16

Jump Start # 4033

Posted on March 16, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4033

 

Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.”

 

I read a report the other day that stated one half of all small businesses in America are owned by people aged 55+. And among that number more than one half (54%) do not have a succession plan. What that means, if the owner retires or passes away, there are no plans or steps as to who will run the company next. I have seen that in my community. A mom and pop store that has been around for decades suddenly closes. The owner died and no one knew how to keep the doors open or in many cases, no one in the family wanted anything to do with it. Just sell the place, take the money and run. When you think about those numbers, half of the small businesses in America are in that situation. No plans to pass the keys on to the next generation. No development of the next tier of leaders. The business simply dies with the owner.

 

That’s the picture of corporate America. I wonder what the numbers would be among our congregations today. What happens if the current leadership no longer is in the position to lead. Retirement and moving away. Transfers. Death. And, without people trained and ready, the church flounders. The church drifts. Error becomes a constant issue to deal with.

 

In our verse today, the passing of the baton had taken place. Moses was no more. Joshua was God’s chosen one. It would be Joshua who would take Israel into the promise land. It would be Joshua at the helm. God did not randomly pull Joshua’s name out of a hat. Long before this, Joshua was side by side with Moses. He was seeing. He was learning. He was being trained. And, when the time was right, it was a smooth transition. Joshua was ready. He was capable.

 

We can sure learn and borrow from that example when it comes to leaders in God’s church today. Much, much too often, very little is said or done about leadership until there is a crisis. A death and now the church panics because there may not be another person who can step up. The preacher rapidly rushes through a series of sermons about the qualifications of an elder, and certain men are begged, pleaded and pressured into stepping up and serving. Many have never given it any thought before this. Many don’t have a real clue as to what is involved. But, they do it, a man or two is appointed and everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Nothing again is said until the next crisis. And, for far too many congregations, this is the standard practice for generations.

 

We could do better. We must do better.

 

First, imagine teaching the high school class about the honor, value and importance of leading in God’s kingdom. Get the young men to see early in life before they make big life choices, such as career, marriage and family, about carving out a goal to serve in God’s kingdom. Get these young men out to eat with the current shepherds. Let them see. Let them ask questions. Begin long in advance.

 

Second, as a church, we ought to pray for our leaders and esteem them and appreciate them as the Thessalonians were taught to do. Could one reason why men run and hide when talk turns to looking for leaders because of the horror stories and back talk many have witnessed through the years. Such should not be tolerated. When leading is viewed honorably, and men are appreciated for what they do, more will see how wonderful it is to be considered by a congregation as ready to lead God’s people.

 

Third, fathers need to understand that they are leaders and shepherds, just like elders are in the church. Their flock happens to be their family. But, they do what elders in the church do. They nourish, protect, lead and care about their little flock. In time, if they have walked closely with the Lord and made wise choices, their flock will expand to include more, the church. Busy in the kingdom. Busy for the Lord.

 

Poor leadership and a lack of leadership has been the death of many congregations. No one at the helm to guide the church through troublesome times. People allowed to say and do anything without any accountability. Churches crashing upon the rocks of culture, while men who could serve won’t. Too busy, they say. Not interested, they say. Got more important things to do, they claim. And, the church drifts. Those with the loudest voice take over, often being guided by unspiritual people who are selfish and prideful.

 

I don’t know what the answer is to small businesses in America. Small stores may go out of business. Big corporations may buy out the mom and pop operations. But, for the church, without men stepping up to take on the role that God intended, many congregations may drift into error or cease to exist.

 

Legacy—who will take over after me? Is anything being done to develop, prepare and train? It’s time to start that.

 

Roger

 

13

Jump Start # 4032

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

Jump Start # 4032

 

Mark 2:3 “And they came, bringing to Him a paralytic, carried by four men.”

 

I love how the Gospel of Mark just pulls the curtain back and shows us the busy Jesus. Here the Lord is in a packed house. Standing room only, is how we’d tell the story. People love to be around Jesus. A crippled man is brought to Jesus by his four friends. Without these four friends, this man would have never been able to connect with Jesus. Mark does not record any conversations from the four friends or the crippled man. The only words he gives us are the words of the Lord.

 

Coming to the house, these four friends encounter a problem. They can’t get to Jesus. It seems they know that if Jesus sees the crippled man then the Lord will heal him. There’s a lot of faith running through the hearts of those four carrying their friend. No one in the doorway makes way. No one wants to give up their position. They want to be near Jesus.

