24

Jump Start # 901

Posted on July 24, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 901

2 Timothy 3:6-7 “For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women weighed down with sins, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

 

Our passage today describes a disconnect toward the Divine. Paul is telling Timothy what will happen in the last days. It will be difficult times, using Paul’s words. The chapter begins with a string of wrong and bad attitudes and behaviors. Included in that list are: arrogance, lovers of self, conceited, unholy, disobedient to parents, lovers of pleasures, lovers of money, haters of good, gossips, unloving, and holding to a form of godliness but denying its power.

 

What a mess. They appear somewhat religious on the outside, maybe just a bit, but inside, they are far, far from Christ. They need a complete re-wiring of their thinking. Some how they just don’t get it. They don’t see the bridge between faith and everyday living. They haven’t grasped the core concept that Jesus must be Lord of our life.

 

Our verse magnifies this problem with the expression, “always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”

 

Always learning is awesome. That’s a great characteristic. It shows interests and the desire to know more. Learning is a journey. It takes effort to learn. These people were learning. They hadn’t thrown in the towel on religion. They hadn’t jumped head first into hedonism, although it seems they were heading that way. There is something about Christianity that fascinated them.

Some have given up on learning. They stick their big toe into Christianity and that’s about all they want or think that they need. Some have been going to church services for decades, listening to hundreds of sermons, reading hundreds of bulletin articles, sitting in hundreds of Bible classes, but they are stuck with a basic knowledge of Bible facts and principles. Sitting in a biology class doesn’t mean a person is going to learn biology. There is some thinking, working, homework, applying and doing that is necessary to learning. Tired and preoccupied minds may sit in a church building, but those minds are not learning unless they are growing and thinking and working toward learning.

 

There are some common things necessary for learning. A person needs the right tools. If I took a college biology class, but never got the class book, showed up without a notebook, or a pen and just sat there staring at the professor every day, I’d be gone by mid-terms. That is a sure and quick route to flunking out. To get it, a student needs to take notes, read the text, do the homework. Now, how about us with the Bible? Show up to church services with no Bible, pen, notebook and just staring at the preacher for a while. How is that person going to be any different than the biology student who just sits there?

 

Paul said these people were ever learning.

 

The second aspect Paul states is that although they were always learning they were never able to grasp it. His words are, “never able to come to the knowledge of truth.” They didn’t get it. Had they actually grasped what they were learning, they would have seen the humble Jesus who had the heart of a servant. They would have understood that the first step in discipleship is denying self (LK 9:23). That alone would have killed the arrogant attitudes they clung to. Their priorities were out of order. Their thinking was out of alignment.

 

This ought to show us that some who go to church services are far from Jesus. These people were learning, they were worshipping, they were around the faithful. Those inside the church buildings need Jesus just as much as those on the outside. It is these kinds of members that give the church a bad name. The attitude of these people will hurt others. They will think that they are right with the Lord when they are not. Their arrogance will be their down fall. This divine disconnect will cost them their souls. They are a danger to the church. This is why Paul is warning Timothy about them.

 

The last days had begun. These people were a threat to Timothy and the Ephesian church where Timothy was preaching. Understand this divine disconnect continues today. You’ll see it at work. There are those who talk about their church in one breath and then unleash the worst attitudes and language with the next. They will talk about church and then going to the bars for a night of drinking. They talk about church and trashy shows. They talk about church and cuss. They talk about church and don’t connect that their behavior shows that church is doing little good for them. Do you see that?

 

Ever learning but never coming to the knowledge of truth…Learning about Jesus ought to make us humble, holy and thoughtful of others. Learning about Jesus ought to change us. When it doesn’t , something is missing.

Roger

 

23

Jump Start # 900

Posted on July 23, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 900

 

Colossians 4:3 “praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned.”

 

We have reached yet another milestone with our Jump Starts. Today is # 900. 900! Can you believe it? At each milestone, I’ve paused, reflected and shared a few personal thoughts about this with you. Now that we are at 900, we know what’s around the corner if the Lord allows, 1000.

 

Our list of readers continues to grow, nearly weekly. We now have readers in several countries. There are several congregations that are now using Jump Starts as a part of their work. There are many who are sending Jump Starts to their own lists of family and friends. I’m not sure if we really know how many are receiving these, I’d expect it’s close to 1,200 every day. A lecture was given this summer about using the media to reach people with the gospel. The speaker was going to talk about our Jump Starts as one example.

 

We now have nine Jump Start books that cover various themes. There are two that I would like to add to this collection, maybe by this fall.

