15

Jump Start # 3970

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3970

 

Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

 

John Newton is the one who gave us the wonderful hymn, Amazing Grace. There are books and even a movie about the spiritual journey that slave trader Newton traveled to come to understand the grace of God. The hymn opens with the interesting line, “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound.” Have you every just allowed your mind to think about that expression? What is the sound of grace? What does grace sound like? It was a sweet sound to John Newton’s heart.

 

First, grace is a sound that doesn’t make sense. Romans 5:8 says, “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”  While we were at our worst, God sent the best. While we were impure, God sent the pure. While we were wrong, the right came. At the worst possible time, the best came.

 

Grace is not getting off because of good behavior. Grace isn’t a pardon after we have paid back all the damage we have caused. Grace isn’t fair. It isn’t right. It doesn’t make sense. Grace is illustrated in the story of the prodigal. The broke, embarrassed and wasteful prodigal should have gotten an earful from his father. He didn’t. He deserved to be sent to the barn or worse, kicked out. He wasn’t. He ought to be forced to pay back all that he spent. He wasn’t. Instead, there was a celebration. There was a feast with music and dancing. None of that made sense to the judgmental older brother. It doesn’t make sense to us. We live by the understanding “if you do the crime, you do the time.” That doesn’t happen when grace is in the air.

 

Second, grace is the sound of acceptance. Grace is how God demonstrates His love. Unconditional and undeserved love. Grace is the tears of joy trickling down our cheeks. Grace is deep felt bear hugs. Grace is smiles on faces. Grace is joy in hearts. Grace is a plate at the table and a chair with the family. Grace is forgiveness and apologies. Grace is second chances. Grace is the voice that says “I still believe in you.”

 

Third, grace is the sound of God’s people. Mark Twain once wrote, “Some church people are being good in the worst sense of the word.” Some want the prodigals in our lives to come crawling and begging while we hold council to decide if that is enough to satisfy us. In the prodigal story, the wayward son didn’t even get to finish his apology to his father. The rejoicing father interrupted him and ordered the best to be brought to this broken boy. Sandals on feet that were likely barefoot and dirty. A robe to cover the torn and ragged clothes he likely wore. A ring to be placed on his dirty hands. Food for his empty belly. But, the greatest gift was the tears, hugs and kisses from his father. He wasn’t a servant. He wasn’t cast out. He was invited in. After all that he had done, he was welcomed home.

 

A person walks in the church building on a Sunday morning. They have not walked through those doors in years. People stare. Someone says loud enough for all to hear, “What are you doing here?” Someone else says, “Where have you been all this time?” Immediately, the heart of this prodigal is crushed. He realizes that this was a mistake. He was hoping for the best. He was looking for grace and all he received was cold stares, hundreds of questions and the obvious feeling that you do not belong here. He leaves telling himself what a mistake this was and the resolute mind that he will never come back again. SHAME ON US! May God forgive us!

 

Instead, the sound of grace sees that person walking in. With arms opened wide, big smiles, and hearts swelling with joy, the prodigal is embraced. “Come sit with me,” is the invitation. “Can we go out to eat afterwards? It’s on me.” “I’ve missed you.” “I’ve prayed for this day.” “I’m so happy you are here.” The sound of grace. It is the sound of love. It is the sound of forgiveness. It is the sound of acceptance. It is the sound that reaches Heaven. It is the sound that we want to hear if it had been us. It is the sound of angels rejoicing. It is the sound of salvation ringing true.

 

How sweet the sound—what an amazing lyric. What an amazing expression. What an amazing grace. What an amazing God. Some have not heard that sound in a long, long time. Some have forgotten what that sound sounds like. May that precious sound of grace always ring true within our hearts. May we step out of the shadows of the older brother in Luke 15, and with our Father, embrace those who want to come home to God.

 

What a sweet, sweet sound.

 

Roger

 

12

Jump Start # 3969

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3969

 

Luke 22:54 “Having arrested Him, they led Him away and brought Him to the house of the high priest; but Peter was following at a distance.”

