and where many nobles and political leaders had marriages to bear children but had mistresses or concubines on the side for pleasure. This was the norm. Yet what God said remained the stake in the ground for His people. Today, when the cry is for same-sex marriage, God’s laws do not change. Culture does not shape God’s words.

So, when we look at the subject of women in the kingdom, our look is to what the Biblical record says, not what works today, nor what we think society has advanced to today. Our culture has seen expanding roles for women. Barefoot and pregnant and slaving over the sink doing dishes may have been the image of the 1950’s, but not today. Women head universities, sit on the Supreme Court and one is even running for President of this country. In sociological terms, the role of women has expanded and shifted in the last two generations. It is this thinking that has led some to assume that the role of women in the kingdom ought to be shifting as well. The problem with this is that we fail to understand that God already knew how society would shift and transform and we forget that his word transcends all cultures and times. There is no Biblical guidelines, pattern or principles for shifting roles, whether in leadership, marriage, or in the kingdom. Society can’t be what shapes our thinking. We must stay with God’s word. It has worked all these years and we must have faith that it will continue to work. Removing restrictions, whether upon the role of women in the church, legalizing drugs, accepting same-sex marriage leads us to following the will of a godless and selfish society and not the will of God. Is it fair to say that a single man cannot serve as an elder in God’s kingdom? How about a married man who never fathered any children? Today’s world would include them, to be fair. God’s word restricts them from serving in that capacity. Fairness and what seems right to us, puts us in the position of God. That’s not a safe place for us to be.

Having said all of that, our verse today, taken from the final days of Jesus’ life, records Mary anointing Jesus. The perfume was very costly, over three hundred days wages worth. This wasn’t the every day stuff. This isn’t what one splashed on before going to the market. This was the best stuff. This was saved. This was saved for a wedding night or this was saved for a funeral. Mary used it on Jesus. As she poured it on the Lord, the fragrance filled the room. The disciples, particularly, Judas, chewed her out. Sell it and give the money to the poor, was their thought. Judas was a thief. He kept the money bag. I’m not sure why he had it. It seems logical that Matthew, the money guy, ought to be in charge of it. Logic doesn’t always fit with how God does things.

Jesus came to Mary’s defense. “Let her alone,” He says. Then He says, what she has done will be told wherever the Gospel is taken. In the midst of our Lord’s words, our verse is found. “She has done what she could.”

That’s the best thing that could be said of any of us. Interestingly, none of the apostles were anointing Jesus. They stood around and complained. She wasn’t told to do this. She just did it. She didn’t do everything, she did what she could. Jesus, honored by her, didn’t appoint her as an apostle on the spot. She did what she could, and her position remained the same. She did what she could, because it was the right thing to do.

We could list all the things that she could not do. She could not preach as the apostles did. She was not inspired with the Holy Spirit as the apostles were. She did not write any inspired books of the Bible as the apostles did. She did not raise the dead as some of the apostles did. She did not see Jesus transformed as three of the apostles did. This is what we so often do. We sit around thinking about all the things we cannot do and then we begin the pity party. Woe are we, we sing, because we aren’t allowed to do this or that. Instead, Mary did what she could do. We don’t find Mary saying, “I wish I could be one of the apostles.” We don’t fine Mary saying, “Can I do a miracle?” Rather, she did what she could do.

Do you think that spirit of Mary would help us? Instead of focusing upon what we cannot do or what we are not allowed to do, why don’t we do what we can. This is true of women. This is true of all of us. The role of women in the Kingdom is powerful. Women ought not to feel that they are under the thumbs of men. They ought not to feel second-rate in the kingdom. It could well be that many men in the kingdom need to apologize and do some serious repenting for their attitudes and words towards God’s daughters. And that’s exactly what women are in the kingdom, the daughters of God. Men ought to be careful what they say about God’s daughters. They stir the anger and the wrath of God up, they will be in trouble.

Women do not preach publically on Sunday mornings in the church house. Not God’s daughters, at least. And, yes, there is more that they can do other than dust the pews and make communion bread. The voice of encouragement, the spreading of the Gospel, the power prayers of a devoted follower, the supporter of the Gospel are many of the things that women have done for generations. It is our times that have made many feel suppressed and useless. Hospitality still works. Do it. Teaching people like Apollos still works. Do it. Being a Phoebe, who was useful to the apostles, still works. Do it. Being a Dorcus, who made things for others, still works. Do it. Being a Mary, who did what she could, still works. Do it. Instead of complaining what can’t be done, find what can and do it. Be that sparkplug for the congregation. Bring sunshine to the place. Don’t  nag because others aren’t doing anything. Don’t complain. Mary didn’t say, “Lord, why isn’t Peter doing anything.” She didn’t say that. She did what she could.

