14

Jump Start # 4049

Posted on April 14, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4054

 

Proverbs 18:17 The first to plead his case seems right, until another comes and examines him.

 

One has to love how plain, practical and timeless the Proverbs are. Although very ancient when written, they come to us as if the ink is still fresh upon the page. And, once again, as in so many of the powerful Proverbs we find a contrast. Two people, “the first,” and then “another,” as well as two stories, the first story and then the different story after an examination.

 

Most of the modern English translations place the word “until” between the contrasting stories. At first, based on what the first person said, it seemed right. UNTIL, another comes. The story then changed. It changed based upon examination. The KJV states it this way: “…but his neighbor cometh and searcheth him.” Things changed with the “UNTIL.” The facts showed that what seemed right wasn’t. The examination made all the difference.

 

Immediately, we see this verse in so many settings. A person is pulled over by the police. He pleads his case and concocts a story that is going to remove any guilt. It seems right, just like our verse says, until the police do a little digging around and investigating, and the story doesn’t hold up. The person is given a ticket or worse, he is taken away in handcuffs. He is not innocent, even though he said he was.

 

Mom and dad are downstairs watching a movie. The kids are upstairs. A loud crash is heard. The parents rush upstairs, open the bedroom door, and a lamp lies smashed on the floor. “What happened,” the parents declare. The eyes of the kids shift back and forth until one points to the little brother. Somehow the little brother is always the first blamed. Before the parents lower the boom on the little guy, they ask more questions. They examine the situation and find out “the first to plead his case seems right, “ but he isn’t. Not only did the big kids break the lamp, but they put the blame on the little brother who was innocent.

 

A couple sits down with the shepherds in the church. Their marriage has been ugly for a long time. It’s headed for a divorce. When the shepherds ask what’s going on, “the first to plead his case seems right.” Doing a little examining, the elders find out that the first to plead his case wasn’t right.

 

What are some things we need to remember about this passage?

 

First, just because someone paints a great picture of how wrong everyone else is, and how they have been mistreated, doesn’t mean that is what really happened. The saying, “there are two sides to every story,” seems to be a good understanding of this passage.

 

Why would the first present an image that seems right? Especially, when upon examination, he wasn’t right. A person does that to make themselves look good. A person does that hoping that no one will examine the story. One does that because they are looking for support, sympathy and people that will defend him, even though his story is not true.

 

I’ve known a preacher who told me that he was fired because of something his daughter did. That really seemed odd to me. I knew the church he was talking about. When I ask a few, I found out he was never fired. He left on his own. We can carry the badge of a victim and present ourselves as martyrs to make ourselves look good. That sure seems to be a problem of self image and hiding behind what really happened.  It’s best to be open and honest, even if it means admitting that we made some dumb choices.

 

Second, your story better be right when you tell it because there is always someone who will examine what was said. Fact-checking is what we call it these days. The first person in our verse now looks like a dishonest person. He made himself look right, but he wasn’t. He said things that weren’t true. He must have hoped that people would believe him just because he said it. When a person loses his job, oh the things he will say to make it look like it was the company’s fault.

 

Rather than pleading your case to look right, just be right. Be honest in your words. Everyone feels sorry for the victim. Taken advantage of. No one to plead his case to. No one who seems to care. The tears roll. But in our passage, there was no victim. The first person didn’t get the facts right. He twisted the story to his advantage. He made himself look good, when he wasn’t good.

 

I wonder how few preachers really know this passage. I’ve heard of so many being let go because they were lazy, dishonest or immoral. Instead of repenting, they find another congregation that takes them in without checking the details. He comes in with a sad story of how unfair and wrong the last church was. Yet, within a few months, the new place learns that it was not the church that was a mess, but the preacher. He had told them a good story about how right he was.

 

Third, much too often, the person who did the examining is made out to be the bad guy. The facts were revealed. The truth was made known. What the first person was saying, wasn’t true. Yet, he has a following, and they turn on the one who simply examined and checked the details. What was being said didn’t add up. Things were missing. Things were inconsistent. Parts of the story were left out. Only one side of the story was revealed.

 

Immediately, the one who brought the facts to the surface, is branded as a trouble-maker and emotional and verbal attacks are made upon him. All he did was check the story out. And, in doing this, what was being said wasn’t true. But, the first person who had pleaded that he was right is carried through the air as the victim and honored for all the hardship he had endured. There just wasn’t any hardship. It was all made up. And, in time, when the truth is realized, the first person is cast aside as being dishonest and untrustworthy.

 

So, what should we take away from this passage?

