Author Archives: expressyourself4him

When God Sees Grown Adults Act Like Children

Posted on August 8, 2023 by expressyourself4him

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Portions of the passage below are often found on wedding bulletins. While the number 13 is considered an unlikely number to those who study numerology, 1 Corinthians 13 is known as the love chapter of the Bible. However, after taking a closer look at the full context of the apostle Paul’s words to members of the Church at Corinth, there is a call for adults to grow up and stop acting like children.

Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. 5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. 6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. 7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening], 1 Corinthians 13:4-7.

As I approach 54 in August, I view the Lord through the eyes of a patient father. Jesus paints God the Father in the parable of the Prodigal in Luke 15 like an old man sitting on his front porch waiting for his son to come home. Free will allows this young man in Jesus’ story to seek pleasure in temporary treasures until his wealth is squandered. Only when this man comes to his senses in Luke 15:16-18 does he put aside his childish ways.

For our knowledge is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect), and our prophecy (our teaching) is fragmentary (incomplete and imperfect). 10 But when the complete and perfect (total) comes, the incomplete and imperfect will vanish away (become antiquated, void, and superseded). 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child; now that I have become a man, I am done with childish ways and have put them aside, 1 Corinthians 13:9-11.

While most adults may not want to admit this, we all have a similar story to tell if you’re humble enough to confess your past sins, James 5:16. Testimonies serve as a valuable spiritual tool to lure the lost back from their prodigal ways. May today’s blog speak to your heart so that any loved ones who have gone astray will return home physically and spiritually. The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem, I’m a grown adult who has acted like a child.”

by Jay Mankus

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The Tower of Edar

Posted on August 7, 2023 by expressyourself4him

There are certain deaths in life that will catch you off guard. One day a woman and her husband are expecting the birth of their second child and the next day Rachel is gone. If someone is old and or suffering a long-prolonged illness, you have time to prepare yourself emotionally and mentally. Unfortunately, for Jacob, Rachel’s death came as a shock, and he was forced to start a new life without her dwelling near the Towel of Edar.

And they journeyed from Bethel and had but a little way to go to Ephrath [Bethlehem] when Rachel suffered the pangs of childbirth and had hard labor. 17 When she was in hard labor, the midwife said to her, Do not be afraid; you shall have this son also. 18 And as her soul was departing, for she died, she called his name Ben-oni [son of my sorrow]; but his father called him Benjamin [son of the right hand], Genesis 35:16-18.

The Hebrew word used by Moses in the passage below for the Tower of Edar is Migdal Eder. This physical location is in modern day Bethlehem. To give you a sense of the topography, Bethlehem is in the mountains, 2,543 feet above sea level. Perhaps, this specific tower served as a lookout post or in modern terms a scenic overlook of the region. This is where Jacob began his new life without his first love Rachel.

So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath, that is, Bethlehem. 20 And Jacob set a pillar (monument) on her grave; that is the pillar of Rachel’s grave to this day. 21 Then Israel journeyed on and spread his tent on the other side of the tower of Edar, Genesis 35:19-21.

Depending upon where you live, every area has distinct landmarks. Some of these places may be associated with good memories of the past. While other specific locations trigger painful moments that you are still coping with or have learned to endure. Whether this is a grave site or some sort of memorial, may the Lord give you the strength to move on and overcome. Follow the advice of the apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-12 so you can fully recover by seeing the light of a new day.

by Jay Mankus

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What Marriage Means

Posted on August 6, 2023 by expressyourself4him

As my son Daniel prepares for his wedding day with Anna, a thought popped into my mind recently: “what does marriage really mean?” While the world has its own ideas and stigmas, the Bible is clear about Holy Matrimony. As one first century Pharisee tried to test Jesus’ biblical knowledge, the passage below provides a clear answer. Marriage is a mutual covenant where two people learn to become one flesh.