 

How easily, these four could have concluded, we tried, but we just can’t get inside. Maybe the next time. Maybe tomorrow. But, they didn’t give up. Up to the roof, carrying the crippled man. They break apart the roof enough to lower this man. Dust and debris would have fallen on those inside. Jesus stops His teaching and immediately forgives the crippled man of his sins. In the eyes of the Lord it is better to be crippled in foot than crippled in the heart. The spiritual always surpasses the physical.

 

There are layers of great lessons in this simple story. Jesus shows that He has the power and the right to forgive. Jesus knew what the Jewish elite were thinking. That alone shows that He is God. The crippled entered with the help from friends through a roof. He leaves on his own, walking out the door. Simply incredible!

 

Some thoughts for us:

 

First, there may be others who need Jesus but can’t get to Him. Jesus is the hero of this story. But without the four friends bringing the crippled, there would have been no miracle. Sometimes we have to carry people. This is often done financially, emotionally, mentally and even spiritually. Others need our help. One friend could not have done this. Together, as a team, these four worked together and in unity to put this man before Jesus. That’s what we need to do. We need to bring others to Jesus. The Lord will do the work. The Lord will do the saving. The Lord will do the changing. But, without us, many people remain at home, crippled in their faith.

 

Second, I wonder how many in that massive crowd, having seen all that took place, wished that they had brought a sick family member to Jesus. I should have done that, they must have thought. And, seeing someone come to Jesus will do that for us. Someone studies with a co-worker  and he comes to Christ. We think, “I ought to do the same with some of my co-workers.” A student invites a classmate to services and they come. We think, “I ought to invite my neighbor.” Seeing how easy one does it, gives us the courage to do the same. I can invite. I can bring someone to the Lord.

 

Third, the text never tells us that Jesus thanked the four for bringing their friend. The emphasis isn’t upon these four receiving any praise. The glory goes to the Lord. We must remember that. Let them see your good works and glorify your Father, is how the sermon on the mount words it. “Well, if no one thanks me, I’ll not do it again,” is how some walk through this world. Let’s not be that way. It doesn’t matter who does the inviting, the studying, the baptizing, the hospitality, the glory goes to the Lord. A crippled man was made whole. A sinner saved. That’s what is important.

 

As those four worked their way down from the roof top, their eyes must have caught their friend, now walking through the doorway, a changed man. How happy they all were. How happy our Lord was.

 

Working together as a team—that’s the sign of a healthy church. That’s the Bible way.

 

Roger

 

12

Jump Start # 4031

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4031

 

1 Thessalonians 5:22 “abstain from every form of evil.”

 

  Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past    

 

Uncle Porter’s Money

 

Greetings once again from down here at the country church. Folks thought that I should write you’uns up there and let you know how we are doing down here. We survived the winter just fine. Grandpa Zek didn’t get out much, though.

 

The most exciting news as of late was the baptism of Uncle Porter, a month back. Uncle Porter is kin to just about everybody here at the church. He is Grandpa Zek’s nephew. Porter’s folks used to keep the visiting preacher in their house. Uncle Porter worked for years with the railroad company. After he retired he bought the old homeplace and commenced to taking life real easy.

 

Uncle Porter had never obeyed the gospel. Grandpa Zek used to talk to him real plain about obeying the Lord’s command. So we all just knew he grew up knowing things as they ought to be. He just never did anything about it. Once in a while, Porter would show up at the church house to hear a sermon. But he never got into the habit of going all the time. Folks all had their ideas too, as to why Porter had never obeyed the Gospel. Some say, Grandpa Zek talked too stern to Porter years ago. Others said that as a child he had the fever and was never quite the same after that. A few thought that Uncle Porter just didn’t want to  give up his Sunday morning squirrel hunting. Whatever the reason, Uncle Porter never told us why he didn’t obey the gospel, and we never asked him, either.

 

Late last fall, Uncle Porter showed up again at the church house for Sunday morning services (and it wasn’t even raining). We all didn’t think much of it, for we’d figure he’d disappear again, just as quick as he showed up. Well, after bro. Williamson’s sermon, and we all were fixing to put our coats on and get ready to go, up walks Uncle Porter, right during the invitation song. He said Satan had him for long enough and that he was going to get right with the Lord. We all went down to Greener’s creek and watched as bro. Williamson baptized Uncle Porter for the remission of his sins. It was a joyous occasion.

