11

Jump Start # 4132

Posted on August 11, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4132

2 Peter 3:18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity.”

 

Yesterday I finished writing my final sermon as one of the preachers here. I have been thinking about that for a long time. What do you say? After 18+ years with a group and more than 46 years of preaching, there are endless stories, memories and blessings. Good times. Challenging times. Fun times.

 

I shared with my good Tennessee friend Mike how I was going to structure the final sermon. He sent me an audio recording from Robert Jackson about final words. The recording was classic Robert Jackson. He pointed out Paul’s final words, Peter’s final words and John’s final words that are recorded in Scripture.

 

Paul: The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you (2 Tim 4:22).

Peter: But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now an to the day of eternity. Amen (2 Peter 3:18).

John: The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all. Amen. (Revelation 22:21).

 

Three amazing apostles. Combined, they wrote twenty of the twenty-seven books of the N.T. And, in their final words, all three use the word “grace.” It makes one believe that grace is pretty important.

 

Here are some thoughts:

 

First, we are a grace filled, graced lived people. Our emphasis upon obedience and baptism can easily lead to the conclusion that grace isn’t important. It is. It is the most important. Our obedience can never do what grace can. Because many misunderstand and misuse grace, even among us, let us not shy away from this word. We are saved by grace through faith. Grace moves the attention off of us and our performance and puts it on the Lord. Had it not been for the Lord, the Psalmist declared, ought to be what we too declare. Had it not been for the Lord, we would not be saved. Had it not been for the Lord, we would be hopeless and helpless.

 

These three apostles understood that grace is important. Do we?

 

Second, grace is a choice made by a loving God. God does not owe us forgiveness. He does not have to forgive us. He does not owe us a second chance. Mercy comes from the kindness of the Lord and not because we are so cute, adorable and God can’t resist us. We were sinners. We were the enemies of God. Why not turn His back on us and walk away? He didn’t because He loves us.

 

And, once we get a good taste of that, we will quit arguing about “Do I have to attend Wednesday night,” or pushing the buttons of God’s patience. Our hearts will explode with gratitude for the kindness of God. We are prodigals who do not desrve back into God’s house. But, the Lord has done more. He has hosted a celebration in our honor when we have done nothing to deserve it.

 

When I hear folks trying to squeeze social drinking into the Scriptures or winking at the casual and indifferent manner of worship that is promoted today, I wonder why are you not content with what God has done? If you understood grace, you’ll not push God. You’ll not try to improve upon God. You’ll be happy with things just the way the Lord set the table. It’s about grace.

 

Third, growing in grace and knowledge of our Savior, as Peter ended his inspired writings, go hand in hand. The more I know the Lord, the more I’ll demonstrate grace in my life. We have learned how to be the prodigal’s older brother pretty well. We’ve got the Jonah attitude down. Now, it’s time to forgive as God has forgiven us. It’s time to show grace to others.

 

The more time one spends in the sunshine of God’s grace, the kinder, more patient and more forgiving he will be. Because of His grace, we have grace. Because we’ve been given a second chance, we give second chances. We learn from the One who was full of grace and truth. The woman at the well was a mess in her relationships. The Lord was kind to her. The woman caught in adultery was guilty. The Lord was kind to her. And, because of that, we become kind to the toxic co-worker. We become kind to the person having a bad day. We become kind to one another.

 

Three apostles ending their writings with “grace.” Simply amazing.

 

Roger

 

10

Jump Start # 4131

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

Jump Start # 4131

 

Proverbs 27:10 Do not abandon your friend or your father’s friend, And do not go to your brother’s house on the day of your disaster; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.

 

Our verse today is packied full of great lessons and concepts that ought to help us on our journey with the Lord. Like a suitcase stuffed so full that you barely can close it up, so is this passage. Lessons about friendship. Lessons about responsibilities towards others. Lessons about closeness. Lessons about timing.

 

Particularily, I like the expression “your father’s friend.” Don’t abandon your father’s friend. In essence, your father’s friend is also your friend. And, I think about some of my dearest friends, and I’m blessed to have so many. Several are fellow preachers. Boy, they have helped me through the years. It’s hard to understand the world of preaching from the outside. And, what I see so clearly is that these friends have become friends of my children. My children know my friends. They reach out to them. They have their own friendships with them. And that just thrills my heart. It does so because these are quality people. These are people of God. These are people who I know will help my children when I am no longer on this side of life.

 

Have you put much thought into that? Are your friends also the friends of your children? Do they know each other? Do they like each other? Although there may be a generation gap, is there a bond between them?

 

Now, here are some things to consider:

 

First, if your friends are not the kind of people that you’d like your children to be friends with, why are you? If the language is rough, attitudes selfish and thinking worldly, why have I included them in my heart? It is so much easier to go downhill than uphill. If there are character flaws that I don’t want my children to see, why do I overlook them?