And Pharisees came to Him and put Him to the test by asking, Is it lawful and right to dismiss and repudiate and divorce one’s wife for any and [a]every cause? 4 He replied, Have you never read that He Who made them from the beginning made them male and female, 5 And said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be united firmly (joined inseparably) to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder (separate), Matthew 19:3-6.

Before my wife Leanne and I got married back in 1995, we attended a Marriage Encounter in Cleveland, Ohio. While I have been to numerous Christian conferences and retreats over the course of my wife, the wisdom shared by godly couples on staged has stuck with me. Entering into a Christian marriage requires a will to love your spouse. Although feelings come and go, developing a will to love, no matter what happens, is what marriage means to me.

Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as [a service] to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church, Himself the Savior of [His] body. 24 As the church is subject to Christ, so let wives also be subject in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, 26 So that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the Word, 27 That He might present the church to Himself in glorious splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such things [that she might be holy and faultless]. 28 Even so husbands should love their wives as [being in a sense] their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. 29 For no man ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and carefully protects and cherishes it, as Christ does the church, Ephesians 5:22-29.

While writing a first century letter to the Church at Ephesus, the apostle Paul lays out what it means for each new couple to want to become part of a Christian marriage. If Jesus was willing to lay down his life for his friends, Romans 5:8 and John 15:12-14, newlyweds should be willing to serve their soulmate. As two human beings symbolically become one, change can be hard, especially if you struggle with being in control. Yet, if the Lord is Lord of both believers, marriage will become a lifelong journey, where faith guides you through the storms that you must go through together.

by Jay Mankus

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The Crossover Connection Week 27: A More Spiritual Version of Kelly Clarkson

Posted on August 5, 2023 by expressyourself4him

When I first started teaching at Red Lion in Delaware, a number of my students tried to update my collection of Christian music. Since I often played songs in class to open up a discussion on a specific topic, a couple of teenagers went out of their way to educate me on up-and-coming artists. One of those songs was Mirror by Barlow Girl, this week’s featured artist.

But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. 23 For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; 24 For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like, James 1:22-24.

If you’re a woman and have ever struggled with self-esteem, I highly recommend studying the lyrics of Mirror. Taking a page out of Disney’s Snow White, Barlow Girl addresses your physical appearance in Mirror from a spiritual perspective. The attached you tube features Barlow Girl’s top hits which often sound like a mix of Kelly Clarkson and Saving Jane.

by Jay Mankus

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The House of God

Posted on August 5, 2023 by expressyourself4him

While attending large Christian gatherings at the University of Delaware, I was introduced to the concept that God is in the house tonight. Perhaps this was merely a hip expression student leadership was trained to say to energize the crowd. Yet, the phrase “the House of God” was first used by Jacob in the passage below.

And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock; 12 The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land. 13 Then God ascended from him in the place where He talked with him. 14 And Jacob set up a pillar (monument) in the place where he talked with [God], a pillar of stone; and he poured a drink offering on it and he poured oil on it. 15 And Jacob called the name of the place where God had talked with him Bethel [house of God], Genesis 35:11-15.

God spoke to Jacob directly, calling him to go to Bethel. Upon reaching this destination, Jacob built an altar as God had requested and called this El-bethel, the House of God. Jacob wasn’t dreaming or hallucinating, the God of his fathers was reminding him of His promises made to Abraham and Isaac. This one moment likely stuck Jacob for the rest of his life.

But if [one is ill-treated and suffers] as a Christian [which he is contemptuously called], let him not be ashamed, but give glory to God that he is [deemed worthy to suffer] in this name. 17 For the time [has arrived] for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will [be] the end of those who do not respect or believe or obey the good news (the Gospel) of God? 18 And if the righteous are barely saved, what will become of the godless and wicked? 19 Therefore, those who are ill-treated and suffer in accordance with God’s will must do right and commit their souls [in charge as a deposit] to the One Who created [them] and will never fail [them], 1 Peter 4:16-19.

