Who Is In?

So many times in life we can remember when a group would get an idea and set up a quick plan and then ask the question, "Who is in?" Sometimes it would be as simple as going to get pizza or to see a movie. Other times it would be a covert mission to roll a yard or play some prank.

It is in our human nature to want to be a part of what is going on, but some personalities are willing to be in on everything and some would rather stay back and hold down the fort. Usually it depends on who is ask the question, "Who is in?"

The apostle Paul was traveling all over the place asking everyone to get in on this following Christ thing. Of course, he saw Jesus and was carrying out the mission that was given him. He had some angels appear to him to keep him going in times of distress. He saw people healed and lives changed over and over again.

We serve the same God that Paul did and we have the same resources that he had. If you have accepted Christ as your Savior then you have encountered Christ and He has given you a mission. You have the Holy Spirit that lives in you and He is there to help you. If you carry out the mission of sharing the gospel of Christ, just like Paul, then you to will see lives changed and people healed.

So, who is in?

Where are the disciples?

Would you please stand up?

Please speak up!

God's will is for the kingdom to grow through the church. God's will is for all of his followers is to carry out that mission by sharing the gospel with everyone, baptizing, and teaching all that Jesus has taught. There is not another plan. Pastor David Platt of Birmingham, AL. says, "There is no plan B." Who is going to tell those around you if you do not tell them that Jesus is the only way to be in a relationship with God for eternity?

If you choose to accept this mission you will be persecuted, put down, put aside, ridiculed, looked down on, and not shown favoritism by this culture. You will, however, receive the most incredible reward when Christ returns. That reward is eternal life with Jesus Christ in His kingdom.

After Jesus rose from the dead and came to the disciples hiding out in the upper room, He gave them their mission and ascended into heaven. They were afraid for their lives because of what their own Jewish leaders would do to them. They saw what they did to Jesus. It makes since that after Jesus ascended that the question was asked, "Who is in?"

Many of the disciples went out of that upper room with the apostles (those who where with Christ during his ministry) and they took on the world for Christ. What a mission. I wonder though if there were not some that said, "I think I will stay in this upper room and you all go carry out that mission that Jesus just instructed us to carry out." I wonder if some were not in.

Where are the disciples today?

Are you in?

You are not alone.

Let's Roll

20 and 30 Somethings

All over the nation there are cries going out that there is a young generation that is turning from the faith. Parents and grandparents are concerned that their young ones are going to be lost to this world. Churches are concerned that there will not be anyone to continue the work of God's church after they pass on. Books are being published and articles written on what to do to save the declining church.

What do we do? How do we reach this generation?

One article in the November 2010 issue of Christianity Today stated that three out of four teenagers will leave the faith. The article was entitled "The Leavers" and Drew Dyke used stats when he wrote, "The Barna Group estimates that 80 percent of those reared in the church will be 'disengaged' by the time they are 29." The jest of the article was how to reengage this generation and he went on to say, "Ultimately we will have to undertake the slow but fruitful work of building relationships with those who have left the faith."

Relationships are the answer to reaching this generation.

What does it mean to build a relationship? How do we do this?

It is as if I was hit by a ball bat when I heard a music minister, "They (the lost) know where the doors are to the church and they can just come on in when they want." I still remember the statement made by a lady in response to me suggesting a way to build a half pipe for skateboarders to use on the church property. She said, "No honey. Don't do that. You will have every kid in the neighborhood up here." I walked away from both conversations in shock. It is shocking to me when is see the church try to keep everything the way it has always been and expect this generation to just follow suit.

How do we build relationships with people when we are not inclusive? 

2 Timothy 3 states, "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God -- having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them."

Christians everywhere would jump up and scream thats right. Have nothing to do with them. I would go so far to say that this generation is saying this verse is a good description of the people in church today and they are doing what the verse commands. They are having nothing to do with those Christ followers. They would rather go join the cults and false religions where they experience love.

Our relationship with God is the key to our relationships with everyone. When one reads the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20 one can see that the first half deal with our relationship to God and the second half deal with our relationship with others. The same is the case when looking at the Beatitudes in Matthew 5.

Believers in Jesus Christ that are in the church today need to embrace spiritual maturity. Let go of all the laws that we have created for worship, and discipleship (just like the Pharisees). Get before God through prayer and reading His word in order to be more open to His way of loving and reaching this generation.

What is the alternative?

The definition of insanity is to do the same thing you have always done and expect different results.

   

So Many Questions

Remember when you were in school and the English teacher always told you about the who, what, where, when, why, and how? Some men might label those as the women questions. You know how men will simply except the fact stated and not have all the answers for a woman when she asks more about an issue.

