Monthly Archives: November 2012

From the Jailhouse to the Penthouse

Posted on November 20, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Over 2 million Americans were incarcerated in federal, state and county jails last year.  In addition, more than 4 million were either on probation or parole during this same period.  For these people and many like them, it is an uphill climb to regain a place of dignity.  Stereotypes, their criminal record and a declining job market are further obstacles which stand in their way of success.  However, with God’s help, anything is possible, Luke 1:37.

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In the book of Genesis, we find an account of a man who went from the jailhouse to the penthouse, Genesis 39:20-Genesis 41:41.  However, this did not happen over night and did not include a straight line to the top, taking several unexpected detours and u-turns.  Joseph was falsely accused of a crime he did not commit, yet he stayed optimistic.  Instead of dwelling on his circumstances, Joseph served all those he encountered while in prison.  Two years passed, without any sign of hope until Pharaoh had an unusual dream.  Only then did the chief cupbearer remember Joseph’s amazing gift.  Like a scene from a movie, Joseph ascends to second in command of Egypt, preparing for the 7 years of famine.

Today, many people are imprisoned internally, addicted to alcohol, drugs, porn, sex and the like, Galatians 5:19-21.  Although they may appear fine externally, inside they are confined by unhealthy cravings, James 1:14-15.  These sinful desires cripple one’s ability to function spiritually and hinder any dreams for success.  The apostle Paul spends half a chapter, Romans 7:7-25, dedicated to exposing this fleshly imprisonment.  Jesus is our key to get out, but the goal is to stay out of jail once set free, Romans 7:24-25.  Jesus has promised to prepare a place, a penthouse in the sky, John 14:3.  The choice is up to you by the road you decide to choose, Matthew 7:13-14.

by Jay Mankus

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Slip Slidin’ Away

Posted on November 19, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Columbia Records released 2 new songs from Paul Simon in 1977 on his Greatest Hits, Etc. album.  One of these new releases, Slip Slidin’ Away became a top 5 hit in the U.S.  Near the end of this song, Simon includes some unique lyrics: God only knows, God makes his plan; The information’s unavailable, To the mortal man; We work our jobs, Collect our pay; Believe we’re gliding down the highway, When in fact we’re slip slidin’ away.  Only God knows Paul Simon’s heart, yet it appears he understood Romans 3:10-12.

Back in February while unemployed, I developed healthy spiritual habits.  Between a renewed interest in prayer, a vibrant quiet time studying the Bible and a hunger for truth, I drew closer to God.  Though separated from God, Romans 3:23, I began to see life through God’s eyes, not my own.  In a spiritual groove for a few months, poor habits have recently led me to start slip sliding away from God.  Prayer has become a rushed chore, my time in scripture has experienced periods of disconnections and my appetite for spiritual meat has quelled.  May be this is why God has put this Paul Simon classic on my heart today.

No one is exempt from this fact of life: Since the fall of mankind in the garden, there has been a communication gap between God and man.  Like the Laodicean Church, people have allowed a lukewarm spirit to enter their lives.  As people go through the motions of a mediocre life, they began to slip slide away, day by day.  This spiritual parasite often goes unnoticed until a believer becomes crippled or paralyzed by a specific sin.  If you feel like you are drifting off course today, reach out to the only one who can get you back on course, Psalm 30:3.  Let the Holy Spirit serve as a spiritual rope to pull you out of the quick sands of life!

by Jay Mankus

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Making Sense of Hollywood

Posted on November 18, 2012 by expressyourself4him

In his book Restoring the Foundations, former engineer Chester Kylstra has developed a cutting edge theology which helps Christians better understand Hollywood.  If Ephesians 6:12 is true, one must begin to fully grasp and understand the spiritual forces which influence an individuals’ actions, behavior and choice of vocabulary.  In today’s blog, I will use the 1993 sports classic Rudy to illustrate RTF’s biblical principles.

According to Kylstra, a person’s life experiences form and shape what they end up believing.  Beliefs in turn create specific expectations, if I do something good, blessings will result, Leviticus 26:1-13.  However, if I choose to do the opposite of what I believe, bad things will follow, Leviticus 26:14-45.  When belief expectations are not met, individuals face a crisis of faith often rebelling from God.  Finally, these expectations influence behavior, which explains to a certain point why people in Hollywood act as they do.