Unless you attend a spiritual retreat or outdoor chapel, modern altars are typically found inside of traditional sanctuaries. Over the years, I have been inside of a church when God was truly present. Whether through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit or a Spirit of Confession, the House of God isn’t limited to Bethel. May you find a church where the presence of the Lord is sensed like in the days of Jacob.

by Jay Mankus

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A Distinct Manifestation

Posted on August 4, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Shows like Joan of Arcadia compare talking with God to someone experiencing a hallucination. The season one finale revealed that Joan Garadi had contracted a severe case of Lyme disease. While Joan did have face to face conversations with God as a distinct manifestation, the doctor’s diagnosis threw Joan into a crisis of faith, questioning if all that had happened was real or simply her own imagination.

And God [in a distinctly visible manifestation] appeared to Jacob again when he came out of Padan-aram, and declared a blessing on him. 10 Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God]. 11 And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock; 12 The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land. 13 Then God ascended from him in the place where He talked with him, Genesis 35:9-12.

As I study the Bible, God’s process of communication transitions from face-to-face conversations while talking a walk with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to using angels and dreams. Depending upon the situation, God does make special appearances as described by Moses in the passage above. This spiritual encounter served as a reminder to Jacob of God’s promises to his family as well as hope for his future.

And six days after this, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And His appearance underwent a change in their presence; and His face shone [a]clear and bright like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, who kept talking with Him. 4 Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good and delightful that we are here; if You approve, I will put up three booths here—one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah. 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [[b]composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and [c]have always been] delighted. Listen to Him! 6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were [d]seized with alarm and struck with fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, Get up, and do not be afraid. 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only, Matthew 17:1-7.

When you study the 12 disciples in the 4 gospels, they all appear to believe in ghosts. When Jesus walked on water, most of the disciples’ thought their minds were playing tricks on them. According to John 14:26, Jesus promises to send a Holy Spirit which will serve as a new form of a distinct manifestation. If you’ve ever attended a spiritual retreat where God began to do amazing and miraculous things, then you too have experienced a distinct manifestation of God.

by Jay Mankus

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A Sojourner Seeking To Find Genuine Faith

Posted on August 3, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The term sojourner refers to a temporary resident. From a biblical context, a sojourner is someone going through a transition in life, moving from their original home to a place yet to be determined by God. Moses highlights the lives of Abraham and Isaac who were called by God to visit foreign lands to fulfill God’s calling and will for their lives.

And Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre or Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29 And Isaac’s spirit departed; he died and was gathered to his people, being an old man, satisfied and satiated with days; his sons Esau and Jacob buried him, Genesis 35:27-29.

While I have now resided in South Carolina for over one year, I too feel like a sojourner, unsure of where to go and what to do. The apostle Paul suggests that discovering God’s will can be a lengthy process, Romans 12:1-2. This process always begins by offering your body as a holy sacrifice to God. However, without meditating upon the words of the Bible, this transformation isn’t possible.

But seek ([z]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([aa]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [ab]taken together will be given you besides. 34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble, Matthew 6:33-34.

If today’s blog finds you living a life similar to a sojourner, may the words of Jesus in the passage above comfort you. King Solomon touches on these words in Proverbs 3:5-6. Trusting God is crucial to finding a genuine faith. Like any practice for a sport designed to improve your mechanics, seeking God first in your life results in the belief that God will provide for your needs. As you draw close to the Lord, may you find a peace that surpasses all understanding, Philippians 4:6-7.

by Jay Mankus

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Drama and Trauma in the Bible

Posted on August 2, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Drama can refer to theatrical, over-the-top and sensational. Meanwhile, trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. If drama is your response to a particular situation, a traumatic event often links both of these emotions together. Today’s featured passage of the Bible is like the opening of a television drama, setting the stage for an hour-long episode.

Now Dinah daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out [unattended] to see the girls of the place. 2 And when Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he seized her, lay with her, and humbled, defiled, and disgraced her. 3 But his soul longed for and clung to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke comfortingly to her young heart’s wishes. 4 And Shechem said to his father Hamor, Get me this girl to be my wife, Genesis 34:1-4.