  • Don’t be so quick to plead your innocence. Let the facts come forth.
  • Don’t be so arrogant that you cannot admit and confess that you were wrong.
  • Don’t attack the person who just wants to get to the bottom of the story. That person is seeking the truth. He is not trying to disprove the first person. He is willing to let the evidence speak for itself.

 

These are lessons needed in the home. These are lessons needed among brethren. Just because you say something doesn’t mean it’s right. And, let us never forget, the Lord knows. The Lord knows hearts. The Lord knows motives. The Lord knows things that we many never see.

 

The first man was right UNTIL another came along.

 

Roger

 

13

Jump Start # 4053

Posted on April 13, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4053

 

Matthew 10:42 “And whoever in the name of a disciple gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water to drink, truly I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.”

 

I’ve been doing a lot of driving back and forth to Indy lately. Taking things from one house to another house as we begin the process of moving. Often I play my Spotify songs as I drive. An ad came on while I was listening the other day. It began, “I’m twenty-eight years old and what have I to show for my life? A few Tupperware bowls with lids that do not match?” The ad was about finding mental health counselors. Mental health issues seem to be skyrocketing. One out of every seven prescriptions is for anti-depressant medication.

 

What grabbed my attention was that opening question, “What have I to show for my life?” This is something that not only twenty-eight year olds may ask, but those in their forties, fifties and sixties as well.  What have I to show for my life? God has granted us all these years. What have I done with them?

 

Some would answer this question by the degrees hanging on their walls, the cars in their garages, and the numbers in their bank accounts. This is what I have done, they would proudly declare. Others, would get out the photos and show you pictures of their kids and grandkids. This is what I have done, they would say with a smile. An author would point to his books. The artist to his painting. The architect to his buildings. The farmer to his fields and barns. Some would point to what they have collected through the years. Stamps. Coins. Autographs.

 

What have I to show for my life? Some, like the direction of the Spotify ad, would feel like they haven’t done much. When looking at others, some would feel like they have sat on the sidelines of life most of the time.

 

What have I to show for my life? Let’s look at this through the eyes of a disciple.

 

First, to whom am I showing what my life is like? That needs to be asked first. Am I interested in getting a “wow” from others when I drive my car? Am I seeking the praise and applause of others? If that is my direction and intention, then in essence I am allowing others to determine my worth and my value. We preachers, if not careful, can be more concerned about hearing “good sermon,” from the members than have we preached the truth of God’s word.

 

What I value may not be what others value. They may think I’ve wasted my time, my life and my talents. They may think that. Some may even say that. The disciple knows better.

 

Second, if I am counting the stuff I own to answer the question, “What have I to show for my life,” then I’ve lowered my standards about as low as they can get. Stuff is just that, stuff. It doesn’t make you a better person. It doesn’t mean you have a character that matters. If we measure stuff to show what is my life, then the hoarders among us, ought to have the best life.

 

Third, what counts is walking with the Lord and making a difference by encouraging others. This is something of value that you have done with your life. It’s not about self, what I have and who I am, but rather being an instrument of God for the wellbeing of others. Being a backbone in the congregation. Being faithful, dedicated and consistent. Being ready to jump in where you can to teach, to take food, to give a ride, to encourage. That’s what you have to show for your life. You may not receive a “thank you. “ Others may not know what you have done. But, the Lord knows.

 

That cup of cold water, from our verse today, not only helped a thirsty disciple, it was noticed by Heaven. What have I to show for my life? I gave someone a cup of cold water. I can sit with a family in the surgery waiting room. I can mail a get well card. I can pick up the phone and let someone know that I was thinking about them.

 

Now, will they place historical markers because of those things? No. Will they name streets after you because of that? Nope. Will anyone notice? Probably not. But your life has been spent walking with the Lord and helping others.

 

On my road trips, I’ve heard that Spotify ad a few times. I find myself answering the question, “What have I to show for my life?” It isn’t Tupperware. It isn’t just thinking about yourself. Get up and do something for someone. Get up and honor the Lord. Get up and get going.

 

You are valuable because God chose to pay the cost to save you. Now, what have you to show with your life? Begin there…

 

Roger

 

10

Jump Start # 4052

Posted on April 10, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4052

 

2 Timothy 4:5 “But you be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

 

In the early to mid 1800s, the fire of reform and restoration was burning widely across the Ohio Valley. Whole congregations were turning away from centuries old creeds and dogmas and following the New Testament as the only pattern for worship. Denominational names were being dropped and congregations governed by shepherds, partaking of the Lord’s Supper every Sunday and teaching immersion as the means to contact the blood of Christ, sprung up everywhere. In school houses, under trees and in open fields the Gospel true message was being preached. Historically, this is known as “The Second Great Awakening.”