 

So many of you have sent me emails with encouraging thoughts. I have a file just for the Jump Start emails and it grows every week. I save every one. Thank you for that.

 

My good friend, Jim, has asked me many times, how long I will keep writing. It has gone longer than I have ever expected. One of the things that keeps me writing is realizing that through these Jump Starts, people are being helped. I wish you could read some of the emails that have been sent, thanking me for helping a family member get back to church or give their marriage another try. That’s the fire that keeps me going. I ran into an older man a while back, really didn’t know him, he grabbed my arm and pleaded with me to never stop writing. He said, “I need these every day.” That’s a “wow” in my book.

 

All of this works into our verse today. God opens doors for us. I have learned, especially through these Jump Starts, that God has more than one door and the biggest, brightest, and most obvious door, often is not the one that God opens. While I’m standing in front of one door, waiting for God to open it, there opens another door, and in my case, one called Jump Starts. Who would have thought that?

Here are lessons that I have been taught through writing these Jump Starts.

 

First, don’t be afraid to try something new. I have always written church bulletins and my own class material. I like writing but didn’t think it was really a gift. Sometimes my spelling and grammar makes the teachers out there shudder. In my family, my brother Randy was the writer. In high school, he was the sports editor for our high school paper. I stayed away from that all together. I have loved reading. I have my favorite writers. That has helped shape my thinking and my writing. There are several other preachers that are doing what I am doing now. I wish them well. We are not in competition.

 

I wonder if there is something you have never tried before. Teaching a class? Leading a song? Preaching? Writing? Being an encourager? Had the church where I now preach asked me to write a daily devotion, every day, as a requirement for me coming there, I might have passed on them. Our Jump Starts started small. At first, it was just a few families within the congregation where I am. This has always been for them, first and foremost. If anyone else read it, that was fine, but that wasn’t my target. From my powerful church family this thing exploded. So, when you try something, start small. Take your time. Put your heart into it. God may open a door you would never believe with that. Don’t be afraid to try. Don’t let, “I’ve never done that,” stop you. Don’t settle for the easy excuse, “I can’t do that.” How do you know? With God at the helm, who knows what you can do. That’s what I have found.

 

Second, listen to others. I have. Many of my Jump Starts have come from ideas from others. Someone will say, “I’d like you to write a Jump Start about…” No one of us has all the answers. Another perspective will help. Learn. Grow. Read. Share. Talk. Listen. Think. Try.

 

Third, realize that God is working through you when you are engaged in His work. Don’t get the big head because of some success. Don’t quit your day job and think that you are something you are not. Just as God can open a door, He can also close it. Each day, I marvel that anyone would read these. As far as I know, only two have read all 900 of these Jump Starts—that’s me and God. The “and God” part keeps one on their toes. It reminds one that the purpose of all of this is His glory and His good. It’s not about me—it’s about Him. Don’t every forget that. This is true with Jump Starts, preaching, teaching, growing a church, or growing a family.

 

Finally, pay attention to what you do. The little book, “Don’t sweat the small stuff,” isn’t what I’m after. Sweat the details. Listen to what you are saying, writing, teaching, preaching and doing. It does little good to help others, if first of all, it doesn’t help you. This is true with parenting. You want your kids to get a good nights sleep—how are you, the parent, doing with that? You want them to pay attention during worship– how are you doing with that? You want them to hang out with good people—how are you doing with that? Pay attention to what you are doing. Paul told the Romans, ‘thou that teaches, do you not teach yourself?’ Good thought. The person who has been helped the most by these, has been me. I told someone recently, that when I do stop sending these out, I will probably still get up every morning and write. This has helped shape my mind, heart and convictions. It’s been good for me. Preachers ought to be able to say the same about their preaching. Parents ought to be able to say that about parenting. It’s been good to me.

 

Thank you. Thank you for reading these. Thank you for your kind thoughts, your good ideas and your support. Now a favor, if I may. I have never really done this, but it’s time. In the words of Emeril, the cook, “Let’s turn it up a notch!” How about submitting the names of families and friends who would benefit from these Jump Starts. You can email me their names or better yet, you can subscribe them directly on the Jump Start website. Help us help more.

 

Thanks,

Roger

 

 

22

Jump Start # 899

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 899

 

Luke 19:4 “So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.”

 

Our congregation is engaged in a daily Bible reading program. Our passage today is taken from this chapter in Luke today. It involves the “wee little man,” Zaccheus. There are several interesting thoughts here. Many of us remember this lesson from Bible classes when we were children. We sang the song about the “wee little man.”

 

Jesus is passing through Jericho, where this story takes place. He is on His way to Jerusalem. He has an appointment with the cross. Even on the way to His trial and death, Jesus is thinking of others and doing things for others.