 

I ought to have the kind of friends that I would want my children to have. Don’t preach one thing and then practice something different.

 

Second, in becoming friends with your friends, your children will learn, grow and even appreciate you more. They will see the quality people that you have invited into your heart. They will see through the many stories, laughter and serious conversations that these people truly care. These relationships will help your children find quality people to include in your life.

 

It is your true friends that will be there when you experience the storms of life. Your children will see that. It is your true friends that reach out when you need help. It is your true friends that love you for who you are and are not trying to change you into what they want.

 

Third, we spend a lot of time and lessons teaching our children to find good friends at school and church, while often it’s we adults who need to deep dive into those same lessons. Surrounding yourself with miserable people will only make you miserable. Even among brethren, there are those who rejoice in the Lord and some who never seem to get it. Find the quality of people who are Heaven bound. Find those who lift your spirits and know what really matters. Find those who see the sunshine even in the storms.

 

The David and Jonathan relationship is very interesting. Jonathan’s father, King Saul, was trying to kill David. He didn’t like David. Yet, Jonathan remained loyal, true and helpful to his friend David. It takes time to develop a friendship. If all you do is talk about yourself, your friends will be limited. If all you ever do is only what you want to do, then your friends will be limited. You have to be a friend to have friends. You have to listen, share and want to be helpful to have friends.

 

Don’t abandon your father’s friends. Powerful advice for families. Powerful lessons for all of us.

 

Roger

 

07

Jump Start # 4130

Posted on August 7, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4130

 

Philippians 2:18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

 

The Bible speaks a lot about joy. Rejoice in the Lord is a common and well expressed hope found in the Scriptures. Many of our hymns follow that same thought: “I’m happy today, oh, yes, I’m happy today…” “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, down in my heart…” Sometimes it’s hard to sing those songs when one isn’t especially “happy today.”

 

You’ll not find a song leader singing, “I’m miserable today, oh, yes, I’m miserable today.” But, many do not walk in the sunlight of joy. They are waiting for someone to bring them joy. They’d be happy, if someone made them happy. But, as it is, they spend another day in sadness, misery and complaints. Some would like to find joy, but they are not sure where to look. Those without Christ will chase after immoral pleasures, the taste of alcohol or the numbness of pills. But, they haven’t found joy. They’ve hidden but not even escaped from the troubles that surround them.

 

First, joy is a choice. It’s not the environment around you, the circumstances that life puts you in, but rather, the purposeful decision to rejoice today. One can rejoice in a thunderstorm. One can rejoice when everyone around them are crying. One can rejoice when it seems that there is nothing to rejoice about.

 

If you are waiting for others to bring you joy, you might never experience it again. They may let you down. Choose to rejoice no matter what others choose to do.

 

Second, drop the baggage that keeps joy away. We can carry these old bags for a long time. We’ve convinced ourselves that we are supposed to carry them. We don’t want to. We don’t like it. But, it’s something that we are to do. That’s how it’s been presented in the past.

 

The baggage of worry. We just think having kids and worry are supposed to go together. But, also, getting older and worry seem to be good friends. Jesus said, “Do not be anxious.” He repeated that three times in the sermon on the mount. Don’t  worry, but we do. And, as long as we do, we won’t have any reason to rejoice.

 

The baggage of bitterness. Joy and bitterness are opposites that can’t stand each other. Remembering the hurts, the sins, the pain that others have caused, will only let bitterness to spread deeper and deeper into our hearts. There won’t be joy when bitterness enters a heart. Learn to let things go. Learn to forgive. Practice grace.

 

The baggage of guilt. Guilt is the gift that keeps on giving. We dread being around some, especially family, because they thrive on reminding us how we have failed. They can’t let it go. They won’t let it go. So, we are knocked down once again by those who love to blame. And, guilt, much like bitterness, cannot allow a heart to rejoice.

 

You have to carry these things? No, you don’t. You have to feel miserable, because I feel miserable. No, I don’t have to feel that  way.

 

But joy is much more than leaving the old baggae at the doorstep. Celebrating our victories will allow  joy to dwell within us. Victories over temptation. Victory over worry, fear and doubt. Victory over defeat and discouragement. Victory over the devil. Take your victory lap. Rather than counting what you didn’t’ get done, see what you did accomplish. We need goals met and battles won and the banner of joy waving high above us. It’s ok to smile. It’s ok to laugh. It’s ok to have a good day. Don’t let the ‘kill joys’ around you make you feel like they do. Rejoice.

 

Remember your hope in the Lord. Things are only going to get better and brighter because of the promises of the Lord. Tears may last through the night, but the joy of the morning shines brightly through the dark clouds.