 

In our study of the gospels, we often teach and preach about the temptations of Jesus. Another great lesson for us to consider is the temptation of others. Our verse leads into the temptation of Peter. Earlier in the chapter, Satan sought permission to sift Peter like wheat. That very thought is fascinating. It shows that Satan is subject to Christ. Satan cannot do whatever he wants. Without permission from the Lord, Peter would not have been touched.

 

There are a series of crucial steps that led to Peter’s troubles. He would be sifted. He would deny the Lord. He would deny the Lord even after Jesus told him in advance what was going to happen.

 

Peter followed at a distance (Lk 22:54). That is the first mistake many make. The follow, but at a distance. They convince themselves that at least they are following. Most don’t. However, being too far from Jesus to do any good, they keep the Lord barely in sight. That’s enough to calm a guilty conscience. But between you and Jesus, many things pop up. And, it’s those things that grab our attention. You need to follow Jesus. You need to follow Jesus so closely that you could reach out and touch Him. I’ve been in massive crowds as everyone is trying to exit at the same time. Ball games, concerts and things like that, and you are trying to stay with your group, but it’s hard. People cut in front of you. Some are going the wrong direction. And, just like that, you are separated from your group. Peter followed at a distance. Mistake number one.

 

Peter sat among the enemy (Lk 22:55). Peter was sitting among “them,” the text tells us. Peter wasn’t one of “them,” but his presence there would make some question that. This temptation for Peter wasn’t moral. It didn’t involve greed. No alcohol was present. He was simply being accused of being one of Jesus’ disciples. He was among the crowd but he wasn’t one of the crowd. He didn’t fit in, belong there, nor have any business there.

 

The trouble we get ourselves in happens when we are where we don’t belong. The language, the clothing, the attitudes, the behavior are all things that would make the righteous blush. What are we doing there? Noting good will come from that. Sitting among the enemy. Mistake number two.

 

Peter was alone. The servant girl looked intently at him. She recognized that he was different (Lk 22:56). When others are bowing to the idols of the day, you will be looked at because you remain standing. You will be looked at when you don’t laugh along with everyone else when inappropriate things are said. Peter didn’t have anyone with him to encourage him. He had no one to help him. Alone spiritually is a dangerous place to be. The lion rarely jumps into a herd of antelope. He waits. He waits and waits until one isn’t paying attention and the herd shifts. Alone, the antelope is vulnerable. Alone he is not very courageous. There is strength in numbers. There is power in a fellowship. Peter was alone. Mistake number three.

 

Peter stayed there. “A little later,” verse 58 begins. Then, “after about an hour had passed by” verse 59 begins. Peter is still there. Still with the enemy. Still being accused. Still alone. The longer he stays the worse things become. And, it’s the same for us. Leave that office party that isn’t going well. Leave that movie that is attacking your faith. Leave the conversation that is becoming hostile. But, we don’t. We stay. Another hour. Then another hour. How long will we allow our faith to take hits from the enemy? Peter stayed. Mistake number four.

 

This dark chapter ends with Peter crying. He knew. He had failed the Lord. He had failed himself. But, this wasn’t the end. Out of the depth of mistakes, Peter climbs back with a powerful faith, a lesson learned and a heart that understands and can help others. The Lord didn’t give up on Peter. Our God is a God of second chances.

 

Temptations often come in a series of steps. Choices are made along the way. May we learn. May we do better.

 

Roger

 

11

Jump Start # 3968

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start—# 3968

 

Galatians 5:15 “But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.”

 

  Throwback Thursday—an article written from the past

 

Feuding Neighbors

 

Hello again from the folks down here at the Country church. Things have been mighty slow as of late. Most of the crops are in and we’re fixing to take things real easy for a spell.

 

Bro. Williams, from Hobbs Hill, has been coming to speak to us all this month. Talk was made at the monthly business meeting to get a real preacher, but most of us think that we’re doing fairly well as it is. We got our new baptistery put in (You’ll remember that it was bro. Jennings who paid for the whole thing because of the snake and all). We had a little problem fitting it in but we finally made it and the folks here are real proud of it.