 

However, the old religious practices that were dear to so many were held tightly by denominational preachers. They fought against the restoration. Debates were held. Ugly things were said. Many were losing control of their congregations and losing their positions and jobs.

 

In 1842, John T. Johnson, one of the early restoration preachers, wrote a letter to Alexander Campbell’s Millennial Harbinger. In that letter, Johnson said, “Were it not for the preachers, Christians would unite upon the Bible alone in less than a year, in my judgment.”

 

Were it not for the preachers…

 

What a sad statement. Those who ought to help people more than anyone else in seeing the truths of God’s word, were the very ones standing in the way. They had closed their eyes to the truth and their minds to reason. They held on to their dead creeds until there was nothing left for them.

 

Yet, that statement, ‘were it not for the preachers,’ is something that we ought to consider as well.

 

I wonder:

 

  1. Were it not for the preachers, would more really study the Bible these days? Have we gotten into the comfortable habit of allowing our preachers to tell us what to believe. They spend the day studying. They know words that we do not know. They tell us and so we believe. Being spoon fed is necessary for babies, but the mature needs to feed themselves. This is a dangerous practice and it allows error to come in unnoticed.

 

The Bereans searched the Scriptures daily to see if what they were hearing was true (Acts 17:11). Who were they checking out and considering? It was Paul. It was an apostle. They wouldn’t just take his word as truth. They needed to know themselves.

 

Are you still bringing your Bible to worship? Are you still using a pen to take notes, underline things and to do more thinking on later? Our preachers can help us so much, but they can’t tell us what to believe. Shepherds are to be able to teach, feeding the flock. This means that they need to know the word. Parents need to know the word.

 

  1. Were it not for preachers, would we be more active? Have we assumed visiting the hospital, making phone calls to check on people falls under the descriptive work that preachers are to do? And, since they do that, we don’t have to. We are paying them to do these things. And, as long as they do them, all is fine. We need the preacher at the surgery waiting room. Why? In all the years, I’ve never had a surgeon consult with me about what he was going to do. The comfort and assurance to a worried family comes from the Scriptures and being brethren, not because one is a preacher. This is something all can do.

 

  1. Were it not for preachers, would many problems not be problems at all. Sometimes we preachers bring up things that no one is thinking about, answering questions that no one is asking and because we have heard of something in one corner of the kingdom, we introduce that into another corner. The age of “brotherhood papers” is a thing of the past and maybe that’s good. Most of the articles were written by preachers. Most of the stirring of the pot was done by preachers. Rather than doing kingdom work, may spent their time doing “brotherhood work.” The problems in one congregation do not have to be the problems in all the congregations. Staying busy doing what you are supposed to do often keeps problems from getting on the radar.

 

Were it not for preachers…what an interesting thought.

 

Roger

 

09

Jump Start # 4051

Posted on April 9, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4051

 

Psalms 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity.”

 

Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past

 

The Splittin’ Tree

 

Greetings once again from all us folks down here at the country church. Its been quite a while since I’ve last wrote to you’uns and I reckon the busy fall has kept us just too busy for words.

 

We’ve had a rather big ruckus down at the church this summer. The whole church was a buzzin’ about it for some time. It seems that Timothy Pritchard, whose land butts up to the church yard, was wanting the big cherry tree back in the corner of the church lot. That tree had out lived just about everyone around. It was brother Pritchard’s grandfather who donated the lot for the church to build a meeting house on. That’s been well nigh over 90 years now. The Pritchard family has always tended the grounds around the church building and have helped themselves to some of the trees now and then.

 

Bro. Pritchard asked one of the elders one day if he could cut down the cherry tree for lumber to make some furniture. The elder supposed it was ok with him but thought it’d only be proper to bring it up at the next business meeting.

 

Well, at that business meeting, things didn’t go well concerning the cherry tree. Some of the men thought that if bro. Pritchard wanted one or more of the poplar trees that they’d see no problem with that, but that nice cherry tree, with the price of lumber these days, must be worth a large sum of money. It was suggested  that maybe the church ought to get a lumber man in to give an estimate on the value of the tree. Then the church could sell the tree to bro. Pritchard. Some thought that it’d only be brotherly to sell it to him at a reduced price, seeing that he was a member of the church and all. Others weren’t so sure about the notion.

 

Bro. Pritchard let it be known that he was not about to buy back what his grandfather had given to the church in the first place. He felt that the church owed it to him for all the years of service that his family has provided. Bro. Daniels insisted that if the tree was given to the church then it belonged to the church. And, if the Lord wanted the church to be in the lumber business, we’d read about it in the New Testament.

