31

Jump Start # 4125

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4125

 

James 2:14 What use is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?

 

It seems that there are certain things that just go well together in life. It is as if they were made for each other. Peanut butter and jelly is one of those things. Batman and Robin is another. Now, Batman and Spiderman, not a good combination. Children and laughter go hand in hand.

 

Then there are things that do not go well together. I saw one the other day. I pulled up to a stop light. The car in front of me had a large bumper sticker declaring: Student Driver—be patient. I’ve seen those before. But then I looked at the car. It was a Porche. Student driving a Porche? No, that’s not a good combination. The car is too powerful and way to expensive. Student drivers ought to be in an old Chevy or a beat up pickup, not a high dollar sports car.

 

But, that got me to thinking about other things that just do not go together, especially spiritually. Consider:

 

First, bitterness in the heart of a Christian. Forgiven people ought to be able to forgive others. The prodigal’s brother had trouble with that. Jonah had trouble with that. Sometimes we have trouble with that and when we do, it sure makes our faith seem sour. The bitter heart is not a happy heart. The bitter heart is filled with misery.

 

Second, gossip among our family in Christ. That sure seems odd and it really doesn’t go well together. Why talk about your spiritual family in negative ways? Don’t you like them? Don’t you plan to send forever with them? Do  you feel that they ought not have a second chance?

 

Third, shepherds who are not concerned about the sheep. In the passage of the good shepherd, John 10, the hirling is described as one who didn’t care about the sheep. When the wolf appears, the hirling takes off. He runs. He leaves the sheep to defend themselves. For the hirling, what he was doing was nothing more than a paycheck. He didn’t care. Contrast that to David who rescued a sheep out of the mouth of a lion. He was fighing to the dStudeneath for the care of the sheep.

 

Some leaders in God’s church view their role as nothing more than a position. They get to make all the decisions and they are out of touch with the lives of the congregation. Shepherds who do not care just doesn’t fit the picture that God gives us.

 

Fourth, disciples with poor spiritual habits. The true disciple is a praying disciple. A true disciple is one who is in the word. A true disciple is always making adjustments to his words, attitudes and behavior. A true disciple wants to connect with his spiritual family and do all that he can do. Not all are like that. They ought to be. And, when a Christian has poor spiritual habits, his life will be up and down like a roller coaster. Moments of joy and long seasons of misery. Inconsistent. Poor choices. Lacking quality spiritual people in his life.

 

Student driving a Porche just doesn’t go together in my book. But more importantly, is my life inconsistent with the way God wants me to live? Am I facing the direction the that I want to go or am I more interested in what happens in Hollywood, the sports world and the glitter of our times than the true treasures of a journey with our Lord?

 

Some things go well together, like faith and works. Like joy and discipleship. And, some things just don’t go together at all.

 

Roger

 

 

 

30

Jump Start # 4124

Posted on July 30, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4124

 

Acts 1:11 “They also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into the sky? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into Heaven, will come in just the same way as you have watched Him go into Heaven.”

 

 Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past

The Coming of Jesus

 

The Bible teaches that Jesus is coming. He will come “like a thief” which means without warning. Think about your week that you have ahead of you. What would happen if Jesus came this evening? Here are a few thoughts that I came up with.

 

  • Doctor appointments would not be kept. Upcoming surgeries and treatments would not take place.

 

  • Bills would not be paid and some checks would not be deposited. All the effort some have spent in acquiring a nice nest egg for retirement would never be used.

 

  • Some children would never get to graduate from High School. If Jesus came tonight, all the plans and dreams for a High School graduation would never be realized. Homework papers would never get returned. Tests studied for would not be taken if Jesus came tonight.

 

  • Some would never get married. There are those who are planning to get married. If Jesus came tonight that wouldn’t happen.

 

  • Business plans and travels would never come about if Jesus came tonight. Major corporate mergers would not take place. Expansion plans would never be completed if Jesus came tonight.

 

  • If Jesus came tonight, you would not know who would have been in the Super Bowl this year.

 

  • If Jesus came tonight you would not know if your latest stock purchase would have turned out good or bad.

 

  • Some would never see the birth of their baby if Jesus came tonight. Expectant parents who are busy fixing up a room for a new baby would never see that come about if Jesus came tonight.

 

  • Holiday plans would not be fulfilled if Jesus came tonight. Some have already purchased presents. Others have made plans to travel to be with family. If Jesus came tonight those happy times would never be experienced.

 

  • If Jesus came tonight, some criminals would never be arrested. Some insurance claims would  never be paid. Some awards would never be received.

 

  • If Jesus came tonight, there would be some sermons that never got preached, some classes that were never taught, some articles that were never written, and some books that were never published.

 

  • If Jesus came tonight, you would not receive your mail, e-mail or packages this week. There are letters and e-mails that you have sent that would not reach their destinations if Jesus came tonight.

 

  • If Jesus came tonight, the world would end. Time would cease. You would be hurled into eternity. All that matters would be your relationship with Jesus Christ.