 

Word about Jesus has spread. A large crowd has assembled to see Him. Outside of Jerusalem, Jesus is still popular. Word reached Zaccheus. He just has to see for himself. Zaccheus has many things against him. He is short—which makes him the subject of jokes. He is a tax collector—worse than that, a chief tax collector and he is rich—which came from collecting taxes from his countrymen to give to the Romans. Tax collectors were not like by Jews, and chief tax collectors were at the top of those they hated.

 

It must have been a sight to see this wee little man running ahead to climb up a tree to look for Jesus. What was the attraction? Why did he want to see? I think Zaccheus had heard things about Jesus, as others had. Jesus was different. He was not in step with the Pharisees. He was healing on the Sabbath. He defended the outcast. He was doing incredible miracles. Among His chosen, was Matthew, a tax collector. Jesus had even gone to Matthew’s home. Unbelievable! Zaccheus had to get a glimpse of Jesus, a friend of tax collectors. No one was a friend of tax collectors.

 

I like Zaccheus for that reason. He heard enough to make him curious. He had to go see for himself. I doubt that he knew why Jesus was going to Jerusalem. Few knew. I doubt he expected to actually talk with Jesus, but he did. I doubt he ever dreamed that he would have Jesus in his home, a private conversation. But he did. Of all the people in that crowd, Jesus stops where Zaccheus was. He called him by name. He invited Himself to the tax collector’s home. This was one of the few times, if not the only time, Jesus invited Himself. Zaccheus changed. He promised to give half of his possessions to the poor, and if he defrauded anyone, he was going to pay back four times as much. More than the law required. He was changed.

 

It is interesting that Jesus didn’t ask him to do that. Jesus didn’t say, “Zaccheus, when we get to your house, I’d like to take a look at your tax books.” Jesus didn’t say, “Zaccheus, how’s business been lately?” Zaccheus changed without Jesus having to say any of those things. When the honest and pure Jesus stood next to Zaccheus, he wanted to be like Jesus.

 

God has a way of working on all of us like that. It’s hard to be thinking bad when you are praying. Worship services tends to bring the best out of us. Being around other Christians tends to motivate one to step up and do more. Standing next to Jesus, ought to change us.

Have you ever wondered what you would have said to Jesus had you been up that tree instead of Zaccheus? I wonder what you would have thought if Jesus said, “Come down quickly, I’m going to your house today?” Would you be excited or embarrassed? Would you feel uncomfortable, a loss for words, wondering what you and Jesus will talk about? Would we immediately think about how clean our house was or what food we have at home to give to Jesus?

 

Come down, I want to come to your house. I like that thought. Jesus could have said, “Zaccheus, stay where you are at. I’m coming up that tree so you and I can talk.” He didn’t do that. Jesus went to Zaccheus’ home. The Messiah at the home of a chief tax collector. His home, where he was comfortable. His home, where they would escape the listening ears of the crowd. His home, is where Jesus wanted to be.

 

There is a place that Jesus wants to be with you. It’s not your home. It’s even more private than that. It’s a place where you are really you. It’s a place that very few, if any really see. It’s your heart. Jesus wants to dwell in your heart. Your heart, where memories are formed, secrets are stored, when impressions are made, where we are really who we are. There are no pretenses in our heart. We do not allow others to roam free in our hearts. We keep thoughts guarded and locked in our hearts. Even our mates, the one who is most dear to us, does not get free reign in our hearts. Our words say one thing, our hearts something else. We can be good at hiding what is in our hearts, all the while telling people what they want to hear. We are good at wearing masks and hiding things. We keep things to ourselves and we keep those things in our hearts.

 

This is where Jesus wants to be. This is where He wants us to open the door and invite Him in. Our hearts. Jesus doesn’t want to just take a walk through to see that everything is tip top. No, instead, He wants to stay in our hearts. He intends to dwell in our hearts. The core of who we are, the center of what makes us unique, that’s where Jesus wants to be. He’s not so interested in the outside. He’s looking at the inside.

When you allow Jesus to dwell in your heart, like Zaccheus, you’ll change. You’ll realize that Jesus brings out the best. He wants you to be your best. Some just can’t do that. They keep the door to their hearts closed to Jesus. They will be near Jesus. They will follow Jesus. But Jesus never gets into their heart and for that reason, they never become what they could.

 

Of all the people on that Jericho road, it was Zaccheus that Jesus went home with. Jesus is wanting to move into your heart. Will you let Him? Paul told the Galatians, that he no longer lived. Rather, Christ “liveth in me.” Jesus was dwelling in Paul’s heart. The doors were open and Jesus was welcomed in. You see what it did to Paul. He changed.

