27

Jump Start # 4063

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

Jump Start # 4063

Matthew 27:40 “and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

 

I was thinking about the cross today. It’s a good thought to have during the week. Don’t put those thoughts in a box that is labeled “Sunday Only.” Thinking about our Lord, His sacrifice and the promises that come with that can sure lift the soul and remind one why we do what we do.

 

Our verse today quotes the words of the scoffing unbelievers that surrounded the cross. Jesus didn’t go through the doorway of death in a bed surrounded by loved ones. He burst through that door with words of discouragement and doubt filling the air. Both Matthew and Mark record the challenge, “Come down from the cross.” He could have, but He didn’t.

 

Earlier, while in the garden with the disciples, as Judas and the guards appear to arrest Him, Jesus said, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels” (Mt 26:53). He could have, but He didn’t.

 

Twelve legions of angels…nails popping out of the cross and Jesus jumping down in front of the Jewish elite. What a different story that would have been. Sending angels and popping nails out of the cross would have been just what Jesus needed to be safe. But He wasn’t thinking about Himself. He was the sacrifice for us. He went through all of this for us. And, unlike a lamb sacrifice, Jesus could have stopped it, changed it, and saved Himself. He could have, but He didn’t. He kept the purpose and the mission in the forefront. That was more important than His safety and wellbeing.

 

Could have, but didn’t. That’s something we ought to think about.

 

First, I could have said something in reply to a snide remark that someone made. I could have, but I didn’t. I didn’t because all that would have done is made the other person upset. All it would have done would be to defend myself. Keeping the purpose of the Lord in the forefront, I could have, but I didn’t.

 

Second, I could have repeated some negative things I heard about someone. The news was juicy and ripe. A little gossip can’t do much harm, we tell ourselves. Keeping the purpose of the Lord in the forefront, I could have, but I didn’t.

 

Third, I could have charged a brother the going price for helping him out. Time is money, as they say. He asked for a favor and I could have expected, even demanded full payment. Keeping the purpose of the Lord in the forefront, I could have, but I didn’t.

 

Oh, the things we could have done, but we don’t. We don’t because the nature of the kingdom is far greater than ourselves. If our Lord could have resisted an easy exit door away from the torture and pain He endured, you and I can resist the feeling of getting even, getting back, and setting the score right. Pushing ourselves out of the picture for the kingdom of the Lord is important. This illustrates the denying self principle that is part of discipleship. If we cannot do that, then we are always thinking about how we feel, what is right for us and what we want. In the role of Jesus, we would have called for the angels and popped the nails out of the cross and all humanity would be doomed because of that.

 

Could have, but didn’t is a principle that we need to understand and practice. Many of the bumps we encounter within our fellowship are caused because someone could have and they did. Rather than thinking about the purpose and the kingdom, they only thought about themselves. They didn’t think about how thrusting their way and their feelings to the forefront would hurt the congregation. Denying self is something that some have never learned. There are those who want to be the bride in every wedding and the corpse in every funeral.

 

Come down from the cross, is what the mockers said. They never realized how easily Jesus could have done just that. They thought the nails held Jesus on. It didn’t. It was His love and His understanding of the purpose of the sacrifice that kept Him there.

 

Could have, but didn’t. Sure is something to chew on for today.

 

Roger

 

24

Jump Start # 4062

Posted on April 24, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4062

 

2 Kings 5:1 “Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the Lord had given victory to Aram. The man was also a valiant warrior, but he was a leper.”

 

The opening of the story of Naaman, introduces us to a man whose chest and heart were full of medals. A victorious commander. A great man. Highly respected. Brave. Valiant warrior. And, although a pagan, the Lord worked through him to generate victories. Historically, some of those victories may have come at the defeat of Israel.

 

“But he was a leper,” as the verse ends, changes everything. A great man, but he was a leper. Highly respected, but he was a leper. Valiant warrior, but he was a leper. Victorious in battle, but he was a leper. And, what leprosy did, was make this commander a prisoner. The clock was ticking and the leprosy would only get worse. There would be a time when he could no longer command the troops. There would be a time when he would have to move out of his house and tell his family “goodbye.” There would be a time when his only companions would be fellow lepers. And, it is at that point, his position in the military, his victories, the praise from the king wouldn’t matter. He’d be a leper among lepers. Isolated. Alone. Defeated.

 

The story of Naaman involves two captives, two slaves. One is the servant girl from Israel. She was taken by Naaman’s troops and helps in Naaman’s household. She is not free to go. The other captive is Naaman. And, because of his leprosy, he is not free to go.