In the case of Rudy’s father, he was abandoned by his own dad when he was a teenager.  Therefore, when Rudy was about to get on a Greyhound Bus to follow his dream of playing football at Notre Dame, Rudy’s dad tried everything in his power to stop him.  Rudy’s father had developed an ungodly belief which led him to think he would never see his son again if he got on the bus.  Abandonment had become a routine expectation in the mind of Rudy’s father.  Thus, when you examine this spiritual perspective, you start to comprehend the thought process behind the father’s self-destructive words toward Rudy.

Whether we like it or not, everyone has ungodly beliefs and a set of life expectations.  When you pray to God, you expect to be heard and receive an answer.  As you work hard in your present occupation, you will eventually expect a raise or promotion.  Unfortunately, if any of your expectations are shattered, you can easily turn into Rudy’s father.  “You’re not good enough!  Your not smart enough!  You don’t belong there!”  This is precisely why the apostle Paul urges believers to put on the whole armor of God, not just the parts you feel like putting on, Ephesians 6:10-11.  As you wage war against the powers of darkness, tempting you to erupt, follow the words of Romans 13:12-14 to avoid losing control like Rudy’s father.

by Jay Mankus

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What Lies Beneath the Surface

Posted on November 17, 2012 by expressyourself4him

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In a sense, every day at some point is like a scene from The Truman Show starring Jim Carey.  Whether you are at home, work or out in your community, someone is going to ask you sooner or later, “how are you doing?”  The protocol response is typically “I’m fine,” maybe you chit chat for a moment or two, then you carry on with the rest of your day.  However, what happens when you deviate from the norm?  Does this inquiring mind drop everything to give you their undivided attention or are they simply going through the motions like you, afraid to find out what’s really beneath the surface?

Whenever I have an opportunity to converse with others, I tend to have code words which suggest what lies beneath the surface of my heart.  If I say, “I can’t complain,” this means that I am just doing okay, not great.  However, when I use “I’m surviving,” I am giving people a cue, an invitation to go deep into my life.  Unfortunately, many of my colleagues often miss this sign, too focused on their life, specific tasks or too busy to get involved.

For3 years, Jesus invested his time and energy into 12 men.  Though most of their early discussions were likely superficial, Jesus demonstrated what it meant to be a relational person in John 4.  At their Last Supper together, Matthew 26:17-30, Jesus poured out his heart to his disciples, revealing the anguish and emotions deep inside.  Later on in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus pulls onside his 3 closest friends, Matthew 26:27-28, further sharing the painful burden he was carrying.  These 3 men were so touched, they each fell asleep, unable to tarry in prayer with their brother.

Although we were never with Jesus in this garden, we have all fallen asleep on our brothers and sisters.  Cell phones, game systems and the internet have lured many of us away from developing intimate relationships with the people we love.  What are we fearful of?  Why do we settle for mediocre conversations?  Don’t let another cue fade away into the distant future.  Rather, lend an ear and take a chance by asking a follow up question so that you can get to the bottom of what lies beneath the surface of the people you love.

by Jay Mankus

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The Lone Ranger Syndrome

Posted on November 16, 2012 by expressyourself4him
Lone Ranger the-lone-ranger.jpg photo

The Lone Ranger show debuted as a radio program in 1933, airing for 21 years until 1954.  Novels, 2 film serials and a daily comic strip soon followed as the United States could not get enough of this American cowboy.  This notoriety inspired the television series which began in 1949 producing 221 original episodes.  Despite all the attention the Lone Ranger received, he couldn’t hand done it without his loyal sidekick Tonto.

In the book of Exodus, we discover a syndrome which is now tied to this famous show.  Unfortunately, man has a pattern of trying to do everything on his own, such is the case of Moses.  In Exodus 18:1-12, Jethro, Moses’ father in law visits his daughter Zipporah, to see how they are doing.  At the time, Moses served as the sole Judge of Israel, similar to the modern day Supreme Court.  According in Exodus 18:13-16, Moses worked 18 hour days, 6 days a week trying to appease and rule over Israel.  However, it didn’t take long for Jethro to add his two cents, Exodus 18:17-23.