 

One of the elders asked bro. Pritchard what he was planning to do with the furniture that would be made from the cherry tree. Bro. Pritchard said, “Sell it.” Folks got uneasy then. They thought that any money made for the church’s tree ought to belong to the church. Another one of the elders felt uneasy about just giving the tree away. “If we do that,” he said, “we’d have to give a tree to everyone in the church, and then there’d be no more trees on the church lot.”

 

Bro. Pritchard got mighty sore and walked out. Some heard him say that he might not ever come back again. The rest of the men decided that they needed more time to work through the delicate situation, so they moved to make a decision at the next meeting.

 

At the next meeting, the cherry tree was the main topic of discussion. Bro. Pritchard didn’t come to this meeting. He still couldn’t figure out why folks were getting so worked up over a tree. Some men were afraid that bro. Pritchard would leave, and thought that if they just gave him the tree then he’d stay. Bro. Silas felt that there were mighty principles involved here. Well, it was pretty certain to all of us that we needed more time to think things through. So we decided to wait until the next month to come to a decision.

 

The elders contacted bro. Southerland from the Pinewood congregation to see if he’d come over and present a special lesson on what the church should do. It seemed that the country church was about as unsure as to what to do as ever. Bro. Southerland agreed to come and a date was set. The elders called a special meeting on Wednesday to announce that there’d be no more meetings about the cherry tree until bro. Southerland had preached his special sermon.

 

The following Saturday afternoon the cherry tree fell to the ground. The whole church was talking about it the next day, as men and women alike came and looked it over real well. It was discovered that the tree was eaten up with termites from the inside out. It was nearly rotted all the way through. The tree had fallen on bro. Pritchard’s fence. He asked the brethren if they could have it removed so he could repair the fence so his cattle wouldn’t get out. Some thought that since bro. Pritchard usually took care of the church yard, that he should just clean it up. But since there had been so much turmoil over this particular tree, the elders decided to hold a meeting about cleaning it up.

 

It was decided in the meeting that since the situation had changed and this had certainly taken a different twist than what we were expecting, that we’d think about it for a month and decide at the next meeting. The elders were greatly concerned about what to do with bro. Southerland and his special lesson. They certainly did not want to offend the good brother, so they told him to come and preach it, just in case a similar situation ever came up again.

 

Bro. Pritchard decided to put up a whole new fence since the tree had damaged so much of the old one. And, believe it or not, but when the fence company came to put in the new fence, it was learned that the cherry tree was actually more on bro. Pritchard’s property than the church’s lot all along. At least that was according to the survey. Well, being the kind of people that we are, the church paid for the section of fence that was damaged by the cherry tree. The tree was hauled off to a hollow and burned.

 

Once again, this shows how peace and harmony reigns down here in the country church. We just had a notion that things would work out.

 

At our last business meeting, one brother suggested that we ought to do something with the stump from the cherry tree. Since not all of the stump belongs to the church, it was decided that we needed more time to think about it. We’ll decide on this next month.

 

Roger

November, 1992

 

08

Jump Start # 4050

Posted on April 8, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4050

 

John 8:7 “But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, ‘He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.’”

 

What a profound contrast that began one early morning. Our Lord had come to the temple and was teaching. Someone else chose to begin the morning in the intimate arms of someone she was not married to.  The woman caught in adultery is where our passage is found. The situation was a setup. She was pulled from the bed in “the very act” the text says. How would others know? And, asked most times when this is read, where was the man that was involved?

 

She is pulled through the streets of Jerusalem and taken into the Temple courtyard and put in the center, where all could see, hear and judge her. Under the Old Testament law, there were twenty-one offenses which could result in death. Adultery was one of them. The witness, according to Deut 17:7 was to be the first to cast a stone.

 

Up to this point in Jesus’ teaching, the Pharisees had differed and argued with the Lord about principles, theories and ideas. They had challenged Jesus to name THE greatest commandment. He did. They argued about divorce and whether it was permissible. Talk, talk, talk, is what has taken place. Even the Sadducees got involved with hypothetical situations about a woman marrying seven brothers and wondering who she would be married to in Heaven. But, all of this had been talk.

 

This changed on that one early morning. A real person was brought before Jesus. Guilty. Embarrassed. Scared. Everyone around Jesus who had been listening to Him, now have their attention on this situation. The Pharisees believe that they have Jesus pinned in a corner. His compassion against what the Law demands. This section says the Pharisees were “testing Him,” and were “persistent” in demanding a response from Jesus. The Law says “stone her. What do you say?”