 

The condition of Naaman is a mirror to our world today. Not captive to leprosy, but captive to sin. Many a great man and woman, with achievements, accolades, praise and accomplishments are held captive by the destructive nature of sin. Many do not realize it. Many define their purpose through what they have done. Successful in business, carrying degrees from major universities, leaders in their fields, praised by colleagues, yet hopelessly held captive by sin.

 

On his own, Naaman could do nothing about his slavery. His military insights and experience could not rid his body of this disease. His close friendship with the king wouldn’t help. It took the words of a servant girl, the message from a prophet, the power of God and the humbleness of Naaman to set him free.

 

Here are some lessons we ought to see from this amazing Biblical story:

 

First, all have sinned, we are told in Romans. There is none righteous, no not one. The achievements in sports, business, finance does not protect us from being enslaved to sin. Sin doesn’t just impact one class of people. It gets all of us. We all become slaves. Standing with walls full of awards, does not mean we have achieved anything with the Lord. Naaman was great. But Naaman was a leper.

 

Second, the simplistic saving message of the Gospel is what we all need. That’s the freedom out of spiritual slavery. That’s the only hope we have to escape an eternity of slavery. The message to Naaman didn’t come from the king. It didn’t come from the battlefield. It came from a girl and even more humbling, a girl that Naaman had captured.

 

It is out of the mouth of babes, that some of the sweetest and purest words are heard. “Why don’t you go to church with us, Daddy?” We fumble with excuses about being tired, things to do, but truth is, what the child asked is right, why don’t you. It often isn’t the polished words from the pulpit, but the kind words from our spouse that reveals there is a better way. You don’t have to remain a slave. Freedom is there, if you will follow it.

 

It is easy to discount what is said because of who said it. What does a sweet little girl from Israel know about life? She’s not battled warriors in combat. She’s too young to understand the complex nature of leprosy and the implications of being plagued by it. What does she know? She knew more than the commander did. She knew that leprosy did not have to be a life sentence. She knew that he did not have to die from leprosy. She knew that there was a cure, a path to freedom. She knew what he didn’t know. She knew the God of Heaven and earth.

 

Third, successful Naaman, listened. He went to his king. Word was taken to Israel’s king. Elisha, the prophet got involved. An immersion, seven times, in the Jordan River, demonstrated an obedient faith and a humbled heart. And, freedom from the clutches of leprosy was granted. God prevailed. God is greater than leprosy. God is great even to pagan commanders.

 

And, when you and I listen to the pure message of the gospel, humble ourselves and have an obedient faith, the Lord will grant us freedom from the destructive nature of sin.

 

What we have in the Naaman story is one prisoner telling another prisoner how to find freedom. The hero is the Lord. But, without the tender faith of the servant girl, the commander would have died a leper.

 

What a beautiful picture this makes for us. We must not be too bold or too proud to listen to someone who knows how to free us from sin.  A girl spoke. A commander listened. God prevailed.

 

The story of Naaman is our story. We have been Naaman. Now, we can be the servant girl and help others.

 

Roger

 

23

Jump Start # 4061

Posted on April 23, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4061

 

 “Now there was a certain rich man, and he habitually dressed in purple and fine linen, gaily living in splendor every day. “And a certain poor man named Lazarus was laid at his gate, covered with sores, and longing to be fed with the crumbs which were falling from the rich man’s table; besides, even the dogs were coming and licking his sores.” (Lk 16:19-21)

 

Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past

 

The Good Life

 

An American spent some time in Tanzania, Africa. On his return flight to the U.S. he wrote the following observations.

 

Although Americans and Tanzanians live on the same planet, they live in different worlds. We are hundreds of years ahead of them medically, educationally, materially and technologically. In areas like transportation, hygiene, farming, food preparation, their lifestyle does not even register on the same scale with the American way of life. We would not trade places with them for anything. Yet Tanzanians seem to laugh more than Americans. They have large families with plenty of kids playing all the time. They don’t seem so “rushed” as we are.

 

Here are some comparisons between Americans and Tanzanians. Who really has the “good life?”

 

u They worry about getting enough protein in their diet; we worry about getting too much cholesterol and fat.

 

u They wear their clothes out because they wash them on a rock; we throw ours out because they are out of style.

 

u They worry about chasing rats away; we try to keep up with the “rat race.”

 

u They are poor and humble; we are rich and proud.

 

u Their women never wear pants in public (only dresses); our women hardly wear anything at all.