Dinah’s birth is one of the few females mentioned by Moses alongside all the boys in Jacob’s family. The reason for Dinah’s initial introduction earlier in Genesis comes to light in the passage above. While there are plenty of strange and weirds events in the first book of the Bible, this is the first mention of rape. From a Jewish perspective, this is more about being defiled and disgraced.

Jacob heard that [Shechem] had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field. So Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 But Hamor father of Shechem went out to Jacob to have a talk with him. 7 When Jacob’s sons heard it, they came from the field; and they were distressed and grieved and very angry, for [Shechem] had done a vile thing to Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter, which ought not to be done, Genesis 34:5-7.

While Moses reveals Jacob is the first to find out about this traumatic event, her brothers went busy out in the fields tending livestock. The news that their sister had been raped brought on raw emotions, especially among Simeon and Levi. Although Shechem’s father and Jacob come to a peaceful resolution, Simeon and Levi were unable to let this sinful act go unpunished. Subsequently, the end of Genesis 34 ends just like it started with drama and trauma.

by Jay Mankus

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Who Needs a Treaty When There is the Lord

Posted on August 1, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The more I study the book of Genesis, the more I realize the need for a sense of spiritual direction for Israel. The addictions, bad habits, and unwholesome cravings displayed throughout the first book in the Bible illustrate the disease of sin deep inside the hearts and souls of mankind. When Simeon and Levi sought revenge over peace, Jacob was worried that surrounding nations would unite to completely wipe out Israel.

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have ruined me, making me infamous and embroiling me with the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites! And we are few in number, and they will gather together against me and attack me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my household, Genesis 34:30.

The term treaty describes a variety of instruments, including conventions, agreements, arrangements, protocols, covenants, charters, and acts all done in the name of upholding peace. However, when Israel makes treaties in the Old Testament, they are putting their trust in another nation rather than the God of Abraham. In the passage below, Moses suggests who needs a treaty when the terror of the Lord consumes surrounding nations.

And they journeyed and a terror from God fell on the towns round about them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, that is, Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people with him. 7 There he built an altar, and called the place El-bethel [God of Bethel], for there God revealed Himself to him when he fled from the presence of his brother, Genesis 35:5-6.

If you tend to be into mathematics, numbers, and statistics, the odds of Israel surviving as a nation in the 21st century isn’t good on paper. Yet, somehow and some way, the God of Abraham continues to watch over Israel today. When you search the internet for miraculous wars survived by Israel, a list of 17 different modern accounts exist. These Cinderella stories should not have happened, but the God of Abraham continues to do the impossible, using terror over treaties.

by Jay Mankus

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When the Day is Breaking

Posted on July 31, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Depending upon where you live, certain expressions may not mean anything to you, going right over your head. However, as Moses reflects upon Jacob’s encounter with an angel, when the day is breaking refers to the period in the day when light from the sun begins to appear in the sky. What Moses is trying to say, Jacob wrestled with God all night long as the sun began to rise.

And when [the [a]Man] saw that He did not prevail against [Jacob], He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him. 26 Then He said, Let Me go, for day is breaking. But [Jacob] said, I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me, Genesis 32:25-26.

After spending eight years working night shift, I’ve spent the last year driving to work early in the morning as the day is breaking. Depending upon where I am on the Interstate, the sun rises over the rolling hills of western South Carolina. If I’m not careful by placing my car visor down, I can be blinded momentarily by bright sun rises.

It is God Who sits above the circle (the horizon) of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; it is He Who stretches out the heavens like [gauze] curtains and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in, Isaiah 40:22.

One of my favorite passages on the sunset is found in Lamentations 3:19-24. The prophet Jeremiah transitions from a broken soul, struggling to undue past sins to when the day is breaking. Jeremiah refers to every new day as a refresh start, like God giving each of us a do-over in life. May these words of hope give you a new perspective on life when another sun rises signals the start of a new day.

by Jay Mankus

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