That is what we all must do. If that happened, it would bring life to a congregation and it might get some tired and lazy elders finally doing what they ought to be doing. Don’t be discouraged when the Judas’ in life complain. Make sure what you are doing is Biblical and right, then do what you can do.

Daughters of Heaven, that’s the role of women in God’s kingdom. Royalty without an attitude. Not too good to get busy doing things. Not pampered and spoiled, but rather, doing what they can, where they can. That’s God’s people everywhere.

Roger

Jump Start # 599

Mark 14:8 “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for burial.”

I want to share with you a story that I heard recently. It is a story about two Christians. It illustrates the thought in our passage for today. These two Christians happened to worship at the same congregation and work at the same plant. One was a woman, the other a man. The man was an electrician. The woman had the role of a supervisor. The woman was truly committed to the Lord and loved to worship God. The man was not to that level yet.  Sometimes he skipped services when he could have gone. He loved God, but he just did not see the need to go all the time. It happened, that whenever the man missed a service, the woman supervisor would call for an electrician to come over to her section of the plant. She requested him. She found some work for him to do and would very kindly and gently say to him, “I missed you at church last night.” He would mumble some excuse and go back to his work. This happened often. On one occasion, she said, “We had a great worship service last night. I wish you and your family could have been there.” He mumbled that he was tired and didn’t feel like going. The plant where they worked together was noisy. There were a lot of machines running. When the man stated that he was tired, the woman, turned her machine off. It got very quiet. She turned her chair around and looked at him and said, “Do you think Jesus was tired when He died for you?” The man had nothing to say. Tears came to his eyes. That thought changed him. He went home and declared to his family that from that day forward they would not miss a church service. He realized that he had not be as dedicated as he should have been.

What’s so amazing about this story is that the woman didn’t threaten the man, get in his face, use guilt, or rip him up one side and down the other. She was patient, kind and showed real concern and love. She wanted him to experience what she had found in praise and worship of God.

The man in this story is the one who told me this. Today, he serves as a shepherd in the church he attends.

Our passage is about a woman who anointed Jesus before His death. The disciples, especially, Judas, gave her a hard time about being so wasteful. The perfume she was using was very expensive. It was not the everyday stuff. Often it was saved for one’s wedding or funeral. She used it for the Lord. The room filled with the smell of that perfume. The disciples burned with anger. Jesus, as we see so often in the Scriptures, didn’t run to the disciples side and defend them. They were wrong. He stood with what was right. He defended this woman.

It is here where we find that great statement, “She did what she could.” That’s awesome! That says it all. She did what she could do. She didn’t do everything – she couldn’t. She didn’t die on the cross – she couldn’t. It wouldn’t save us, if she had. She didn’t walk on water. She didn’t travel the world preaching the word. She gave her best perfume for the Lord. That’s what she could do and she did it.

She did it in such a way that it honored the Lord. A person can do something, but the way they do it can be offensive, rude and hurtful. I’ve witnessed some trying to “straighten” out another. The way that did it was mean and ugly. Sure they had verses on their side, but they rammed them down so hard it destroyed the person’s spirit. There is a lesson there. God’s word will do the cutting. It is powerful enough. We can’t make it any stronger than what it already is. Be firm. Stand your ground. Stand with God, but be kind. Speak the truth in love. Remember the golden rule. How would you want someone to talk to you? All that we do ought to honor God. It seems sometimes that those standing in the wrong can have a better spirit than those who are standing in the right. Truth with the wrong attitude is not a good nor successful combination. She honored Jesus.

She did what she could even though others tried to stop her. You’ll always find folks wanting to hit the breaks when it comes to doing good things. They’ll complain that no one else is doing anything, so they won’t. They’ll say it costs too much to do good. They find this excuse or that excuse. Not the woman in our passage. Sure it cost a lot for that perfume. Also, no one else was anointing Jesus. That could have been embarrassing. She was the only one. Also, the disciples were telling her to quit. She didn’t. She did what she could. It is better to error on the side of doing too much than doing too little. It is better to be too generous than too stingy. It is better to be too merciful than to be too unforgiving. There will always be some who try to stop you from doing good. Don’t listen to them, do the good.

One final thought here, she did what she could. She did it to the best of her abilities. Are we doing that? Are we doing what we could? Are you doing what you could? Could you teach a Bible class? Don’t feel like it. Getting too old. Let someone else do it. Had the woman in our passage thought that way, Jesus would not have been anointed. Everyone in that room could have anointed Jesus, but no one did, but this woman. See the point? Many can teach, but will they? Many can preach? But do they? Many are qualified to serve as elders? Will they? Do what you can do. Don’t focus upon what you can’t do or what others are doing or not doing, just do what you can. Do it well. Do it in such a way that it honors God. Do it not to get praise back, but to help others. Learn to do what you are capable of doing. Give it 100%. Grow your talent.