 

  • If Jesus came tonight, whether you were ready or not, whether you wanted Him to come or not, your life, your world, your dreams would change. Many of these things would no longer matter. Jesus is coming! How ought you to live?

 

Roger

December, 2000

 

 

 

29

Jump Start # 4123

Posted on July 29, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4123

 

2 Corinthians 11:28 Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

 

There were major “external things” that got Paul. Among that list included beatings, dangers, shipwrecks. But, now, he turns to the “internal things.” There at the top of the list is the concern from all the churches. The CEB words this, “there’s my daily stress because I am concerned about all the churches.”

 

What type of things do you imagine Paul was concerned about? Getting a good insight into his heart from what he wrote, we could come up with a pretty good list. And, what’s interesting about that is what we are often concerned about wouldn’t make the list. We see a similar concept when we read through the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2-3. What we don’t find is concern about attendance. Oh, we are. We take attendance and post the numbers on the board for all to see. Finances is another thing that doesn’t seem to be a concern in the Revelation picture. We are. Some congregations operate like a bank and they love to have mountains of money sitting on reserve “just in case.” The “just in case” never seems to happen, so the pile of money continues to grow.

 

What the Revelation picture gives us is a concern about faithfulness to God’s word. And, I expect, especially from reading the letters to Timothy, that was high on Paul’s list. A great crowd with loads of money can dance with the devil all day long. Faithful in preaching. Faithful in teaching. Staying true to the book and staying close to the book is always a concern. Some are fascinated with introducing the new and the controversial. Others want to return to the old ways. Staying on course is the key.

 

Here are some thoughts for us:

 

First, while we may be concerned about other congregations, what takes place in them, however they are, is really not our responsibility. It is within the makeup of each congregation to be faithful to God. The Lord has established a network of internal accountability and checks and balances and if followed, will ensure the path a congregation takes. It seems that some are more interested in what is going on in other places than what is happening at home. Outside looking in doesn’t always give us the total story. Let God’s way work .

 

Second, being concerned brings responsibility. That’s the step that many miss. They just want to know. They are curious. Once they know, they don’t plan on doing anything. They just want to know. Paul was concerned. What do you think he did? He prayed. He wrote letters. He sent preachers. He did all that he could to make things better. He faced the challenges with the tools of God.

 

We know that “worry” is wrong. So, instead of saying, “I’m worried,” we substitute it with, “I’m concerned.” But, wanting to know, without any response or responsibility on our part, only fuels gossip. We want to know what others do not know. If you are truly concerned, you’ll take it to the Lord in prayer. You’ll find ways to encourage and make better.

 

Third, Paul wore several hats. He was an apostle. He was a preacher. He was a disciple. And, when I read about Paul doing things, I must decide which hat he was wearing. As an apostle, which I am not, I am limited in those things. As a preacher, and I’m a preacher, I can apply those lessons. As a disciple, which I am, then I can fully follow his example. Paul was given the task to be concerned about all the churches. That is not our task. Not knowng which hat Paul is wearing can put me out of bounds with the Lord.

 

Now, narrow this thought down to the congregation that you are a part of. Are you concerned? Do you care? Do you know what is going on? Do your part to bring excellence in worship. Do your part to make the place friendly and loving. Do your part to keep true to God’s word. There is so much going on at the home congregation, that ought to keep me busy. Cards to send. People to pray about. People to encourage. Busy, busy, busy.

 

In many ways, I think these internal things were harder on Paul than the external ones. Bones heal, but it takes a long, long time for hearts to get better.

 

Concern for others…

 

Roger

 

28

Jump Start # 4122

Posted on July 28, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4122

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under Heaven.

 

It happened last Tuesday. I wasn’t surprised because I knew it was coming, but it’s one of those things that when it hits you, you are left with a “wow” moment. We typically record our podcasts on Tuesdays. We bang all three of them out in a row. Monday is Jump Start Rewind where I pull an old Jump Start from the past and read it. Wednesday is This week at Charlestown Road. We talk about the sermon from Sunday and give a little insight into what is going on Wednesday evening and what we are preaching the next Sunday. The Friday podcast is themed. We count how many Fridays in a month and break it down in a connecting theme.

 

This past Tuesday found us once again in the studio recording. We like to start with the Wednesday podcast first. Then follows the Friday podcast. The last is the one for Monday, Jump Start Rewind. And, as we wrapped up those three, those were my final podcasts here. After 940+ podcasts, I came to my last one. Now, Jason and Carson will carry them on and put their own designs to them, but the Jump Start Rewind ends. So, for that last one, I went back and read Jump Start # 1, first written in 2010. I will continue to write as long as the Lord gifts me, but the reading of them on podcasts  has reached its end.

 

So, I thought I’d add a few reflections about this.

 

First, it is hard to know what good one does. We preach. We write. We encourage. Week after week, it’s just what we do. We don’t think much about it. And, one wonders, did it help anyone? You hope so. You send out your messages with prayers attached to them. Maybe some lowly soul benefited some how.

