Tag Archives: church

In the Middle Seat

Before the days of mandatory car seats and vehicles with air conditioning, I usually found myself in the middle seat, between my 2 older sisters.  Recently, I was forced to take the only empty seat on an airplane, traveling from Chicago to Los Angelos for 4 hours with 2 strangers.  Whether as a child or adult, being caught in between can be unsettling.  Yet, while in this position, you have the ability to influence others.

After serving 6 years on a church board, I realized that I was sitting in the middle pew, between the shepherd and his sheep. John 10:1-5.  Unfortunately, I lost sight of the role God had placed me in.  A similar fate spread to most of the other elders, who wilted when the going got tough.  Although I thought I had done what I could, hindsight has revealed I should have been more proactive in protecting God’s flock.

From a modern perspective, the man and or woman in the middle has a great opportunity to sway others toward their worldview.  When a leader seizes the moment, their witness, good or bad, can mold, shape and transform innocent bystanders, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.  By rubbing off on those whom you encounter, you have the power to Leave Jesus as portrayed in Send the Beggar’s song on their Closer to Complete album.  Therefore, if you want to leave your mark on this generation, don’t let the sun go down until you have maximized each moment you find yourself sitting in the middle seat.

by Jay Mankus

It Doesn’t Mean A Thing!

This generation of Americans like to talk, boasting about their own greatness, often stretching the truth beyond reality.  Athletes tend to trash talk.  Students seek to publicly display their knowledge.  Socialites enjoy shooting the breeze.  Yet, words don’t mean a thing, unless others see you serving Christ the King!

Meanwhile, modern churches are gravitating toward theology.  In an honest attempt to maintain biblical accuracy, some are falling prey to paralysis by over-analysis.  Flaunting their intelligence, church leaders are missing the mark set by Jesus in Matthew 22:37-40 and the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:6.  Likewise, theology doesn’t mean a thing unless the love of Jesus is in the tune you sing.

The apostle Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 is a message many church goers are overlooking.  Sure, you should understand the context of the Bible.  Yes, theology is important to preserve the correct interpretation of God’s Word.  However, the world continues to be turned off by Christians who misrepresent followers of God.  Thus, love doesn’t mean a thing, unless action is seen, not spoken.  Shine the light of the king today, Matthew 5:13!

by Jay Mankus

Living on the Dark Side

In March of 1973, Pink Floyd released their 8th album entitled The Dark Side of the Moon.  This Abbey Road production included 4 major themes: conflict, greed, mental illness and time.  Less than a decade later, the movie industry introduced another dark side through the Star Wars episodes.  Famous Jedi Knight Obi-Wan Kenobi explained this force with the following quote.  “It takes strength to resist the dark side.  Only the weak embrace it!

Jesus speaks of a spiritual dark side in John 3:19-21.  Jesus introduces this concept with a verdict, a decision which unveils a reality of life, people are attracted to darkness and evil.  Like the show Bad Boys, society tends to gravitate toward those living on the dark side.   According to Jesus, people stay on the dark side out of fear their deeds will be exposed.  Like a vampire afraid of the light, many choose to live in rebellion against authority, blazing a new trail in the dark.

Unfortunately, there are some people who have never experienced the light, from their family or spheres of influences.  Living a life without church, healthy role models and positive reinforcement, result in a Ephesians 4:18-19 lifestyle.  Not giving up on these residents, Jesus leaves a simple message for anyone willing to change their mind in John 3:21.  Reinforced by the words of 1 John 1:5-10, Jesus is waiting for many to come back home into the light, Luke 15:20!

by Jay Mankus

My Two Cents

During my junior year of college, I once attended a local church in Newark, Delaware, in walking distance of the University of Delaware campus.  Up to this point, I had never experienced a pentecostal worship service.  Beside realizing I couldn’t keep a beat or stay on clap with the regular members, something unusual happened during the tithe.  I have heard of 2 different offerings occasionally, one for the church and another for missions or a needy family.  However, this church had the quickest counters I have ever seen, informing the pastor after the song, there wasn’t enough money collected.

Since I was a typically college student at the time, poor with a few singles and some change in my pocket, I passed on my first opportunity to give.  Moments later, the pastor began preaching on Malachi 3:6-10, so I obliged giving nearly half of what I had in my wallet.  Just when I thought the actual sermon would begin, this preacher began to shout, “yelling you have to give until it hurts,” like the widow in Mark 12:41-44, informing the ushers to make one more pass around the pews.  Although the message he was trying to communicate was clear, this pastor’s tone turned my roommates and I off, never stepping foot into that church again.

I believe tithing is like going to church, reading the Bible or praying.  If someone forces you to do any of these biblical principles, you may agree to do it, yet there is a void which exists within your heart.  When you take ownership of your faith, you want to go to church, read the Bible and pray.  Therefore, your heart is the key to giving, which led the widow to offer up her 2 copper coins worth a fraction of a modern penny in Mark 12.  For what it is worth, my two cents are give in secret, Matthew 6:3-4 and give back to others what God has bestowed upon you, Galatians 6:9-10.

by Jay Mankus

The Hiding Place

Hebrews 13:2 suggests that your life may intersect or come in contact with an angel.  From my vantage point, God has blessed me with several acquaintances in life, most of whom are flesh and blood.  Yet, there has only been one person who has introduced me to spiritual Hiding Places.