 

Other than going to worship on Sunday morning, some people are not much different than the guy who never worships. Their words, attitudes, actions are all pretty much the same. You’d think there ought to be some huge differences. The reason, the one who goes to church hasn’t invited Jesus into his heart. For that reason, he’s pretty much the same guy he has always been.

 

I doubt if Zaccheus would have had the nerve to invite Jesus on his own. That didn’t happen. Jesus invited Himself. He does the same to you. We lack the nerve to ask the Lord. He stands, as Revelation says, at the door and knocks. The door is your heart.

Jesus wants to come to your house, your heart, today. Will you let Him?

Roger

 

19

Jump Start # 898

Posted on July 19, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 898

Psalms 31:14 But as for me, I trust in You, O Lord, I say, “You are my God.”

 

The core value of all relationships is trust. When trust is present, the relationship soars. This is true in a marriage. The marriage relationship grows richer and stronger because of trust. This is true between parents and children. This is true between friends. This is true in regards to our faith in God. The more we trust God the greater our faith and the richer the relationship becomes.

Trust isn’t a given. It is based upon promises made and promises kept. It is built upon experiences with a person. The death blow to all trust is lying. When a parent discovers that their teenager has been lying to him, he begins to question and doubt everything that is said. Trust has been shattered. When a person finds out that a friend has been dishonest with him, there will be distance in that relationship. Trust is the key here.

 

I have been preaching a series of lessons based upon Psalms 23—the Shepherd’s Psalm. We all know that passage very well. The underlying core value that runs through that passage is trust. The sheep trust the shepherd. The journey to green pastures, quiet waters, and dark valleys is a journey of trust. We don’t do something if we have doubts or fears. We hear a guy at work talking about a quick way to make some money. He tells us that it is a sure thing. Red flags come up. It sounds shady. We don’t have a good feeling about it. We won’t do it. Why? Lack of trust.

 

Our passage today is about trusting God. There are reasons to trust God.

 

  • He is faithful in what He says. God can be counted upon because He is true to what He says.

 

  • He has shown Himself to be trustworthy. He has been there. The pages of the Bible are much more than neat stories, ancient history, or things to talk about in a Bible class, they are records and proof of God’s character with various people. We see God in action. We see that He can be trusted.

 

  • He longs for us to believe Him and follow Him. God has left a path of reasons and evidence to believe in Him. He wants us to trust Him because He knows trust is essential for our faith to excel.

Trust God. Trust God’s word. Trust God’s promises. Trust what God says about the future. Trust what God says about forgiveness and salvation. When someone comes along and tells you that a passage doesn’t mean what it says, be careful. When someone says that he has some new insight that changes the way it has always been taught, be careful. There has always been something new, different, exciting and challenging that chips away at the trust we have in God and His word.

 

Do you trust God will never give you more than you can handle? Some doubt that.

Do you trust that God can forgive you of all your sins? Every one of them. Some doubt that.

Do you trust that God can change you? Some doubt that.

Do you trust that God can use you for good? Some doubt that.

Do you trust that God will never abandon you? Some doubt that.

Do you trust that God wants you in Heaven? Some doubt that.

 

Is it any wonder that some don’t feel close to God? The problem isn’t God, it’s a trust factor.

This trust with God is built upon the Bible. This is where we find the proof of God. This is where we see God in action. This is where hope is founded. The more Bible we have in us, the greater our faith and the stronger our trust is in God. When the storms of life move in, it is those who trust God that will survive spiritually. God will provide. God will guide. God will be there. They know that. They trust God.

 

Trust God.

Roger

 

18

Jump Start # 897

Posted on July 18, 2013 by Jump Starts Daily in Jump Starts Daily | Tagged | Leave a comment

 

Jump Start # 897

 

1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your adornment must not be merely external—braiding the hair, and wearing gold jewelry, or putting on dresses; but let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle  and quiet spirit, which is precious in the sight of God.”

 

These words of the apostle Peter are addressed toward wives. Specifically, he is addressing those wives whose husbands are not believers. Most likely, as the Gospel came into new areas, some would accept it, others would not. In a home, this created some new issues, one was a Christian and the other was not. As pressure mounted against Christianity, this stretched the limit for some in marriages where one was not a Christian. Some unbelievers would leave. Paul discussed that in 1 Corinthians 7.