 

And, there is two sides to this thought. First, it’s easy to think I could use that time for other things. But, you keep planting. You keep watering. You don’t know how many lives have been touched. But, the other side is also important. It’s good to let others know that you have been helped. The teacher, the preacher, wonders if they ought to stop because there seems to be so little response. Drop your preacher a text and let him know that you appreciate his efforts this week. They hear from us when we disagree. How about hearing from us when we agree?

 

Second, it is ok to stop things. One will never stop their journey with the Lord. One never stops the good that they can do. One never stops worshipping the Lord. But podcasts, articles, blogs may come and go and that’s ok. They serve a moment in time. They are but a chapter in the story. It’s not the only chapter, but just one of many. The next chapters may be better. And, because the work isn’t remembered very long does not mean that it was not effective. For the moment, it was something. But, it was not eternal.

 

I have spent a lifetime collecting bulletins and periodicals that our brethren have published. Most were tiny moments in time. Most are long forgotten. Don’t let that discourage you or discount the quality effort that you put into something. Make it the best that you can, but remember, like a rain shower, like a meal, it’s for a moment. That rain, like that meal, like those words of truth, helped for the moment, It may have answered a question. It may have helped a person weather a storm. It may have lifted a burden. There’d be more storms and more burdens, but for that moment, it did good. Don’t try to walk the entire journey today, nor live your entire life now. Chapters. Moments. Seasons. Added together they make a lifetime. But, for now, get through this time.

 

Third, treasure these special moments that are given to us. They help us. They can make a difference. What a blessing to be part of a congregation that believed in blogs and podcasts. Our audience through the years changed. It became more international than local. How special those moments have been. I wish I had something like this when I was a young disciple. When you land on something good and helpful, share it with others.

 

Jump Start Rewind. It was a chapter. I enjoyed it. Now, it’s time to turn the page and read the next chapter.

 

Thank  you

 

Roger

 

27

Jump Start # 4121

Posted on July 27, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4121

 

Luke 24:50-51 “And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them. While He was blessing them, He parted from them and was carried up into Heaven.”

 

Our verse today describes the ascension of Jesus into Heaven. Acts 1 continues with these thoughts, “And as they were gazing intently into the sky while He was going, behold, two men in white clothing stood beside them.” No more Jesus on earth. No more Jesus to ask a question. No more Jesus to do miracles. No more Jesus to teach them. The Lord was now going to His Father’s house and the apostles would await the coming of the Holy Spirit upon them.

 

Tucked in our verse today is an interesting thought. Jesus led them out as far as “Bethany.” It was at Bethany where Mary, Martha and Lazarus lived. It was at Bethany that Jesus was anointed with very costly perfume. After the triumphantly entry, Jesus left Jerusalem for Bethany. The journey from Bethany to Jerusalem was very small. It seems that Jesus felt comfortable in Bethany. He was welcomed there. He had friends there.

 

Of all the places to ascend back to Heaven, Jesus “lead them out as far as Bethany.” He didn’t go to Heaven from the top of the temple. He didn’t go directly from the open grave. He didn’t ascend from Jerusalem. It wasn’t Nazareth. It wasn’t Bethlehem. It wasn’t the sea of Galilee. It wasn’t from Peter’s house. It wasn’t any other huge Biblical milestone places such as Mount Nebo, Mount Sinai, Mount Ararat, or Mt. Carmel. It was not from the center of the power, Rome. He took them to Bethany and from there He ascended. A familiar place. A place He liked. A place that He was comfortable. A place He may have felt like home.

 

Now, we won’t get a choice as to where we will be when the Lord calls us home to Him. But, can you imagine being able to go as far as your Bethany before you leave. The last place. The final place on earth. Your favorite place. A Bethany to you. Do you have a “Bethany?” Maybe it’s your home and there is no place like your place. Maybe it’s the town you grew up in. Going back there fills your heart with precious memories. Maybe it’s in the place of worship in the church building. So many wonderful hymns have been sung there. So many powerful sermons were preached in that room. There is something special about that room. It just has a wonderful feel of purity and righteousness about it.

 

Your Bethany. Some are there right now. You are so blessed. Others, it’s a place from the past. Others may still be looking for their Bethany. You may have moved often in your life and no place really feels like home.

 

But, more important than where we are leaving from, is where we are headed towards. Some have left pretty dark and lonely places. Those early saints dying in Roman prisons. Others, hiding in caves and catacombs. Some were upon crosses. But, where the righteous are headed to is a glorious home with our Father. Our journeys may not all be the same, but our reward awaiting us will be.

 

I go to prepare a place for you, is the promise of the Savior. We come from different backgrounds. We’ve had different experiences. We have had different opportunities and challenges. But, one day, because of the Lord, we will all have the same address: God’s home. It awaits the faithful of the Lord.

 

As far as Bethany…what a wonderful thought that is.

 

Roger