Moses had become a workaholic, too prideful to seek the help of others.  Well, if the Lone Ranger needed Tonto and Batman had Robin, it’s common sense to realize that in life people need a team approach to be successful over the long haul.  If you try to be a lone ranger, eventually you are going to burn yourself out.  Maybe this is why Jesus sent his disciples out 2 by 2 in Matthew 10:5 and Luke  10:1.  Even the apostle Paul understood the need for co-workers in Acts 13:1-3, taking Barnabas on his first few missionary journeys and replacing him in Acts 15:40 with Silas on his remaining trips.  If you are trying to reach your dreams alone without any progress, remember the words of Solomon in Ecclesiastes 4:7-9 so that you won’t be tempted by the Lone Ranger Syndrome!

by Jay Mankus

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Give Me A Clue Lord

Posted on November 15, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Sometimes I feel as if life is an endless game show filled with segments of Charades, Hangman and Wheel of Fortune.  Like a Nickelodeon late night rerun, I have moments where I feel as if I am acting out life just as God intended.  Unfortunately, there are other choices, decisions and errors I make which put me one step closer to game over.  Or there are days like today in which I am compelled to buy a vowel so I can begin to solve the puzzle staring at me.  In other words, give me a clue Lord.

The prophet Elijah had similar feelings in 1 Kings 19:10.  After receiving a death threat from Queen Jezebel, Elijah literally runs for his life without crying out to the Lord in prayer.  While on the run, Elijah begins to feel all alone, as if there is no one else on earth who understands what he is going through.  In this desperate state, the Lord gives Elijah a series of clues to bring him back on track, 1 Kings 19:11-13.

Besides fasting, prayer and reading the Bible, there is one clue most believers fail to notice or recognize, the whisper of God.  No, I am not talking about The Sixth Sense scene when Cole says, “I see dead people!”  Rather, I am referring to God’s still small voice, similar to a sheep being able to recognize their shepherd’s voice, John 10:4-5.  If you are paying attention to your surroundings, alert and sober, you will be more likely to discern what God wants you to do, respond or say, leading to more clues.

Like the search in the first National Treasure film, your quest for life’s answers can lead you on a wild goose chase.  In fact, those around you may even try to convince you to quit, giving up before you obtain your dream.  Nonetheless, this is when you have to dig down deep, cling to what you know is right and follow the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25.  There will be distractions along the way, Matthew 7:13-14, but if you fully obey God’s commands, these clues will lead you to a promised land, Deuteronomy 28:1-2.

by Jay Mankus

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Ahead of Their Time: Kyrie

Posted on November 14, 2012 by expressyourself4him

During the 1980’s, there was a spiritual wind that blew through the lyrics of several groups.  U2 ‘s The Unforgetable Album Fire album featured 7 songs with a biblical message.  Mike and the Mechanics created songs that spoke from their hearts, dealing with real life issues.  Even MC Hammer joined the fray with his hit Pray.  However, one of the most powerful song lyrics of this decade is Kyrie from Mr. Mister‘s album Welcome to the Real World.

As I work my daily 10 hour shift, music from the 80’s often echo throughout the warehouse.  Although the genres change from shift to shift, songs from this decade seem to be ahead of their time.  The title Kyrie is a Greek word which actually refers to a form of prayer, “Lord, have mercy.”   While kyrie if often a spoken prayer, Roman Catholic, Greek Orthodox and Anglican churches still sing these words as a part of their mass.

My first observation of Kyrie is why would a secular group write a song which means Lord have mercy.  Did the song writer foresee the error of his generation?  Was the lead singer trying to find forgiveness for something he regretted earlier in life?  Or did the group as a whole become aware of their own sinful and wrecked state, recognizing a need for God’s help?  Regardless of the answer to these questions, one thing is certain, Mr. Mister was comprised of  musicians ahead of their time, not afraid to proclaim Kyrie, Lord have mercy!

by Jay Mankus

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You Can’t Teach Passion

Posted on November 13, 2012 by expressyourself4him

As I struggle to find my way in life, one thing is clear; passion can not be taught.  If you take the Philadelphia Eagles as a case study, Brain Dawkins was the emotional and spiritual leader for a decade, turning into the Wolverine, an X Men character, on game day.  Although he passed on the wisdom older players in the NFL taught him to his former eagle teammates, since his departure passion has been lacking from this squad.  The end result is a lifeless 3-6 team, like a funeral procession on their way to bury a dead body.

