Tag Archives: churches

Don’t Waste Your Vote

My first experience with politics was during a debate I attended in Wilmington, Delaware during my senior year of high school.  Before the days of attack ads, candidates often met in public forums, hosted by local churches to give citizens a chance to see what each individual stood for and was against.  Since this site was where I went to youth group, I was a curious onlooker, sitting back and absorbing the 3 nominees.

Looking back, the most impressive individual in my eyes was a pro-life democrat.  Since the incumbent was a Rhino Republican with all the experience and money, my guy never had a chance.  Unfortunately, pro-life democrats at the national level have become extinct.  In fact, the Progressive Movement has swallowed up the entire Democrat Party with eyes on engulfing the Republican Party as well.  As Independents sell their votes to the highest bidder, its easy to become a disenfranchised voter.

However, as Election Day 2014 arrives on Tuesday, don’t waste your vote.  While you might have voted your party line, cast your ballet for who your peers suggested or bet on the person who promised you the most, make your vote count this year.  Listen to the 4 men in the you tube attached as each have experienced a defining moment.  In view of potential fraud, a biased media and illegal votes already cast in several states, make the most of your privilege to select the future leaders in America.

by Jay Mankus

 

To Hell With You

The other night at Bible Study, an impromptu discussion broke out about how hypocritical Christians can be.  In fact, every year people who are seeking God become turned off by churches, pastors and modern day Pharisees who care more about traditions than displaying the love of Jesus.  Instead of continuing their search, hurt people have decided to stay at home, finding other things to do on Sunday.

In business, there was a an old principle called the 3/10.  For every good experience an individual has, they will tell 3 other people.  However, whenever a customer encounters poor service, they reach out to 10 people, sharing their disappointment and frustrations.  Recently, a new ratio has replaced the 3/10 now known as the 11/4 principle, with the negative being the higher number.  Since first impressions often have lasting affects, if you’re not careful, someone might say, ” to hell with you and your religion!”

 

Unfortunately, the reality in life entices most people to get a little too comfortable, caught off guard by unknowing observers.  As a result, Christianity becomes less and less attractive to Americans due to the bad taste of judgmental believers.  In the end, something has to give, either the offended will give God another try or immature followers of Jesus will grow up by starting to resemble the son of God.  Whenever you are on the road of life, Matthew 7:13-14, may God nudge you back in the right direction.

by Jay Mankus

The Great Fortune Teller

crystal ball photo: Crystal Ball Crystal_ball.jpg

Modern fortune tellers rely on crystal balls, horoscopes, psychics and tarot cards to predict information about a person’s life.  At the turn of the first century, there was a girl from Philippi, a city on the north shores of the Aegean Sea, who possessed a powerful spirit.  According to Acts 16:16, she was purchased by a group of businessmen who greatly profited from her ability to predict the future.  While unknown, apparently this young girl was tired of being enslaved, reaching out to the apostle Paul by interrupting his ministry, Acts 16:17.  Thus, Paul was left with no choice, casting out the demon within her along with this special ability, Acts 16:18-19.  Although this girl was delivered from her bondage, Paul and Silas received a night in the slammer for their efforts, putting the slave owners out of the fortune telling business, Acts 16:19.

Today, fortune telling is considered taboo for many Christians to discuss, especially within evangelical circles.  By squashing debate on this topic within churches, people are overlooking the greatest fortune teller of all time.  In the gospel of Mark alone, Jesus is a perfect 21 for 21 without counting the same category twice.  The Holy Spirit, poured out upon Jesus during his baptism in Mark 1:12 enabled God’s son to read hearts, minds, motives and thoughts.  In addition, Jesus predicted betrayals, conversations, foresaw shortcomings, future events and reactions of his disciples and religious leaders.  A prophet may be perceived as getting lucky if they go lets say 3 for 3 on predictions.  Yet, once you foretell 21 future events exactly as they occur, luck is taken out of the equation.

I think one of the main reasons the Bible is under attack by college professors, scrutinized by the media and considered obsolete by Naturalistic Scholars is due to fear from within that Scripture does foretell the future.  Based upon Revelation 20:7-15, in the end, Satan loses, the Book of life will be opened, each person will be judged according to what they have done on earth and God’s sheep will be separated from the goats who will spend eternity in hell.  Though only the Father knows the date, year and time of day, Mark 13:32, the future is pretty obvious.  Use your talents that the Master has given you on this earth while you still have time, Matthew 25:14-30, before Jesus’ eminent return.

by Jay Mankus

Fortune Telling References:

Mark 2:8-11, 18-20, Mark 4:37-40, Mark 5:36-41, Mark 6:4-6, 38-44, 48-52, Mark 7:6-13, Mark 8:16-21, 31-32, Mark 9:17-29, 31-32, Mark 10:22, 32-35, 41, Mark 11:1-7, 17, Mark 12:38-40, Mark 13:32, Mark 14:6-9, 12-16, 18-21, 24-25, Mark 14:30-31, 42, 62, 66-72.  All verses are from the New International Version of the Bible.

What Have You Done For Me Lately?

A week ago, I was standing at a podium, preaching the message God had placed on my heart for a local congregation.  For one of the first times in a year, I was exactly where God wanted me to be.  However, after the accolades, encouraging words and thanks faded, the Holy Spirit put a new thought on my mind.  Christianity is not about one experience; its about the journey which leads you to heaven.  Therefore, don’t think you have arrived!  Rather, ask yourself, what how you done for God lately?