We started this Jump Start with a story about two Christians who happened to go to the same church and happened to work at the same company. One did what she could do. It made a difference. She changed the spiritual legacy of a family and many are being led to righteousness by his kind man’s devotion to Christ. When he told me this story, his story, all these years later, he stopped, bowed his head, and tears came to his eyes. He realized that the kindness of one person, led him to soar high with Jesus Christ. Someone believed in him. Someone cared for him. Someone did what she could do.

It sure makes us think about the people we know. Maybe we all ought to start doing what we can do. It begins with Jesus – who gave His all. He gave it for you!

Roger

Jump Start # 507 

Mark 14:8 ”She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.” 

  This chapter begins with the Jews planning to kill Jesus. They had enough of Him. Jesus was in Bethany, at Simon’s house. A woman came bringing very costly perfume, most likely saving this for her own wedding or burial, whichever came first. She used the perfume to anoint Jesus. She was honoring Him. The disciples complained. They estimated that the perfume was worth a year’s wages. Their thought, sell the perfume and give the money to the poor. Their comments and lack of compassion for what she was doing made her feel guilty. Jesus defended her.

  Jesus states three things.

1. She has done a good deed for me

2. She has done what she could

3. Wherever the gospel goes, this story will be told

  She did what she could. What a great statement. She didn’t do everything, but she did what she could. We can learn from this example.

  Often, we feel like we have to do the impossible. We get overwhelmed and frustrated and burdened with guilt because we couldn’t do it all. No one can. You can only do what you can do. No one can be everywhere. No one can read the minds and the thoughts and know exactly what others need. No one person can do it all in the congregation. God knew that. There are teachers and there are students. There are shepherds and there are sheep. The makeup of a congregation is like a team. We help each other. No one player can do it all. He needs everyone around him to help. If everyone did what they could, much would get done.

  What the woman did in the story doesn’t seem all that great. She didn’t heal anyone. She didn’t preach the message. She didn’t walk on water. All she did was pour perfume on Jesus. Often some may not understand the value of what one does. The disciples didn’t. They complained instead of complimenting. They heaped guilt instead of praise. They made her feel bad for something that was good. That happens sometimes. Shame on us when we do that. Not everyone is going to do what we do. Not everyone is going to do what we think they should. If they only do what they can do, isn’t that something to note and praise?

  This woman sacrificed greatly. If the apostles were right, this perfume was very costly, “over three hundred denarii.” One denarii is what a common laborer got at the end of a day. That’s how much the workers got paid in the parable of the vineyard—one denarii. Perfume costing 300 denarii, was a year’s worth of wages. I don’t know about you, but we certainly do not have any perfume in our house that cost a year’s salary. Most of the people that followed Jesus were simple, common people. I expect she was the same. It would have taken her a long time to get that perfume—possibly an inheritance.

  This woman used something very special. This perfume wasn’t the everyday stuff that you’d splash on as you head out the door—it was too costly for that. It would have been saved for special occasions –very special. For her, this was a special occasion. She didn’t bring some of the perfume, she brought it all. She gave it all to the Lord.

  This woman understood that Jesus was to die. She didn’t bring this because she thought Jesus smelled and this would help Him out. She understood the nature of what was going on. The disciples didn’t. They lived in denial land. Generally, a body was perfumed after death. The common folks did not embalm. Burial was immediate and the body was washed, and layered with spices and perfume. Nicodemus did that for Jesus after the crucifixion. She is doing this ahead of time. It shows her love, faith and dedication to the Lord.

  She did what she could. What she did was amazing. I don’t read of any of the apostles giving anything that costly to the Lord. If you and I could only catch her spirit and do what we could do—wouldn’t that be amazing. We talk ourselves out of it. We fear what others might say. She just did what she could do.

  As we end this year, could you say that? Could you say that ‘you did what you could do,’ or do you think that you should have and could have done more? Were there things that you didn’t do because you were just too busy? Were there things that you just didn’t feel like doing, so you didn’t? She did what she could.

  What could you do? Could you invite someone to services? Could you serve as an elder? Could you preach? Could you send Jump Starts to someone else? Could you help a widow in the neighborhood? Could you give someone a ride to church services? Could you give more?

  She did what she could. What she did was amazing. Jesus noticed. Heaven recorded it. And today, we remember it. I expect she wasn’t interested in all that attention. She was only doing what she could.

  This coming year, how about doing what you could? Think you could do that? Jesus will notice…He always does.

Roger