So many times in my life I have failed at asking more detailed questions about issues in order to answer all of the questions that all of the women in my life ask about a situation. Yet, so many times when God asks me to move in a direction I would like to have all the facts up front. We all want the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions answered before we step.

I still laugh when I think of when my family and I moved to New Orleans to attend the Baptist Seminary. As soon as I arrived I was getting hit with questions about my calling. With whom are you going to serve? What position are you going to get? Where are you going to serve? When are you going to get to it? Why are you serving in that capacity? How are you going to balance school and serving?

My reply to those questions showed that my who, what, where, when, why, and how perspective was totally different. I was asking who they were, what was I to do to get my family settled, where was my apartment, where were my kids to attend school, when do I have to pay, why are you asking me to serve, and how do I do all of this at one time?

God is the creator of the world and the one that loves us more than we can understand. If we are truly trusting Him then we do not have to have all of the details. The funny thing is that if we are focused on the Bible then we have all of the who, what, where, when, why, and how questions answered. On top of that we have the Holy Spirit that guides us through our calling. Wow, it is easier to follow Christ than it is to follow man.

The answer to all of the questions is found through the Bible and prayer.

What source are you using to get all the answers?

Can one discern God's will without reading His word?

I challenge everyone to read a book of the Bible. Start with John and then read John again. When you finish that book, read the book of John. Get with me after that and I can help you with a more complex reading plan where you start at the beginning and read all the way to the maps.

Rescue Them All

All the world is cheering because the 33 miners in Chile were rescued after spending months underground in very uncomfortable conditions. Everyone has been discussing the rescue situation for the past couple of days. My twelve year old son was making sure that I was updated on the situation. He even confirmed with me this morning by saying, "They got all of them out Daddy."

Tears come to my eyes when I see the concern of my son for those that were in a bad situation. Tears come to my eyes when I think of the joy of the reuniting of the families. Tears flow as I think of the unity of all of the world over the efforts of saving 33 men.

My heart is broken because I think of the lack of unity, enthusiasm, cooperation, urgency, and love for the people who are destined for an eternity in hell. The shift leader, Luis Urzua, that helped rally the men and keep them alive was quoted saying, "Under a sea of rock, we are waiting for the whole of Chile to pull hard so that we can be taken out of this hell." There are many people that are waiting on all of God's people to cooperate in getting the truth out in order to save people from the hell that separates them from an eternity with God.

CNN and thousands of other reporters where present during this ordeal and CNN reported, "As he (Luis) reached close to ground level, signaled by a blaring signal, the way it did for each man before him, emotions on the ground reached a fever pitch. Several sirens were blaring. The crowd erupted into applause - and Pinera, the Chilean president, clasped his hands together and held a wide smile on his face - and finally a sign of relief."

What a celebration. You know where I am going with this. How do we respond when one person responds to God by believing, repenting, and giving their life to Him? Do we have sirens going off? Are there thousands of reporters present? Are the cheers overwhelming?

Jesus tells a story of a man who finds his lost sheep and how this man wants people to rejoice with him. Jesus states, "I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not repent." (John 15:7)

Luis is quoted at the end of the CNN article saying, "I hope this will never happen again. I hope that the Chilean mining will be different, that things will be done correctly. I'm proud of being Chilean."

I am so excited about this rescue and I am so happy for the unity and cooperation that occurred in order to save lives. I too hope this never happens again. I hope that no one will be in hell. I hope that the children of God will do things correctly. I am proud to be a child of the King.

Go share the truth with someone in order that they may be rescued by the truth of Jesus Christ.

Provision

Worry and anxiety seem to be involuntary. No matter your faith or your fortitude to keep from worrying is still present in our lives.

In our striving for super spirituality we cling to the idea that we will worry about nothing. Concern is another word for worry that helps us think that we are maintaining our faith in God being in control.

Jesus says, "Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" (Matt. 6:25)

I have to confess that sometimes I am concerned about my boys when they are not with me. I am concerned sometimes when bills are due and the money is short. I am concerned about my brother who is going to have surgery.

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS.

All Christians would say they feel the same about people knowing the truth, but where are the citizens of the kingdom of God that are sharing the truth? Is there really a concern for the eternal lives of our friends and loved ones?

Jesus said do not worry about your life. His concern for others and lack of concern for his own life caused him to go all the way to the cross. What are you concerned about? How far will you go for others to know the one thing that matters for their eternal life? Can you go all...the...way?

Worry about the future is also addressed by Jesus in the same chapter of Matthew. He says, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.? (Matt. 6:34)

This lesson came to the doorstep of MCB. Knowing that everything is God's we would think we never worry about money to do kingdom work. One would think we would step out on faith and reach the world for Him. Our future is victory in Christ. We...are...going...all...the...way!