 

u Their children are poorly clothed but sit quietly through a two hour church service; our children  who are dressed in the latest fashion, cannot sit still and must leave every few minutes to get a drink or to go to the bathroom.

 

u They worry about malnutrition, under nourishment and starvation; we worry about anorexia, obesity and bulimia.

 

u They have no Bibles but beg for them; we have several copies but rarely open them.

 

u They live in misery and long for Heaven; we live in luxury and doubt the afterlife.

 

u They live in mud huts with no doors, but are unafraid; we live in mansions with locked doors and security systems and fear for our lives.

 

u They have little and want little; we have much and want more.

 

u They are poor and satisfied; we are rich and miserable.

 

u Their children play with homemade toys for hours; our children get bored if the TV is turned off.

 

u They die at 40 from malaria and typhoid; we die at 50 from hypertension and lung cancer.

 

u They laugh; we get stressed.

 

u They sit around and visit; we are always in a hurry.

 

u They humor themselves with good stories; we must turn on the TV or go to a movie to laugh.

 

u They have little and waste not; we have much and waste much.

 

u They know nothing about computers, DVD’s, cell phones, 401’s, health insurance, microwaves, garage door openers, air conditioning, or McDonald’s. We know nothing about mud huts, washing clothes in a river, “natural” childbirth, eating bugs, digging for roots, having no shoes and surviving out in the rugged.

 

Our worlds are different. But we both have the same kind of soul, and we both have the same God over us, who loves us equally and sent His son to die for our sins. Let us learn to be thankful and not greedy. Let us appreciate and share. Let us learn that “things” are not what life is about. Let us enjoy life as our Tanzanian friends do.

 

Roger

August, 2001

 

22

Jump Start # 4060

Posted on April 22, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4060

 

Luke 9:49 “And John answered and said, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name; and we tried to hinder him because he does not follow along with us.’”

 

Sometimes it is just hard to get things straight in our hearts and in our thinking. John thought he was doing what the Lord would want. Someone was doing work like they were but that person wasn’t among them. This can lead to an “us” verse “them” complex.

 

Just sentences later, John, along with James, had a bad reception among the Samaritans. Because Jesus was traveling towards Jerusalem, the Samaritans wouldn’t have anything to do with them. It is here that John asks if the Lord would want them to command fire to come down and destroy those Samaritans.

 

Both accounts, within words of each other, shows a negative spirit that somehow seems to survive in these days. It is that spirit that destroys a congregation, turns the world off, and poisons our insides. And, what is most apparent is that our walk and our talk do not match. We talk about grace and love while keeping our hand on the level that opens up the door to Hell.

 

Some are not very far along on this journey with the Lord and they have much to learn and many things still to change. Some have never crucified the old ways and especially the old attitudes. The outside may have changed, but the insides remain judgmental, bitter and negative. It hurts to be on the receiving end of such things.

 

Here are some thoughts:

 

First, the attitudes we hold do not disprove the teachings of the N.T. Many will make a conclusion about faith, Christ and His kingdom based upon what they see in us. That picture may be cloudy and not accurate. The word of God holds true, whether we live by it, show it, demonstrate it or not. The genuineness of the message is not based upon how well we keep it or show it.

 

Second, Jesus does not treat people this way. Jesus wasn’t calling for fire to come down from Heaven and burn people up. Jesus was trying to keep people from the burning fires of Hell by offering Himself as a sacrifice. We may disappoint each other. We may let one another down. We may fail to live up to our obligations and responsibilities. We may not keep our promises. But, that’s not the way the Lord is. God is faithful. God is true. You can count on the Lord.

 

Third, there are some disciples that struggle with being a disciple. There are some that have kept one foot in the world as they have tried to stick the other foot in the kingdom. That doesn’t work well. In fact, it doesn’t work at all. Discipleship is more than just going to church on Sunday. It is walking with the Lord and becoming like Jesus.

 

In the book, “The Jesus I never knew,” the author says, “Troubled people ran to Jesus, but now it seems they run from His people.” Nietzhe said, “I will believe in their redeemer when the Christians look a little more redeemed.”

 

The same John that was wanting to call fire from Heaven and prevent some from casting out demons, would fill his letters with appeal to love one another. More than 30 times in John’s letters one reads about love. “The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him” (1 Jn 2:10). Later, “God is love” (4:8).

 

Our journey with the Lord challenges the way we think and the way we were raised. We come to intersections where the spirit of being negative and condemning faces the love of Christ. Which will it be? Which path will we follow? It is so much easier to point out what is wrong than to recognize and praise what is right.