Beginning in Matthew 24, Matthew devotes 2 chapters to Jesus’ teaching on End Times Theology.  Jesus concludes his lesson with a series of parables, stories that illustrate a biblical truth.  The final one is entitled, The Sheep and the Goats, based upon the Old Testament principle of clean and unclean animals, Matthew 25:31-46.  As I reflect upon the words of verses 41-43, I am guilty as charged.  I pass by homeless people weekly, turning my head, ashamed that I don’t have any spare money to give.  Meanwhile, I am surrounded by sick people in my neighborhood, yet the busyness of life has prevented me from fulfilling this passage.  Jesus’ words pierce my heart, haunting me by my lack of action to the least of these.

Instead of following the Acts 2:42-47 and Acts 4:32-36 blueprint, many churches have deviated from this model.  While the elderly, ex-cons, homeless and ill have been pushed aside, many churches are pouring their money into extravagant facilities.  This latest version of Christianity is cleaner, leaner and in some cases, meaner, failing to provide for the needy.  Although the easy answer is to automatically believe you are a sheep, watch out that pride doesn’t leave you like a goat, on the outside looking in.  As judgment day approaches, Matthew 10:32-42, prepare yourself for life’s final exam now.  With just one question to study for, Jesus’ words will echo throughout this room, “What have you done for Me lately?”

by Jay Mankus

The Land of Lost Love

Pink Floyd once sang about what I feel in my heart today in their song Comfortably Numb.  The 4th stanza’s lyrics express the following: “There is no pain you are receding; A distant ship’s smoke on the horizon; You are only coming through in waves; Your lips move, But I can’t hear what you’re saying.”  My issue is not with words.  Rather, my concern is with a lack of action.  After reading Proverbs 17 this morning, I am left to question, where has all the love gone in America?

According to verse 9, anyone who covers over an offense promotes love.  Unfortunately, what I watch on television or experience in life is another story.  Reality Television series ratings seem to skyrocket when cursing, drama and fights are portrayed.  While a friend is suppose to love at all times, Proverbs 17:17, back stabbing, gossip and trash talking appear to sell, making Hollywood millions of dollars each year.  Meanwhile, family value shows are becoming extinct or cast off like Marshall, Will and Holly into the Land of the Lost.

The only kind of love I regularly see is eros, the Greek word for sensual or sexual love.  Every time I go to buy groceries, magazines surround the checkout counter, filling your mind with unwholesome thoughts if you’re not careful.  Philia, the Greek word for brotherly love pops its head up from time to time.  People like Tim Tebow, Bethany Hamilton and communities like Ocean City, New Jersey keep this kind of love alive.  However, agape, translated unconditional love is even vanishing from churches.  Grudges, power hungry individuals and unforgiveness is stripping Christianity from its main attraction.

Instead of living in a land of love, crushed spirits continue to reign, Proverbs 17:22.  In the absence of a cheerful heart, the medicine people seek is missing, awol, absent without love.  If there ever was a time for the fulfillment of Ezekiel 22:30, the time is now.  Who will stand in the gap of a unloving world and love the unlovable?  If someone doesn’t act quickly, we might all become comfortably numb.  Developing a Philippians 4:8-9 mindset is a good place to start.  The rest depends on how well people live out the Bible.  Choose agape love today!

by Jay Mankus

Polar Opposites

When you travel the country like I did during the 1990’s, you become exposed to various cultures, expressions and traditions.  As I pursued my dreams by following my heart, God led me to nearly one hundred different churches that I attended here and there.  One met in a house, another in a barn, some met in gymnasiums and schools and the most impressive had its own little city.  However, what I soon discovered, their biblical messages were polar opposites.

On one extreme, I heard remnants from the Fire and Brimstone sermons of the 1970’s.  These churches still believed that all dancing and music was from the devil.  Pastor’s preached about burning any idol from your past, severing relationships with all non-Christians and do everything humanly possible to escape the gates of hell.  This view of the Bible eliminates personality and the ability an outgoing person can have on reaching out to lost souls like the apostle Paul in the book of Acts.  Meanwhile, this perspective emphasizes the Old Testament nature of God’s judgment by diminishing the love of Jesus in the New Testament.  In a sense, this is just one side of the story.

On the other side of the aisle, I was introduced to the prosperity gospel.  This theological position merely stresses the positives of God, neglecting any reference to failure, setback or trial.  I quickly found that this rosey picture of life professed by pastors from their pulpits did not exist in my world.  When I gave money in the offering plate, I didn’t receive back one hundred or one thousand fold like a few television evangelist promised.  In addition, their altar call message, “just come to Jesus and everything will go well for you” was hallow.  It’s no wonder that when Ghandi was alive he once said, “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians.”

Unfortunately, these 2 polar opposites miss the mark of properly explaining the message of the gospel.  This good news or good tidings, depending upon your translation of the Bible, can be condensed by a few verses like Romans 5:8.  The baby Jesus fulfilled His purpose by dying for sinners.  John 3:16 provides the answer to how people should respond to Jesus’ sacrifice.  Finally, Galatians 5:6 narrows down life to own thing, “faith expressing itself through the love of Jesus.”  As you travel down the bumpy road called life, test everything you hear in church with the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 so that you can stay along the Equator, in the center of God’s will!

by Jay Mankus