15

Jump Start # 4055

Posted on April 15, 2026 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Leave a comment

Jump Start # 4055

 

Mark 5:40 “They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along the child’s father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was.”

 

I love this section of Mark. I have preached and preached so many lessons from the powerful flow in this section. Have you noticed in a very quick succession of events that shows the Christ is God on earth? You might want to mark these in your Bible.

 

  • Mark 4:35-41 Jesus calms a violent storm on the sea: Power over disaster
  • Mark 5:1-20 Jesus casts out demons: Power over demons, the spiritual world
  • Mark 5:25-34 Jesus cures an the woman with the issue of blood: Power over disease
  • Mark 5:39-43 Jesus raises Jairus’ deceased daughter: Power over death

 

Each of these events were beyond what man could do. Together they prove that Jesus has all authority in Heaven and on Earth. The unseen world, the spiritual world, disasters, diseases—these things we are plagued with. We are taken for a ride and cannot stop and get off. But, with Jesus, the touch of His hand, the words from His heart, and the impossible becomes possible.

 

Our verse today comes from the sad home of Jairus, the synagogue official. His twelve year old was dying. Nothing could be done to turn the course of events. As a desperate father, Jairus does the one thing that overcomes pride, prejudice, personal status, and what others might say. He bows at the feet of Jesus and begs Him to come save his daughter. He knows Jesus can. He has heard and possibly even seen Jesus heal others. Now most synagogue officials didn’t like Jesus. The Lord had a way of healing people in the synagogues on the Sabbath. But, with his little girl fading from this life, Jairus doesn’t care what he had heard or even said in the past about Jesus. The Lord is the only one who pull this child from the clutches of death. Come, is what Jairus pleads. And, the Lord, along with a massive crowd move toward the house.

 

In the meantime, the woman with the issue of blood comes and touches Jesus. She believes if she just touched his garments, she would be healed. Immediately, with her touch of faith, she is made well. Jesus knew what happened. He turns and has a conversation with this woman. While this is going on, the little girl has slipped through the doorway of death. She is gone, as many would say today. Word comes from the home that she has died. Jesus was too late. Had He not stopped and dealt with the woman with the issue of blood, maybe He would have made it at the last second. Jairus, likely fell to the ground in tears. Nothing more can be done. She’s gone and she’s not coming back. The word from the servants are, “Don’t bother the teacher any more.” They felt that even Jesus couldn’t change the course of events now. Death had her and death won’t let her go.

 

Jesus senses all of this going on. He sees the tears. He hears the words being said. He looks into the heart of that crushed father. Jesus, along with Jairus go to the house. This is where our verse is found. A lot of commotion. Professional mourners would have gathered to weep and play sad songs on their instruments. Tears enough to fill buckets would have been the atmosphere.

 

She’s not dead, but asleep, Jesus says. They laugh. Then he puts all the people, aside from the parents and His inner circle of three disciples,a out of the house. Jesus tells the little girl to get up and she does. The voice of Jesus transcends the realm of the living and the dead. She hears Him and she obeys. Death can’t hold her.  What a glorious testimony to the power of God this is.

 

In our verse today, Jesus put them all out. All the ones laughing at Him. All the ones who did not believe. All the ones who were making a commotion and being loud. He put them out and then He went to work. And, with that one little expression, “putting them all out,” the Lord leaves us with a great lesson.

 

First, we have a lot of noise and commotion around us. From our phones, videos, TV there is just a lot of distractions around us. The Psalmist declared, “Be still and know that I am God.” Still. Quiet. Time to think. Time to reflect. Time to pray. Some start the day and end the day with the TV on, Youtube videos being watched and music. It’s good to take a break from all those things. Putting them all out, gives you time to count your blessings and focus upon the work in the kingdom.

 

Second, there are people in our lives that we need to put out. They are negative. They have no place for God. They say things that are not true. And, all they add is unrest, stress and fear in our lives. You don’t have to respond to every negative post you find on Facebook. In fact, you don’t have to respond to anything on Facebook. Even among us, there are those who are always complaining, always ready to throw stones at others, always seeing the dark side of things. Put distance between you and them. They are discouragers. It seems that their calling in life is to be miserable and they want to take as many as they can down that same path. I’ve know far too many brethren like that. If you say to them, “What a beautiful day God has given us,” they respond, “The sun’s too bright.” If you say, “What a wonderful worship we had this morning,” they would come back with, “The song leader didn’t keep the tempo up and the preacher was long.” I’ve learned after trying so hard, that complainers rarely change. And, if they did, they’d complain about that. What I’ve done is put them out by establishing boundaries and not having them color my day.

 

Third, there are attitudes that we have invited into our hearts that do not belong there. We need to put them all out. Paul would tell the Ephesians, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be PUT AWAY from you, along with all malice.” Putting them out. Attitudes that are not right. Moods that pull us away from the Lord. Thinking the worse of others. Judgmental. Drop the rocks that we are ready to throw at others. Those things are there because we have allowed them to stay. They have taken up residence in our hearts. They don’t belong there because they are not adding any value to my character, or helping others. Put them out. Become forgiving. Be tender-hearted. Put on the mind of Christ.

 

Each day, dump the junk!

 

Jesus put them all out. I need to do the same. How about you?

 

Roger

 

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