Author Archives: expressyourself4him

S.A.N.S. Episode 179: Freedom

Posted on July 30, 2022 by expressyourself4him

In their prime, Mylon & Broken Heart had a little bit of Elvis Pressley in their music, dress and hairdo included. Mylon R. LeFevre was one of the pioneers in Christian music which likely explains his induction into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame. As a teenager in the 1980’s Mylon & Broken Heart served as a good transitional band to go from listening to secular music to Christian artists.

In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off], Galatians 5:1.

The attached video is from an old concert where Mylon speaks from his heart about freedom that comes from entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. While some of Mylon’s classic tunes haven’t aged well, the biblically based lyrics still speak to my heart. I could have chosen from a dozen songs to share, but freedom in Christ is life altering that everyone needs to experience.

by Jay Mankus

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You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet

Posted on July 30, 2022 by expressyourself4him

The expression “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” comes from a song by Canadian rock band Bachman–Turner Overdrive. The phrase “you ain’t heard nothing yet” first appeared in the title of a 1919 song written by Al Jolson and Gus Kahn with the music created by Bud De Sylva. When I recently read the passage below, high gas prices and record inflation is nothing compared to the 7 tribulations that await the earth.

And the stars of the sky dropped to the earth like a fig tree shedding its unripe fruit out of season when shaken by a strong wind. 14 And the [c]sky rolled up like a scroll and vanished, and every mountain and island was dislodged from its place, Revelation 6:13-14.

When I was a child, there was no cable to distract Americans from reality. Rather, most families tuned into the nightly news at 6 and 11pm. When the Home Box Office expanded your viewing options from 5 or 6 channels depending upon your antenna to nearly 1oo in the 1980’s, ratings on the three major networks began to decline. Subsequently, new casts began to shock viewers with extremes and violence.

Then the kings of the earth and their noblemen and their magnates and their military chiefs and the wealthy and the strong and [everyone, whether] slave or free hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, 16 And they called to the mountains and the rocks, Fall on (before) us and hide us from the face of Him Who sits on the throne and from the [d]deep-seated indignation and wrath of the Lamb, Revelation 6:15-16.

When I read the above passage last week, I was stunned by the details in John’s vision. Unlike catastrophe and disaster films that often overdramatize a specific event, John writes about something that will happen in the future. This contains Armageddon with Independence Day and the Day After Tomorrow. According to John, those that survive will seek higher ground, finding shelter within mountain caves. If you study the Bible enough, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

by Jay Mankus

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Staying Optimistic While Living in a Woke Culture

Posted on July 29, 2022 by expressyourself4him

As I try to keep up to date with current events, I often find myself shaking my head pondering, “how did we get here?” Gender identity, pronouns and progressive ideology have replaced traditional Judeo-Christian values as the social norm. Since watching cable news makes me depressed, I’m trying to stay optimistic while living in a woke culture.

For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, 4 And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions, 2 Timothy 4:3-4.

The apostle Paul provided similar advice to a teenage pastor in the first century. Paul was trying to prepare this spiritual leader for potential scenarios that might pop up from time to time. Whether through a vision of the future or divine insight, Paul warns of a time when human nature will influence society. When people wander away from the truth, the climate for a woke culture is made possible.

As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry, 2 Timothy 4:5.

When you combine the passage above with Philippians 4:8-9, the best advice is to stay positive. Rather than react immediately to calls for you to be cancelled, stay calm, cool and collective. Additionally, take on the mindset of Jesus’ disciples, 1 Peter 3:17. As Christians mature by becoming willing to suffer for doing what’s right and true, you’ll stay optimistic while living in a woke culture.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 178: Feel Invincible

Posted on July 29, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Since all three on my children attended a technical high school, concentrating on Culinary Arts, when I think of a skillet its’ another way to cook dinner. However, the Christian Rock band Skillet formed in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1996. While Skillet has a similar sound to Thousand Foot Krutch, they are a little more brash and, in your face, singing with conviction and passion.

Do not give that which is holy (the sacred thing) to the dogs, and do not throw your pearls before hogs, lest they trample upon them with their feet and turn and tear you in pieces, Matthew 7:6.

Human nature has a way of convincing young people that they are invincible. Meanwhile, when a freshman completes their first year of college, many come home for the summer believing that they are smarter than their parents. When you add pride to this equation, feeling invincible is a daily occurrence until God brings humility into your life. May today’s song rock your world toward trusting in the Lord.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 177: Dance

Posted on July 28, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Today’s song reminds me of the classic film Footloose. Yet, Hoi Polloi’s music is alternative and more modern than the1980’s soundtrack Hoi Polloi was formed in New Zealand by vocalist Jenny Gullen and her husband. Jenny’s voice provides the feel of the Indigo Girls, but with creative lyrics and style that gives Hoi Polloi their distinct sound.

A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, Ecclesiastes 3:4.

Dancing was one of my favorite pastimes in high school and college. While I started out like Kenneth Wormald’s character in Footloose, I ended up developing into a smooth dancer. Songs like Dance remind me of my college days where I went clubbing with friends every summer in Cleveland, Ohio. When you play today’s you tube, I hope you’re inspired to put on your dancing shoes.

by Jay Mankus

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Get Out of Here

Posted on July 28, 2022 by expressyourself4him

When I was in grade school, you would hear someone yell “get out of here” in the lunchroom weekly. As students gathered around a table to talk about what’s going in life, students would exaggerate or say something outrageous. This would trigger one or more students to exclaim, “get out of here.” As times have changed, get out of here is now used as a warning to leave as a means as escaping quickly.

Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them, Revelation 8:6.

Meanwhile, the sounding of a trumpet in the Bible is often symbolic of considerable consequences. This may be to signify an alarm of war, a call to assemble, or a command to march. During a series of visions in the Book of Revelation, John sees 7 angels who each have a trumpet. In the passage above, lips are puckered, ready and prepared to sound their trumpet.

The first angel blew [his] trumpet, and there was a storm of hail and fire mingled with blood cast upon the earth. And a third part of the earth was burned up and a third of the trees was burned up and all the green grass was burned up, Revelation 8:7.

As someone who has experienced a number of hailstorms over the years, “get out of here” is a call to seek shelter immediately. While playing hide and go seek on summer vacation in Maine, everyone made a beeline to a our cabin, holding our hands over our hands as hail fell from heaven. Whenever the skies above reveal a future storm on the horizon, get out of there (outside) and into the safety of God’s shelter.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 176: Heaven is Calling Your Name

Posted on July 27, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Two or More is one of those obscure bands that had a good run of albums with the most notable Life in the Diamonds. Since there wasn’t much information online about this group, it appears their music was influenced by 4Him. Produced by John and Dino Elefante, Two or More had a couple of songs which received national attention. One of those is today’s featured song Heaven is Calling Your Name.

Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and [g]everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. 20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them, Matthew 18:19-20.

The name Two or More was likely inspired by the passage above. While I was in college, this verse was regularly quoted in prayer. The context of this passage refers to church discipline, a form of accountability as there is power in numbers. Nonetheless, every Christian experiences a moment in life where you hear heaven call your name like Saul on the Road to Damascos.

by Jay Mankus

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A Bad Day for Lawn Care

Posted on July 27, 2022 by expressyourself4him

When I lost my teaching position more than a decade ago, friends from church offered me a position for a season. From March to October, I served as an assistant superintendent at the Middletown Veterinarian Hospital and Horse Farm. In other words, I cut grass, weed wacked and provided daily maintenance for two different properties. Similar to my college internship instead of working on a golf course.

The [a]grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever, Isaiah 40:8.

One of the first to comment on lawn care in the Bible is an Old Testament prophet. Isaiah speaks of the seasonal aspect of grass. At some point in a year, grass will wither, and flowers fade. From my own experience working for a local land and hard scaping company, winter months are often spent doing snow removal to help pay for monthly bills like insurance.

The first angel blew [his] trumpet, and there was a storm of hail and fire mingled with blood cast upon the earth. And a third part of the earth was burned up and a third of the trees was burned up and all the green grass was burned up, Revelation 8:7.

Whenever I read the Bible, I usually learn something new daily. Earlier this week, I continued my study of the final book in the Bible. According to John, there will be a great hailstorm mixed with fire in the last days. John’s vision includes the aftermath of this storm. When the dust settles, all of the green grass on earth will be burned up. This will be a bad day for the lawn care, signaling the end of this business.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 175: Jesus Loves Ya

Posted on July 26, 2022 by expressyourself4him

From 1985 to 1990, I attended a dozen retreats throughout the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Most of these special moments were spent serving as part of a Lay Witness Mission Team member. As a teenager, I served on the high school team with my spiritual mentor Ken Horne. Ken was a modern-day disciple who incorporated new Christian music into every retreat to revive dead and dying churches.

For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten ([d]unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world in order to judge (to reject, to condemn, to pass sentence on) the world, but that the world might find salvation and be made safe and sound through Him, John 3:16-17.

Jon Gibson’s song Jesus Loves Ya was one of many Christian tunes I was first introduced to on retreats. Jon has that acoustic, fingering snapping sound with lyrics that serve as a testimony. When I got back from this one particular retreat, I couldn’t get Jesus Loves Ya out of my head. Subsequently, I made a trip to the SonShine House to purchase the Jesus Loves Ya album. I hope this song still touches your heart.

by Jay Mankus

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Salvation is due to our God

Posted on July 26, 2022 by expressyourself4him

The word salvation began being used in the late 1100s and early 1200s. This comes from the Old Latin term salvātiōn. Salvātiō in Latin is the equivalent of salvatus, which is the past participle where English derives the meaning to save. According to a first century physician, the apostles of Jesus, some of whom were former disciples of Jesus, came to the conclusion that true salvation is only found in Jesus.

This [Jesus] is the Stone which was despised and rejected by you, the builders, but which has become the Head of the corner [the Cornerstone]. 12 And there is salvation in and through no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by and in which we must be saved, Acts 4:11-12.

Following the fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, God pressed the reset button in Genesis 12:1-3. Abram soon became known as Father Abraham, sowing the seeds for God’s chosen nation. Moses was selected by God to lead Israel out of slavery in Egypt and into a promised land. Yet, God needed to set up a temporary solution to cope with the human flesh and sinful nature detailed in Leviticus.

In loud voice they cried, saying, [Our] salvation is due to our God, Who is seated on the throne, and to the Lamb [to Them we owe our deliverance]! – Revelation 7:10

A priesthood was developed to atone for the sins of mankind until a second Adam was sent in the form of God’s one and only son, John 3:16-17. The apostles recognized this individual as the Messiah formerly a Jewish carpenter from Nazareth. While Peter thought Jesus would become an earthly king, Jesus’ death on a cross and his subsequent resurrection was necessary to complete the spiritual process known as salvation thanks be to God.

by Jay Mankus

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