 

Rejoice. We are Heaven bound. Rejoice. The Lord loves you. Rejoice. You are forgiven. Rejoice.

 

Roger

 

06

Jump Start # 4129

Posted on August 6, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4129

 

Mt 6:12 ‘And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

 

Mt 6:14-15  “For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.  “But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.

 

Eph 4:32 And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.

 

Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past

 

Forgiving One Another

 

 

Forgiveness is hard. When family, friends, or even our enemies hurt us, it’s hard to forgive. We should and we must, because God forgave us.

 

FORGIVE QUICKLY

To the matter of forgiveness, time is the great enemy. Time allows us to rehearse the hurt, coax and fan the flame into a roaring inferno. Time allows us to plan revenge. It increases the pain. The longer a person remains unforgiven in our heart, the worse our feelings will be toward him. Jesus was quick to forgive. While still on the Cross, He forgave those who placed Him there.

 

FORGIVE REPEATEDLY

Peter asked Jesus, How often do I forgive? The answer was not seven times, but seventy times seven. Our forgiveness is not based on numbers, but upon a heart condition. Aren’t you glad that God does not forgive you by numbers?

 

FORGIVE COMPLETELY

When God forgives, our sins are blotted out; they are remitted; they are washed away. When we say such things as:    

   I’ll forgive, but I will never forget.

  I’ll forgive, but it better not happen again.

I’ll forgive, but this is the last time.

 

we are not forgiving completely.  We have not forgiven until we forgive completely!

 

God does not treat us this way. God restores our position with him. God celebrates our return to Him. God rejoices when we seek His mercy.

 

Forgive one another.

 

Roger

March, 2002

 

04

Jump Start # 4127

Posted on August 4, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4127

 

1 Sam 18:7 “The women sang as they played, and said, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

 

Saul was angry with David. Multiple times after this Saul tries to kill David. The direction of the nation is put on hold as Saul tries to deal with his rival. Contrasting the two side by side is very interesting. David, young. Saul, not so young. David brave. Saul intimidated of giants. David, humble. Saul arrogant. David, kind and decent. Saul breaks all the rules to execute David.

 

In this we learn something about jealousy. Saul was jealous of David. The nation loved David. Younger, braver, better, David’s presence irritates and bothers Saul. And, that rivalry is alive and well today. A kid fresh out of college is hired. He comes in with bright ideas. He knows the language of technology. Everyone loves the young super star. You’ve been there for decades. You feel that you are being overlooked, tossed aside or even pushed out. Hard not to be jealous.

 

Jealously hides in the corners of our homes. The young daughter-in-law cooks better than mamma. That creates tension, bitterness and burnt attidues as well as scorched biscuits.

 

But jealously in the church can be the worst of all. A new family moves in and he is the better song leader. Others get so jealous that they no longer want to lead singing. A younger preacher is hired and the older preacher feels like all the long and steady work he has established is overlooked and forgotten.

 

For Saul, jealousy led to hatred, violence and trying to eliminate David. Jealousy in the congregation leads to families leaving. It can lead to unhealthy rivary between preachers. It can tear up an eldership.

 

So, what can we do?

 

First, be careful what you say. Some things just do not need to be said out loud. You have one preacher that you like better than another. Be thankful. Don’t do what I’ve seen others do. They openly say, “I like brother A better than brother B.” Some go so far as not attending when brother B is preaching because he’s not my favorite. Folks, this isn’t American Idol! Aren’t we all on the same team after the same goal, glorifying the Lord? The inner tensions hovering within congregations are often caused not by the preachers or the elders but the members who play favorites. Be thankful you have two preachers. Be thankful that there is just more than one song leader. We can throw logs on to the fire of jealousy that will soon burn out of control if we are not careful.

 

Second, we do not all have the same talent nor the same level of that talent. That’s fine. Learn from each other. We older folks can learn from the younger ones. Don’t be suspicious of everything they bring up. And, the younger ones can learn from the older ones. With a healthy environment, much good can be done. In the parable of the talents, each servant was given different amounts based upon their abilities. Use what you have for the glory of the Lord.

 

Third, some how in all of this jealousy and which one is the best, God gets left out of the picture. The Lord wasn’t happy when the apostles questioned which one was the greatest. None of them were. They all needed to hush and learn from Jesus. Pride likes to come running in right after jealousy has been introduced.

 

Be thankful the kingdom has so much talent that is being used for the Lord. Saul should have been thankful that David was a loyal and trusted soldier of the Lord and Israel. The story would had been different had David been a Philistine. But he wasn’t. He was on Saul’s same side, yet the way Saul treated him, David was viewed as his enemy. Don’t turn our own brethren into your enemy because they can do things better than you can.

 

Jealousy—we have to deal with it, fight it and overcome it. Saul never did. Will you?

 

Roger