During a college internship southeast of Cleveland, Ohio, I met a construction worker unlike any human being I have ever encountered.  This young man worked hard at his trade, stood up for his faith daily and modeled a Christ like faith.  As we drew closer through a weekly Bible Study and church, Chris showed me a hidden gem on his property.  Formerly a Boy Scout Camp, his parents’ land contained an abandoned cabin in the woods.

This quaint setting became his closet, Matthew 6:6.  Prior to the invention of 5 Hour Energy Drinks, Chris used this room to access living water, John 4:13-14.  On bended knees, with out stretched arms toward heaven, the power of the Holy Spirit filled Chris’ each morning.  Followed by a consistent dose of God’s Word, my friend was ready for anything life threw his way, 1 Peter 3:15-16.  This remote building provided an ideal location to access the secret places of God, Song of Solomon 2:14.

As the world continues to search for alternative solutions to God, mere imitations continue to come up empty, time after time.  Artificial replacements might produce a  brief desire, energy boast or initial feeling, yet only one thing satisfies the human soul.  Jesus remains the only Real Thing in life that quenches the void within your heart.  If you want to taste success in life, find your own hiding place today, Psalm 143:9.  Create an atmosphere free from distractions, peaceful and isolated like the picture above.  The Bread of Life is waiting for you to arrive, John 6:47-48.

by Jay Mankus

Supersize Your Faith

In the 2004 documentary film Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock wanted to know how eating 3 meals a day at McDonald’s for 30 consecutive days would impact his body.  Thus, from February 1st thru March 2nd, Morgan ate every item on the menu at least once.  The 32 year old gained nearly 25 pounds in one month, consuming 5,000 calories on average per day.  As a result, McDonald’s no longer has a Supersize Value Meal and state governments are creating legislation to eliminate soft drinks larger than 16 ounces.  While local officials are trying to attack my 7Eleven Big Gulp, I would rather supersize my faith than my body.

In the Greek, there are 2 words used to describe time: kronis and kairos.  Kronis refers to when someone asks or wants to know the exact time.  Kairos means a specific place; a special moment in time.  Mark 1:15-16 contains a quote from Jesus, “The time has come, he said.  The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!”  The context of the term repent is like making a u-turn away from sin, back toward God.  Jesus wants people to change their diets so you make reach the future God has for you, Jeremiah 29:11.  In view of this, I want to propose the Supersize Your Faith Challenge.

Beginning March 1st, 2013 thru March 30th, 2013, I invite you to take a leap of faith.  I am urging all who are interested to try 3 spiritual disciplines for 30 days.  The first is reading 3 chapters of the Bible per day, 90 total.  To remember what you read, keep a notebook of any Insight you receive, Question you have and Actions you can take daily.  I will post any question you may have and try to answer it or seek another scholar to satisfy your request.

Second, I want everyone who participates to create a separate prayer journal for the month of March.  I am asking everyone to spend 30 minutes per day total, writing down prayers and praying.  To stay on task, start with any Petition you want to ask God for, then move on to Repenting any sin of action or inaction, followed by words of Adoration, thanking God for completely forgiving you and end with Your own concerns.  This usually consists of personal, family, school, work, neighborhood and church requests.  Feel free to add whatever the Holy Spirit puts on your heart.

Finally, the last piece of this challenge involves getting plugged into a local church.  Depending upon the size and scope of a church, you may want to join a weekly Accountability, Bible Study, Prayer or Sunday School Group.  Besides the obvious, attending church, reach out to people who look lost, aren’t connected or appear to be having a bad day.  Like Philip in Acts 8, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes during the 30 days of March to become the hands, feet and body of Christ!  The time is now, kairos, to consider accepting the Supersize Challenge!

by Jay Mankus

Please notify me if you are willing to embrace this adventure.

So Close, But yet So Far

While I was tempted to name today’s blog, “So Close, but No Cigar,” common sense kept me from wavering off topic.  As I listened to Jentezen Franklin’s sermon on the Trinity Broadcast Network before attending church on Sunday, the Holy Spirit jogged my memory of the walls of resistance which deny believers from entering God’s promised land.  Moses dedicated his entire life to the nation of Israel, foregoing the riches of Egypt, Hebrews 11:24-27, yet the closest he came to a land flowing with milk and honey was a view from atop Mount Nebo.  Why did God deny him this privilege?  According to Numbers 20:6-13, Moses failed to carefully obey God’s command, striking a rock twice instead of just once.

Obedience is one wall to climb, but sometimes your own circumstances prove too much for a person to overcome.  Although hard to believe, my friend Harry endured a brutal set of events, triggering a back slide of historic proportions.  The person who led him to Christ committed suicide shortly after his conversion.  In the weeks that followed, one of his youth leaders who began to ease his pain, had an affair and abruptly abandoned the ministry, moving to California.  These poor witnesses kept Harry from entering a church for nearly 20 years.  My friend Eddy and I never thought Harry had been to church until a divine appointment at Cedar Point Amusement Park, reintroduced Harry to his former youth pastor.  In one moment, 20 years of severance was reunited, the first of many steps toward healing his bruised, confused and wounded heart.

Whether you feel like Moses today, with a mountain standing in between you and your dreams or as Harry did, coming to grips with a desolate soul, remember that sanctification is an on going process, not complete until the Lord takes you home.  Sure, you might have mountain top experiences, yet there is always a valley between mountains.  You may want answers, transformation and victory immediately, but sanctification occurs gradually, through a day by day process, Ephesians 2:3-7.  Therefore, live each moment on earth with a James 4:15 mindset, recognizing that you are close, but yet so far!

by Jay Mankus