 

John learned. I can learn. You can learn.

 

Roger

 

21

Jump Start # 4059

Posted on April 21, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4059

 

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

 

Our verse is about thinking. Earlier in this letter the apostle said to “have this mind (or attitude) in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.” As we think, we do. In Mark’s gospel our Lord said “out of the heart” are the things which defile us. We think it first and then we do it. And, so if we could capture our thoughts, redirect our thinking, then our attitudes and behavior would be more pleasing to the Lord.

 

And, here in this passage, the apostle lists six specifics to focus on. Things that are true. Things that are honorable. Things that are right. Boy, we like to point out what’s wrong. How about “what’s right”? Things that are honorable. Things that are pure. Things that are lovely. Things that are of good repute. Positive. Helpful. Spiritual. Purposely thinking about these things will pull our minds out of the gutter of complaining and being miserable. They will open our eyes to the wonderful blessings of God and make us more thankful. They will strength our resolve and put some fire into our passion.

 

Today, I want to focus on the word “excellence.” Most of the English translations use that word here. “If there is any excellence,” he says. Excellent. That sounds better than normal. It sounds better than average. It’s more than just getting by. It’s taking the time to do things not only right, but the highest quality that we can do. Good. Better. Excellent.

 

The passage is directed towards the individual. A congregation can’t do excellence if the members are not. The church is a mirror of who we are. Laodicea was lukewarm, because the members were. Sardis was dead because the members were dead. To have a church of excellence, then we must do our best.

 

Consider this: can you imagine being one of the four men chosen to carry the ark of the covenant. You know what is inside that golden box. You know how it has led in battles and how it was housed in the most holy place. And, now, on this day, you are one of four that actually get to carry this sacred treasure. What an honor. What a responsibility and an obligation. Everyone would be looking at you as you carried that ark. The word that comes to my mind in this is: excellence. That’s how you would want to be.

 

Consider this: Zacharias, the father of John, the prophet. There were so many priests in his days, that they were divided into groups or courses. His opportunity to serve in the Temple would have come only a few times. Do you think he needed a deacon to call him the night before, just to remind him? Excellence. He would have known. He would have been ready. He would have thought about this for a long time. He would bring his best.

 

Consider this: the offerings that God wanted from ancient Israel involved not just a young lamb, but one without blemish. Excellence. Bring the best to God because God has always brought the best. Start with the Lord. The word. The salvation. The blessings. The prayers heard. The church. Eden was the best. Noah’s ark was the best. The temple was the best. The church is the best. God always brought the best. Excellence. Shouldn’t we?

 

Now, some reminders for us:

 

First, bringing the best in the atmosphere of worship. I’ve been in some church buildings that looked worse than an old barn. Messy. Clutter. Dirty. Smelly. What is a guest to think when they walk in such a place? Most of our homes are not that way. We’d be looking for another doctor, if his office was that way. Careless. Indifferent. Not my job. Whatever the reason, the excuse, one must ask, “Can we do better?” Is this excellence? Is this how we view the work and worship to the Lord? Sloppy buildings. Sloppy attitudes. Sloppy service. Far cry from the word excellence. Let’s do better.

 

Second, bring the best when I am coming to worship God. Things happen in life and there are times when we are tired. Up with sick kids all night. Had to work late. Traffic was a mess. Those things happen. But what about when I choose to stay up all night watching TV? Knowing what I am to bring to the Lord tomorrow, will it be excellence.

 

Our signs my indicate that our services begin at a certain hour on Sunday morning, but actually the process of getting ready to bring excellence to the Lord starts during the week. Sunday thinking. Best day of the week. Get to be early on Saturday. Be thinking about worshipping with my church family. Find all the Bibles, shoes, notebooks and whatever we need and get them ready before Sunday. Don’t stroll in late like you are heading to a surgery. Get there early. Be excited. Bring your best to the One who is the best.

 

Excellence. Sing out. Pray hard. Dig into the word. God loves you and show Him that you love Him back.

 

Third, bring the best when I am trying to encourage others. Don’t ask a thousand questions that are not really any of your business. Don’t talk negative and discouragingly. Don’t dominate the conversation. Don’t talk only about yourself. Build up. Strengthen. Put a smile on your face and firmness in your handshake. Be glad for others. Be helpful.

 

Excellence. If there is any excellence dwell upon those things. How can I make things better? How can I be better? How can I bring excellence? Look around. Open your eyes. Engage in the spiritual.

 

Roger