 

There are layers and layers of lessons here:

 

First, consider this woman. Often we don’t. I doubt the Pharisees waited for her to get clothed, do her hair and put on some makeup. Everyone looking at her. Whispers and words of judgment filling the air. Demands being made for her execution. Will the day end in her death? And, Jesus, did she even know who He was? Why are they taking me to the temple and to this man, she must have thought? How she must have wished she could go back and start the day differently. What a mistake she had made. Was she going to die right then and there?

 

Second, twice the Lord writes something in the dirt. No one knows. The ideas are plentiful. The names of the accusers? Their sins? Passages from the Law? But, don’t miss a little lesson tucked neatly right here. Often, when an argument is heating up, words are said that should not be said, blood pressure rising, voices getting louder and louder, one responds by emotion and not by thinking. Jesus wrote in the dirt. I don’t think Jesus needed time to think this out, but we sure do. Rather than rapid firing a reply, we ought to write in the dirt, thinking things out. Consider options. Look at consequences. Recalling passages. Praying. Praying more. Being calm. It takes two people to have an argument. No one argues with himself.

 

A guy at worked asked a friend if he lived in a one story or two story house. The reply was two story: my story and her story. Jesus wrote in the dirt.

 

Third, the Pharisees are showing that they care very little about others. Rather than trying to help this woman, they are ready to end her life. They will step on her, abuse her, and use her if it is a way to disprove Jesus. Finding fault with others is easy. Finding fault with ourselves is something we don’t like to do. Faults are a lot like driving a car at night. The lights of the car coming towards you always seem brighter than your own.

 

There doesn’t seem to be any sorrow about having caught this woman doing wrong. There doesn’t seem to be any prayers offered. And, much too often, these days some would rather get rid of an offender among us than trying to change him. Getting rid of a problem doesn’t solve the problem. Often it just gives someone else the same problem that you had. Cold. Heartless. Judgmental. What’s missing is tender hearted, kind and forgiving, as the Ephesians were told to do.

 

Fourth, shockingly Jesus doesn’t suspend what the Law said. That’s what the Pharisees were anticipating. They thought the compassionate Jesus would not agree to executing her. They expected His kind heart would be the rope to hang Him on. Mercy or law and they figured Jesus would side with mercy. But, He didn’t. In essence, Jesus says, ‘Yes. Stone her. If you are without sin, be the first.’ He doesn’t say, “Don’t stone her.” He doesn’t demand that they put the rocks down. Jesus supported the law.

 

Now, how terrifying these words must have been to the woman. Her death has been called.

 

Jesus adds one little qualifier, if she is guilty, are you Pharisees guilty? He who is without sin, does not mean never sinned. If that was the case, then the Law was weak. No one could be executed. The twenty-one capital offenses had no merit, because “all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Jesus is not talking about sinlessness in your life. He is talking about this situation. Just how many sins were created to catch this woman. Where was the man? How did you know? Did you watch? Why bring a unclean person into the temple? Why bring her to Jesus and not the legal court system? Did you expect to kill her in the temple compound? Why have you no mercy for this person? The sins are as high as Heaven. He knew. They knew. Should they also be put to death? This would be one of many times that the Pharisees broke God’s law to get Jesus. They would tell lies at His trial. Their hatred, anger and pride ruined their hearts and closed their eyes. And, the trap that they set, trapped them. Jesus knew. They were guilty.

 

One by one, all the Pharisees left. Just Jesus and this broken woman remain. Where are they, Jesus asked her. There was no one to condemn her. Jesus added, “I do not condemn you, either.” But, that’s not the end. He adds, “From now on sin no more.” Don’t be making foolish and unwise choices any more. A second chance. Grace extended. Hope offered. The banner of Forgiveness waves brightly.

 

I wonder how that woman changed? Every time someone saw her, they may have said, “she’s the tramp that was brought into the temple.” I wonder if she became a disciple? I wonder if others ever gave her a second chance?

 

I wonder if I give others a second chance. Do I always think, “that’s the guy that was unfaithful to his wife years ago?” Or, “that’s the teen that got arrested for drinking and driving.” Forgiven, do I forgive? Forgiven, do I remove the labels that I have put on them? Forgiven, do I treat them as I would want to be treated?

 

It is much easier to pick up a rock and slay someone than it is to put down your pride and try to save them. Remembering that we are deserving of rocks being thrown at us, will help us help others. Thank you, Lord for your grace! Let’s all be quicker to look into our hearts rather than looking around for a rock to pick up!

 

Three images come from this powerful story. The Pharisees: ready to judge, condemn and get rid of. A guilty woman: wrong choices led to sin. A loving Savior: through the Law offers mercy, compassion and a second chance.

 

Whose shadows do I stand in?

 

Roger