During my own decade as a high school teacher, one of the principles I learned early on is the enthusiasm of the leader will never exceed that of their audience.  In other words, if a teacher is passionate about the subject or topic they are covering in a lesson plan, this enthusiasm will overflow to their students.  On the other hand, when a professor rushes through information without any emotion, students will likely become bored and tune their teacher out.  From the outside looking in, it appears the Philadelphia Eagles players have already begun this process.

Like anything in life, sometimes circumstances can lead people to lose their zeal and fervor.  When success is ever present in your life, delight and excitement occur naturally.  However, when you lose your job, health or even worse, someone you love, its hard to rekindle joy.  Thus, passion can not be taught, its a matter of your heart, Jeremiah 17:9.  According to Jesus, Satan’s daily goal is to steal your joy, kill your dreams and destroy your very existence, John 10:10.  With this in mind, guard your heart for it is the well spring of life, Proverbs 4:23.  If God has the power through prayer to create in us a new heart, Psalm 51:10, then it is possibly to access passion through the power of the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:3.

by Jay Mankus

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Somebody Do Something

Posted on November 12, 2012 by expressyourself4him
     During his inaugural address in 1961, John F. Kennedy understood the spirit of rugged individualism.  Instead of waiting for the government to come the rescue, JFK urged American citizens to be proactive by saying, “ask not what your country can do for you; ask what can you do for your country.”  In other words, somebody do something now!
     In the wake of Hurricane Sandy, residents from New Jersey and New York have been heard on television complaining to reporters covering the aftermath of this super storm.  These citizens directly affected have been waiting for FEMA, local officials and utility companies to come to the rescue with little or no avail.  Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh recently compared the Obama Administration to Santa Claus, creating a society seeking free handouts, goodies from the government.  Unfortunately, president Obama have convinced voters to go against JFK’s plea, waiting for somebody else to act.
     According to Jesus in Matthew 20:20-28 and Mark 9:46-50, the greatest achievement in life a person can accomplish is serving others.  Churches during Hurricane Katrina were vital transport areas, taking food and supplies directly to those affected.  Meanwhile, every Thanksgiving, homeless shelters across the nation provide a warm meal to the poor and needy.  Therefore, if you are tired of waiting for someone to come to your rescue, look around your neighborhood for a desperate soul and lend a helping hand.  When somebody does something for another individual, they will receive more from giving than they do from receiving.
by Jay Mankus

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A Not So Hallow Eve

Posted on November 11, 2012 by expressyourself4him

 

 

 

 

As the shelves of major retail stores make a transition from Halloween to Christmas, I was reminded today of the dangers Halloween represents.  While most children and some teenagers dressed up last week to go trick or treating, the naive fail to recognize the spiritual darkness that goes on behind the scenes.  When you examine the reality of demonic activity in scripture, this chocolate covered tradition is actually a not so hallow eve.

The most common Greek nouns used in scripture related to demons are daimon, similar to the main character in The Omen movie series and daimonion.  When translated into English, these 2 terms both refer to a demon or pagan gods as in Deuteronomy 32:17, 1 Corinthians 10:20-21 and Revelation 9:20.  Another Greek noun pneuna refers to a spirit, which is often accompanied with the adjective akatharatos meaning an unclean spirit like Mark 1:26-27 or poneros, an evil spirit which influenced Saul’s behavior in 1 Samuel 16:14-16.

Many churches struggle to communicate a balanced approach in this area, either ignoring demons completely or blaming the devil and his demons for each sin a Christian commits.  The purpose of this blog is not to scare people, but to make them aware of the dangers which exist in the spiritual realm, Ephesians 6:12.  If Jesus’ first command in Matthew 10:1 to his newly gathered disciples was to take authority over and drive out evil spirits from first century citizens, you would think there would be a sense of urgency in today’s church to do likewise.

However, Satan has convinced vast media outlets and many followers of Jesus that demons are few and far between today.  Meanwhile, anyone who speaks of exorcists or encounters with demons are often thrown under the per verbally bus, labeled as crazy, nuts and spiritual wackos.  Only those who reside in third world countries or have been part of missionary trips overseas can attest to the clear and present danger that demons present.  As demons continue to masquerade as drunk drivers, the insane and murderers, test the Bible for yourself so you won’t be caught off guard.  Maybe you too will come to a similar conclusion that October 31st is a not so hallow eve.

by Jay Mankus

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