God proved that He will provide by sending someone by our church to give us a gift. This person is not a member of the church nor known by anyone in the church. She came in after the mid-week Bible study and slipped me an envelope and said she wanted to give the church a gift. She left and when I opened the envelope it was a gift of $10.000.00.

Are you worried or are you willing to risk everything for His will?

Do you believe He will provide everything needed for His kingdom work?

It's not about our lives. It is about His will.

Can Perfection Be Obtained?

Education Nation is all over the news. The rumor is that we have a problem with our education system in America and therefore a summit has been put on to see if the problem can be resolved. We want a perfect education system.

I have two boys in the current education system and they are doing well. The two of them make decent grades and they both handle themselves very well when dealing with others. They even deal with stressful situations in a very healthy way. But they are not perfect and I am glad. Some parents want perfect kids.

What is our definition of perfect? Many would say a perfect student is one that maintains a 4.0 grade point average since kindergarden. Another would say that perfection would be seen in a student that has the 4.0 GPA, an athlete, comedian, great debater, in ROTC, dresses well, has perfect hair, and serves meals to the homeless. Oh, and he or she is involved in a religious organization. Many want perfect students.

Just recently I was in a funny discussion about what congregations want in a pastor. We were saying that the perfect pastor must be a male, married, 2.3 children, good looking, athletic, funny, in late twenties, and have forty years of experience. On top of all that he must never offend any congregant. The perfect pastor looks different to each person, therefore their could be many more criteria added to the list. Many want to have the perfect pastor.

What does the perfect church look like? Thom Rainer and Ed Stetzer have released a book entitled Transformational Church. They have surveyed over 7,000 churches and interviewed over 250 pastors in order to gather data to see what churches out there are doing that is making a difference in peoples lives. They have realized that a new score card for churches exist and it does not match the grade card of the past. The perfect church is different for each individual, but most of the grading scale of the past depended on number or people, square footage, and budgets. The larger the better. Many want the perfect church.

Can perfection be obtained in our students, pastors, and churches? We all want to strive for perfection but it is very difficult to define perfection with so many different perspectives.

There is one perfect perspective that comes from a perfect creator. When we read God's word we see that all of His plans worked out perfectly for His glory and each time the plans were out of this world. We continue to find that no one would plan for Moses to become the leader of God's people in the manner in which he did. No one would plan for Joseph to go through what he went through in order to become the most powerful man in Egypt. Which in turn was the salvation of God's people. People thought Jesus was going to overthrow the Roman empire in order to save God's people. God's plans are perfect.

Can perfection be obtained? Yes. Perfection is obtained when God's will is done and He gets all of the glory. So, what are we doing to achieve perfection? We can conclude that dealing with man's plan will not achieve perfection.

Is God the center of the Education Nation summit? Is God the center of our students lives? Is God's will what we all are seeking for a pastor? Is the church seeking God's will?

I am reconciled with God and that is perfect. I am still a sinner and not perfect, but I want God's perfect will for my life, my wife, my children, my family, my church family, my community, and the world.

When Christ returns He will set up His perfect kingdom here on earth. You can be apart of that kingdom if you will pray to God and admit you are a sinner. Ask Him to forgive you for your sins. Believe that Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for you sins and follow God's plan by serving Him, not man. Get involved in a Bible believing church where you can work out your salvation with a body of imperfect, forgiven people. Nothing is more perfect in the world than being a child of the king.

Can't We All Just Get Along?

"Can't we all just get along?" That is a quote that was famous a few years back when a young man was interviewed after being beaten by police. This phrase came to my mind as the recent news of Dr. Terry Jones wanted to burn some books. My mind also flashes back through history as I think of all of the book burnings that Martin Luther was dealing with in his time. We all can remember the book burning in the movie Footloose. If we are scared of it then we need to destroy it, suppress it, or run from it. The black man that was beaten in Los Angeles asked if everyone couldn't just get along and I want to ask if Christians can't just get along with those that do not know or understand the truth and even get along with each other.

Islam is a religion of peace. They base their religion on five principles or pillars. Followers must (1) profess Allah as the only one to worship and Muhammad is the messenger of Allah (2) Pray (3) Give (4) make pilgrimage to house of Allah once in life (5) and fast. It is obvious that Islam is not Christianity and they do not believe that Jesus is God, but they do not have any pillars that seem to be violent.

Islam has some zealots just like Christianity has zealots. There are many times that I have put myself in the same category as Peter when Jesus put him in his place. Peter is the one that cut the ear off of the soldier that was taking Jesus into custody.