 

The big news down this way is about our neighbors. About two Thursdays past, the Methodist meeting house burned down. There wasn’t a thing that could be saved. Some were saying it was a sign from Heaven. Well, anyway, the Baptist people, being the kind of people that they are, offered the Methodists to come and use their building on Sunday afternoons. It’s the Baptist church down near Martha Edwards place. Well, this all set pretty well with the Methodist folks, since they only meet once a week any how. Things were going well for a week or so until someone wanted to join the Methodist church. Actually, he thought he was joining the Baptists since it was their building. Somebody forgot to tell him that from 1:30-2:30, the Baptist church becomes a Methodist church. I reckon he couldn’t tell the difference. Well, the Methodist got him and they wouldn’t let the Baptist have him.

 

Things kinda got into a pickle between the Baptist people and the Methodist people. One day, over at Conner’s Feed Mart, the Methodist preacher and the Baptist preacher got into a shouting match. The Methodist preacher threatened to find a new place to worship until their new building is finished. This bothered the Baptist preacher, cause they were receiving real good rent money from the Methodists. I know this for a fact, because my cousin, Wilbur Thomas, does the books for the Baptists.

 

Well, it was decided right there in Conner’s Feed Mart, that the Baptists and the Methodists would meet on Sunday afternoon and talk things out. The Methodists said that they weren’t going to pay any rent for that meeting since the Baptists were going to be there. At this big meeting, the Baptists claimed a Baptist can’t be a Methodist. And, if God made him a Baptist, then he has to belong to the Baptists. The Methodist preacher claimed he couldn’t see why it mattered since everyone is going to Heaven anyhow. A lot of arguments were made one way and then the other. The preachers questioned the candidate as to whether he was a Baptist or a Methodist. Nothing seemed to be solved until ole’ Johnny Smitters, who was a pillar in the Methodist church, stood up and claimed that he has always been a Baptist at heart. He up and joined the Baptists right then and there. The Baptists were rejoicing so to get one like Johnny, that they told the Methodists that they could keep the other fella.

 

Well, we all thought the fussing and feuding was finally over until it was revealed that Johnny Smitters owned the land that the Methodist were building their new building on. Some said that he’ll just give them the lot. Others think that he may charge them to rent. We’ll have to wait and see.

 

One thing is sure, with all this fighting among all them preachers, it made a lot of us glad that we don’t have a preacher here.

 

Roger

December, 1991

 

10

Jump Start # 3967

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3967

 

Matthew 10:27 “As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David!’”

 

It is a common call for help that is found throughout  the Gospels. Have mercy on me, is the plea. Those that cried that were hurting. They were not looking for grace in the form of forgiveness, but rather, the miraculous healing power of Jesus. The Canaanite woman cried out to Jesus to have mercy on her demon possessed daughter (Mt 15:22). The father, whose son, fell into fire and then into water, pleaded with Jesus to have mercy (Mt 17:15). Our verse today, is yet another example. “Have mercy on us,” the blind men cried. These people were desperate, hopeless and helpless. The tender heart of Jesus always responded to helping them.

 

All about us are people who are hurting. You see the pain in their faces. For some, it’s physically. Others, it’s emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. There are three initial things we recognize about people in pain.

 

First, pain tends to bring out the worst behavior. They are worn out. They are scared. They are cranky. Sometimes they lash out in anger because nothing is improving.

 

Second, those in pain are good at wearing masks to hide how things are going. They may be embarrassed. They are private. They think no one will understand and no one will care.

 

Third, whether they openly admit it or not, people in pain need help. They need help about the house. They need help physically. They need rides. They need help with insurance forms. They need help getting to services. But many times they will never ask for help.

 

What a difference you can make in their lives. You can be just what Heaven ordered. Your kindness, your attention to details and your love for the Lord can be the balm that makes all the difference. Here are some common suggestions to help you help others:

 

First. Use your words carefully and listen more than talk. Don’t make promises that you cannot keep. Don’t state things that you do not know (“I just know you’ll get better.” Really?). Don’t come with 40 questions for them to answer. Many times the person hurting may not want to talk. Just sit with them. Find something useful to do. Remember, every person has things in a certain way in their house. It may not be the way you like it or the way you think is best, respect the person and how they have things.

 

Second, pray with the person. If they are feeling bad, keep your prayer short and to the point. Keep your suggestions few. This is not the time or the place to say, “I told you so,” or, point your finger in blame. Support, mercy, love is the need of the hour.