 

Afterwards, Uncle Porter pulled out a wad of wet dollar bills. He put the whole amount in the collection plate. We were all so happy to see Uncle Porter do what was right. At the next service, Porter led singing. He always could sing real good. The elders asked him what made him turn around after all these years. It seems that Uncle Porter had been making moonshine and selling it to help pay for his bills since his pension check wasn’t all that much. His last batch of shine turned out bad so he poured it into the creek. The next morning, Porter found two of his cows lying dead, right down there by the creek. He said that scared him so much that and he felt so terrible for what he had done to those two cows that he immediately began reading the book of Acts. He knew what he had to do.

 

The elders also asked him about the large sum of money he gave. Porter said that he felt his conscience wouldn’t be at peace until he gave that money. The money, he said, came from the sell of the two dead cows.

 

Porter is doing just fine in the church. The elders were a little unsure about accepting money from the sale of liquored cows though. They figured that since they took money from a liquored man years ago that they could take money from the sale of liquored cows.

 

And so, that’s the latest from down here at the country church.

 

Roger

July, 1993

 

11

Jump Start # 4030

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

Luke 6:40 “A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained, will be like his teacher.”

  One of the core principles of discipleship is becoming like your teacher. Being like Jesus is a consistent theme sounded forth through the pages of the N.T. Be conformed to His image, the Romans were taught. In Corinthians it is be imitators of me as I am of Christ. In Galatians, it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. In John’s first letter, he who abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked. At the washing of feet, Jesus said, “I gave you an example that you should also do as I did.”

  Many of our hymns reflect this concept: O to be like Thee blessed Redeemer, this is my constant longing and prayer; Christ liveth in me; Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.

  Following Jesus. Staying with Jesus. Becoming like Jesus. Not running ahead of Jesus. Not going your own unique way. Not redefining what faith means to you. Not blazing new trails or boldly going where no man has gone before. No, the theme of the N.T. is become like Jesus. At Antioch, the disciples were first called “Christians,” or “little-Christs” because they molded themselves after the Lord.

  But all these generations later, so removed from the times and region, is it possible for you and I to be like Jesus? Is that just a pipedream? Our fast paced, social media filled days, and high tech culture seems to have outgrown the need to be like Jesus.

  What does becoming like Jesus involve? It’s more than going to church on Sunday morning. That’s the extent of how many these days define it. Yet, on a Monday, it’s in the trenches of dog eat dog world. On Friday nights, it’s partying with friends. Catch a hour of church on Sunday and most think they’re good, they’ve got it.

  The process of being like Jesus begins with an internal choice you make. You have to want to be like Jesus. There is an attraction to Jesus that you want in your life. You see something that appeals to you. Jesus was sure. Jesus was calm. Jesus was passionate. Jesus was spiritual. Jesus was focused. Jesus was compassionate. Jesus made a difference. In a selfish, “I don’t care about you,” times that we live in, what we see in Jesus is not only refreshing and missing, it’s something that we long for. Peace in an chaotic world. Confidence in a world that is doubtful and confused. Doing what is right, regardless.

  The process begins internally. You want what you see in Jesus. More than that, the N.T. shows you that you can be like that. I may want to hit a baseball like the Dodger great Ohtani, but I can’t. Just wanting doesn’t mean that you can. The Bible says you can be like Jesus. But, it’s the daily choices that will make that a reality or just a dream. Diligence is hard. It’s hard in saving money. It’s hard in eating right and exercising. It is hard in putting off the simple, superficial, feel good choices over what is spiritually best.

  Second, the process is not something that you turn on and turn off. You are like Jesus or you are not. You are like Jesus on Sunday, as well as Monday. You are like Jesus by yourself as you are in a crowd. You are like Jesus. This is who you are. This becomes your Spiritual DNA.

  How do I make these right choices? How do I become like Jesus? How do I think like Jesus?

 First, it begins with having an open heart that examines and accepts the Jesus that the Gospels present to us. Don’t recreate Jesus. Don’t restructure Jesus to fit what you think He should be. Let the Gospels introduce you to Jesus. See Him through the eyes of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Let the Holy Spirit define Jesus. That’ the starting point. That’s where you begin. Jesus in Samaria. Jesus with the hurting. Jesus leading His disciples. Jesus dealing with opposition. Jesus focused upon His Father.