Dr. Jones was wanting to make a statement that he and his church love God and this country and they want to do what they can to stamp out anything that is an attack on either. We must give the church in Gainesville some love as they try to recover from this outburst and we must show the love to the Muslims as they deal with the effects.

The Jesus I follow is about the LOVE.

We can get along. Share the gospel with a Muslim.

We didn't even touch on Christians getting along with one another.

Wouldn't it be great?

BE QUIET

Worship this Sunday was unique in that I had to come up with some filler due to some technical difficulties. Some how the CD player got disconnected in the sound booth and there was a little time that the service was simply sitting in total silence. Of course, you're thinking like everyone else. The pastor needs to get up and do something. I did eventually get up and provide some filler, but the silence I let envelope the service. Many of us would call it awkward silence.

It is amazing how we can think that the silence would mess up the service or that the silence was not in the bulletin and therefore no one would know that the silence was coming. Some would think the entire service was a disaster. I tell you that the service went great and that silence was a great segment of the worship service. We are so tied up in society with everything being fast and furious. Information flying and fast food is not fast enough. Television is even set up to have no pauses in order to keep our attention. Silence is a great thing and silence in worship is an act of worship in itself.

Jesus was teaching the Pharisees in Luke 11 that they were so caught up in the prestige that they were missing out on the main thing. He told them that they were more caught up on the idea of where they stand in the synagogue than they were caught up on worship.

May we not ever get caught up on how the service is supposed to go every Sunday. May we not focus what is on the outside, but let us focus on worship. The pharisees where mad at Jesus because he didn't wash his hands before he ate. Like Jesus needs to wash his hands to do anything. May we not get caught up on the process, but let us be caught up on the greatness of the God who loves us.

I got up and broke the awkward silence by speaking on the blessing of awkward silence in our lives. BE QUIET TODAY and read Psalm 46:10 and Zechariah 2:13.

Put Down Da Roots

Jesus may not have anywhere to lay his head, but he provided us a house.

My family and I are now in a house after living in Chattanooga for a year and we are officially settling down in Chatt town. It is relieving and stressful all at the same time. The house needs a great deal of work and yet we now have space to not be on top of each other. Having a house frees our mind of thinking about getting one and yet our commitment level to the area has just gone up. We are no longer in an apartment where we can just get out of a lease and move on. We are committed to this area and when we get the house looking good we may have to be committed to a another facility because we may go insane.

It has been difficult moving around and being in transit for the past four years. It is difficult to do many things. Raising children is difficult. Balancing a family budget can be difficult. Running a business and even pastoring a church is very difficult. Jesus teaches in Luke 10 that it is very difficult to follow him. He actually spends time talking people out of following him. My family and I are here to testify that it is true. It is difficult to be committed to Christ, but we are having the time of our lives.

BJ and Brett are doing great in school. They are making numerous friends and building relationships that will last a lifetime. They are sharing their faith with numerous lost friends and BJ is filling up the pews on Sunday mornings. The boys are putting down da roots.

Karen is having a great time in her job. She is working hours that she loves and getting to develop some great relationships with many that don't know Jesus. She has been placed in a great position to help balance her family and her career. She is leading the youth bible study at church and leading a women's bible study every other week. Karen is putting down da roots.

As for me, things are going great also. The Holy Spirit is doing great things in my life. Things such as four people coming to be baptized, finding a house in the perfect location, getting to share my faith, and all the way down to us finding two lab puppies next to a garbage can. Every detail of my life is super duper. My personal relationship with God is more intimate than ever and I am having fun. I too am putting down da roots.

What now?

Here I am in a daze. Some would say that I stay in a daze, but I have just finished my education and I am numb. School for me like everyone else began in Kindergarden and I made it through High School. Shortly after High School I went in the Army and spent five years in what felt like constant school. We trained for everything in the world. Two years after getting out of the Army I began college and here I am with a Master's Degree. This is a new place for me and my family. We have not just finished a chapter in life, but we have finished a book. My children have never known a day when there dad was not in school and my oldest son is going to be a junior in High School.

All of that to say, I can now blog. I am not sure of the method of my madness, but I am glad to put my thoughts out there. It will be fun to post my thoughts and have others respond. I do not claim to know it all and I look forward to input or criticism in order to learn more.

Here I have just stated that I have spent my entire life in learning environments and I expect to continue to learn from blogging. No matter how much education one has, there is always more to learn. This is the beginning of a cool ride.

I am Tylan Blansit, the pastor of Mountain Creek Baptist Church in Chattanooga, TN and it is on like Donky Kong.