 

Peter’s words are given to help Christian women convert their husbands. Those who had been disobedient to the word may be “won”, as Peter used the word, by chaste and respectful behavior of their wives. It wasn’t nagging that convinced these husbands to obey Jesus. It wasn’t threats to kick them out, sleep on the couch, or a constant screaming match that turned them. Those things usually drive a person the other way. If one begins to show interests, after all that, there is suspicion whether it is genuine or just to get the wife to hush up. That’s never good. That’s not true conversion.

 

Sometimes it is easier to talk to someone we barely know about Jesus than someone who lives under our roof. If a person has had bad experiences in the past, those issues will have to be looked at and dealt with. Some may fear things that they have heard and are afraid to ask questions. Peter’s words go beyond talking and teaching. Peter wants wives to demonstrate their faith. Show him by the way you live.

 

Our verse illustrates three common things women did back then and they still do it today, to “get ready.” They fix their hair (Peter says: braiding the hair); they put on jewelry (Peter says: gold jewelry); they pick out an outfit (Peter says, putting on dresses). It takes women longer to get ready than it does men. The typical guy needs a tooth brush, razor, shampoo, comb, cologne and one towel and he’s good to go. A guy can be ready in 10 minutes. It doesn’t work that way for women. In fact, even though men may complain and become impatient waiting on their wives getting ready, we really wouldn’t want them to be ready in 10 minutes. It takes time to look good. After 10 minutes a man has done about all he can to look his best. There’s not much more he can do. Women have all kinds of lotions, creams and things I still haven’t figured out after all these years of marriage. Guys can walk out the door with a wrinkled shirt and think nothing of it. Not the ladies. There is a lot of time, effort and thought that goes into a wife getting ready. It’s worth it, though.

 

Peter is not saying “no” to all of that. He’s not saying don’t do that. Looking good on the outside is important. However, more important, and most impressive to God, is looking good on the inside. This is where the world misses it. Too much attention is placed upon the outside of the package and no thought is given to the inside. Hollywood is the supreme example of this mentality. Two examples that I remember from sermons I have preached. Actress Cindy Crawford once said, “even I do not look like Cindy Crawford in the mornings.” Another famous actress had her picture on the cover of People Magazine. The caption described her as “Perfect.” A reporter discovered that over $1,500 dollars was spent just on touching up the photo—taking out lines, adding color and doctoring the picture to make her more perfect that what she really was.

 

Peter doesn’t want the emphasis to be on the external. A person, male or female, can wear expensive clothing, and look impressive, while carrying a sorry, selfish attitude that belittles others, is offensive and mocks the God of Heaven and earth. The clothes do not make the man. Our words, attitudes, concerns, compassion, and forgiving nature is more beautiful than anything we can put on. In fact, what I have seen through the years is that many people look better and better on the inside and that inner beauty radiates to the outside. They have a joy that makes them sparkle. They have a hope that shines in their eyes. Their lips speak of compassion. The touch of their hand, a hug, a smile is long remembered. We don’t remember what jewelry they wore, or what color of shoes they had on. But we remember the person that took time for us. We remember the person who really cared for us. We remember the thoughtful words, the encouragement and even the kick in the pants when we needed it. We remember the insides more than the outsides.

 

This contrast or lack of it is seen every where. You’ll notice it at work today. Some are dressed nice, but talk dirty. Some have spent time on their hair and nails but haven’t spent any time on their soul. It shows. The choice of words, how they talk about others, what is important to them—it all comes out quickly in a conversation.

 

Peter reminds wives to dress the insides as well as the outside. Look good on the inside. Look righteous and godly on the inside. This goes for all of us, not just wives whose husbands are not Christians. Letting the word of Christ richly dwell within us will do that. Christ living in us will do that. It is a choice. It takes time to look good on the inside. You have to brush away anger and prejudice. You have to clean up your thoughts and attitudes. You must spit shine your heart.

 

Think about your insides. That’s how your family sees you. Put some effort into looking good on the insides. Could it be that’s why many of us grew up loving our grandparents? They were old, wrinkly, and didn’t wear the latest fashions, and they may have even smelled funny—yet they had that inner beauty about them. They loved us, took time for us, and were sweet on the inside. We overlooked the outside for what we saw on the inside.

 

The insides is what makes the difference. That’s what Peter wanted wives to see. It is so powerful that some unbelieving husbands would become converted because of what they saw on the insides. We have a song, “Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me…” Do you know that hymn? It is address looking good on the inside.

 

For some reason it takes a while to learn this lesson. It’s hard for teenagers to get this. They spend so much on the outside and so little on the inside. The problem is, some never get it. They become 40 years old and they still haven’t learned that lesson. Have you?

 

Looking good on the inside—that’s what counts. That’s character. That’s heart. That’s what Jesus is interested in.

Roger