 

Third, be a blessing and an encouragement to the person in pain. You can be the chicken soup to the heart and the warm comforter to the soul that keeps the person going. Keep your visit short. Don’t talk about yourself and be careful with suggestions as to what they ought to do. Just be the rock and anchor that they need.

 

Have mercy on us…they knew who to ask. They knew what Jesus could do. They knew the Lord was their only hope. Pain hurts in all seasons of life. Pain doesn’t go away quickly. The scars often remain long after the pain has left.

 

God has allowed us to be His instruments of mercy for others. Kindness and service go a long way in healing broken hearts. The holidays can be especially hard on those who are hurting. You be the blessing for them.

 

Roger

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

09

Jump Start # 3966

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 3966

 

3 John 9 “I wrote something to the church; but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, does not accept what we say.”

 

The little book of third John is less than 300 words. It is made up of fifteen verses and twenty sentences. Yet, in these few brief words, John introduces us to three different people: Gaius (1); Diotrephes (9); Demetrius (12). Two of the three, Gaius and Demetrius, were doing well. They were commended by the apostle. But ole’ Diotrephes was causing trouble. He gets three of these fifteen verses. He refused to accept what an apostle wrote. He refused to accept people that John sent. He wickedly accused John of evil things. He had a strangled hold on that church. It was his way or no way. John was coming and it wasn’t going to end well for Diotrephes.

 

Pride, jealousy, misunderstanding Biblical authority are just a few of the issues that Diotrephes had. His problems created problems in the church. And, what a lesson for all of us to see:

 

First, one person or one family can change the spirit, direction and attitude of a congregation. Get some busy disciples move in and before long, the whole church seems busier than it had ever been. The culture can change because of the godly influence of just one person or one family. But, the opposite can just as easily happen. Get a Diotrephes moving in and a church that once was at peace is now all upset. Gossip fills the air. People are pitted against each other. The leadership is questioned. Suspicion leads to accusations.

 

Shepherds need to think about who is allowed to place membership. Look at a person’s past relationships with congregations. Has that person bounced around a lot and left places a mess? In some cases, it is good to tell a person to go back where they are leaving and work things out there. Rather than jumping ship over and over, learn to be a team player. Learn to forgive. Learn to accept that not everyone sees things the way that I do.

 

Some places are so eager to accept a person, that very little thought is given to the attitude of that person. Some come with an agenda of changing a place. Some come and they want to run the place. So some questions are in order. Some vetting needs to take place. Some phone calls may be necessary. The peace and unity of a congregation can flip over night because of one person.

 

Second, we must look at ourselves when we move from one congregation to another congregation. You can’t turn the new place into what you have left. People, circumstances, opportunities are unique to each congregation. After ten years in Kansas City I moved to where I am now in New Albany, IN. I remember those first few meetings with the shepherds. I’d say, “Back in Kansas City, we’d do it this way.” Or, “In Kansas City we tried this and it was great.” Before long it struck me that if I keep saying, “Back in Kansas City,” they might just put me on bus headed to Kansas City. Each place, like each home, carries the personality of the people there. Keep that in mind. It’s easy to want to take charge and fix things that do not need fixing.

 

Third, Diotrephes got in the position that he was in because the people there allowed it. Maybe they are afraid of him. Maybe he was threatening, intimidating and loud. But he was out of control, doing evil and hurting the kingdom of God. For eternity his name is known as a trouble maker in the kingdom. Standing up to a Diotrephes is hard. It takes a mountain of faith and courage. It’s not about who is in charge and who is right. It’s about the Lord’s way. There comes a time for Bibles to be opened and the call to follow the Scriptures or else be made. The “or else” may lead to marking and even practicing discipline. The “or else” sometimes results in others leaving who are under the spell of a Diotrephes. As unpleasant and difficult as this is, it is much worse to live in fear and allow someone to take the helm of the congregation and steer it away from the Lord.

 

Gaius is the beloved. Demetrius has a good testimony from everyone. And, then there is Diotrephes. He caused trouble because he is a troubled disciple. Which are you? Which one would others say you are?

 

Short letter, but powerful in message.

 

Roger