  Second, develop the faith that will lead you to changing your heart. That faith will catch you from saying things that you probably shouldn’t say. It will keep you from talking so much about yourself and listening to others. It will invite the Lord into daily conversations. Your eyes will see things that you have never noticed before. Kindness and tenderness become welcome within your heart.

  Third, step by step, gradually, you’ll realize how much clutter has filled your heart. You will recognize more and more that the world is moving the wrong direction from the Lord. Like cleaning out a closet, you’ll start tossing attitudes, ideas,  and habits that you’ve held on to for a long, long time and now finding out that they are not healthy, spiritual or welcome in the heart of a disciple.

  And, just like that, you’ll begin to become more and more like Jesus.

  Is it possible? Absolutely! You’ll be so glad that you started this journey.

  Roger

10

Jump Start # 4029

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

Jump Start # 4029

 

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

 

Things have been a bit crazy around here lately. It’s not the church, but it’s things all around our church building. The area is booming with change and development. Butting up to our church property is a field. For decades that field alternated between corn and beans every year. The field was sold. On one end is a new coffee shop. Right next to our building, a grocery store is being constructed. Across the street from that was once a strip mall that was mostly empty. That has been leveled and a gas station is going in. Then there are orange cones up and down the street because of road construction. It has been messy around here.

 

Just this morning, as I was pulling into the church parking lot, a large orange sign, placed right by our entrance, read “BLASTING ZONE.” Out in the country, not far from here are quarries where blasting is common. We don’t see these signs in town and never next to our church building.

 

But, I thought, how fitting and what great advertisement for us. We are in a Blasting Zone.

 

  • With the power of the Gospel, we are blasting sin out of our hearts, minds and lives. We need to live for Jesus. The culture of the day tells us to tolerate wrong. The Bible concept is to repent and flee from sin. Blast it out.

 

  • We are blasting away excuses that keep us from being the disciples that the Lord wants. It is so easy to limp along, only putting our big toe into the pool of faith, pretending to be Christians, while never making a difference in anyone else’s life and especially not our own. Blast away those lame excuses that keep us on the sidelines of the kingdom.

 

Hebrews 13:23 says, “Take notice that our brother Timothy has been released…” Released from what? From prison. Timothy’s out. Take notice. Look out, Timothy’s out. Look out, Satan, Timothy’s out. Look out trouble, Timothy’s out. Look out deceivers and false teachers, Timothy’s out. He’s going to be back in the game. He’s back at the front lines. There’s a force coming, and it’s Timothy.

 

  • We are blasting away confusion, fear, worry and doubt. And, the way that is done is by preaching the word of God. We don’t know what tomorrow holds, but we know who holds that tomorrow. We know who will be on the throne tomorrow. The darkness of troubles can lead to fear. Do not be uninformed is what the apostle said many times. Blast away those questions of doubt. Blast away the troubles that fill our hearts. Set your course on what is sure and absolute.

 

  • We are blasting away the thoughts that we cannot please the Lord. Beaten down by the world, discouraged by Satan, many are convinced that we are a pitiful people who are not going to make it. The victory, the Corinthians were told, is in the Lord. We are the army of Christ. With the armor that God has given us, we can extinguish everything that Satan throws at us. We are not puny. We are not weak. We are not defeated. We are not barely getting by. We are marching to Zion. Our banners are held high in the air so all can see.

 

Well done, is what the master said to the five talent man. Well done. Pleased with you. Good job. Way to go. The world makes a lot of noise, but there is no substance. It barks, but there is no bite. I will fear no evil, because Thou art with me.

 

Things change when dynamite blasts. Rocks move. The earth opens up. It’s necessary to blast to get through some tough rocks. Things that seem impossible to move, can be moved, once they are blasted.

 

Our verse gives us the word “power,” from which the word dynamite comes from. The Gospel is God’s dynamite. It will move what seems impossible to move. It will open up what we thought could never be opened. A hard heart. A stubborn attitude. A prideful spirit. Ignorance. Error. Put God’s dynamite to it, and they all can be smashed to pieces.

 

Blasting Zone—wish I could get that sign and put it inside our building. We are in the blasting and building business. Before some building gets done, some blasting is often necessary.

 

Roger