Author Archives: expressyourself4him

Engaging Our Culture: February 14-Love in Action

Video of the Day: Clip from the drama series “The Chosen”

Bible Verse of the Day:

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked, John 5:6-9.

I have spent most of my life on earth living between Philadelphia and Baltimore. Unlike my experience living in the south, urban sprawl continues as far as the human eye can see, creating a metropolis. Whenever I crossed major intersections, there was normally one homeless person standing out in the cold, begging for money. In my college days, I would occasionally buy one of these individuals a meal at McDonald’s before moving on with the rest of my day. Unfortunately, as an adult, I pass by without stopping, avoiding eye contact.

As Jesus walks through Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate, he wasn’t in a rush as he approaches a pool. Showing compassion on this one man, he takes time to get to know this invalid. According to legend, this pool possessed healing powers. When angels stirred the water, the first people to reach the water was healed. However, Jesus wanted to make sure this man knew the source of his healing, belief and faith in God. Thirty-eight years of doubt and unbelief kept this man in this pathetic condition. Yet, one leap of faith altered the course of this man’s life.

Closing Song:

Don’t be fooled by the commercialism of Valentine’s Day. Love isn’t showering your significant other with expensive gifts. Rather genuine love is loving someone more than you love yourself, by being vulnerable. However, when you celebrate tonight, make sure your love is displayed through fruits of the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:22-23.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 13-The Language of Love

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1989 film “Dead Poets Society”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden,” Matthew 5:13-14.

Biblical Connection:

Dead Poets Society was filmed at nearby St. Andrews School in Middletown, Delaware while I was a student at the University of Delaware. As a former Poetry teacher at the High Scope Institute for Ideas in West Virginia, this movie holds a special place in my heart. Robin Williams is John Keating who returns to the prestigious boarding school that he attended. Rather than teach from a book, Keating leaves these hallowed halls to instill poetry as a way of life. Keating’s cutting edge active learning techniques inspire some of his students to restart the legendary Dead Poets Society.

Today’s scene urges students in Keating’ Poetry class to reflect upon what verse of poetry do they want to leave behind as their legacy. Jesus teaches a similar concept to a first century audience. However, the Sermon on the Mount begins with attitudes and qualities valued by God. When these beatitudes are demonstrated and lived out, God blesses those individuals who encapsulate specific biblical traits. Today’s featured Bible passages serve as a transition in Jesus’ sermon. As the salt of the earth and light of the world, love should naturally flow out of a Christian’s life. If a mouth speaks out of the overflow of one’s heart, Luke 6:45, let your heart be filled with God’s love.

Closing Song:

As you prepare for Valentine’s Day, take some time to fill your heart with God’s Word so that the love of Jesus will begin to naturally flow out of your heart via encouraging and uplifting words.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 12-Learning to Love Broken People

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2002 film “Joshua”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit, Psalm 34:17-18.

Biblical Connection:

The 2002 film Joshua addresses a hypothetical, “what if a resurrected Jesus suddenly appears in your small town?” When a stranger named Joshua rolls into town one morning, Auburn begins to be touched by a modern-day spiritual leader. Serving as an artist, carpenter and potter, encounters with Joshua start the healing process for battered and broken souls who call Auburn home. Rather than pointing attention to himself, Joshua interacts with all members of this community, loving broken and calloused individuals like the woman in today’s scene.

The prophet Samuel referred to David as a man after God’s own heart. Despite his imperfections and sinful desires highlighted in 2 Samuel 11 and 12, David often poured out his heart to God in prayer. On one occasion David pretended to be insane before the King of Shechem. Following his departure, David wrote Psalm 34. One of the keys to a powerful prayer is claiming God’s promises to come to fruition in your own life. Perhaps, the words of today’s Bible verse aren’t just for you. Rather, David cries out to the Lord for his own healing for a broken heart and crushed spirit.

Closing Prayer:

If you find yourself broken hearted, crushed or devastated by an unforeseen trial in 2025, pray the words of King David to find healing for your soul.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 11-The Relationship between Grace and Love

Video of the Day: Clip from 2015 film “The War Room”

Bible Verse of the Day:

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us, Romans 5:6-8.

Biblical Connection:

The War Room follows a successful couple with a great future, but appearances can be deceiving. Adults have a knack of projecting a positive outlook externally, but on the inside are afraid to let others know that they’re hanging on by a thread. Karen Abercrombie is Clara Williams, an elderly woman who begins to mentor Elizabeth Jordan, Priscilla Shirer. When Elizabeth and her husband Tony (T.C. Stallings) begin to drift apart, Clara introduces the concept of a spiritual war room. This closet is where Clara meets with God, pours out her heart and wages war through prayer against demonic forces in the spiritual realm, Ephesians 6:12. However, prayer is only effective when Christians begin to forgive those who have hurt them.

The apostle Paul lays out the spiritual condition present inside of all human beings. Two chapters earlier in Romans 3:9-12, Paul references the words of Moses about mankind’s failure to follow God’s commands. As Clara uncovers Elizabeth’s reluctance to forgive her own husband, she points to today’s Bible passage. God didn’t send His one and only son, Jesus, to die on a cross because we deserve this loving act. Rather, God sent Jesus to die on a cross, while we were still sinners. The disciple whom Jesus loved expresses this act of grace and love in John 3:16-17. Jesus didn’t come to condemn the world, but to save the world through Jesus. This is the relationship between God’s grace and love.

Closing Song:

May the words of Thank God I’m Not Jesus help illustrate the relationship between God’s grace and love.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 10-Displaying a Sincere Love

Video of the Day: Scene from the 1984 film “Footloose”

Bible Verse of the Day:

 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your[a] faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves, Romans 12:6-10.

Biblical Connection:

When Ren McCormick played by Kevin Bacon relocates from Chicago to the small rural town of Bomont, Utah, he experiences a culture shock. A local pastor, John Lithgow as Reverend Shaw, bans rock music, making it illegal for Ren to play his favorite music in his car. As an outsider, Ren doesn’t stop fighting for what he believes, taking new friends outside of town to share his love for dancing. As Ren continues to rub locals the wrong way, he finds himself fighting a losing battle until the Reverend’s daughter Ariel, Lori Singer, comes into his life. Ariel’s knowledge of the Bible and Ren’s dream for a senior prom team up to eventually achieve their goal.

There are various personalities which comprise every church and high school. At some point, strong personalities will butt heads, clash and seek to persuade the masses toward their line of thinking. However, when a leader comes along and provides a vision that others can get behind, churches and schools will unite. This is where the apostle Paul speaks to the Church at Rome, explaining that everyone has a role based upon your God given gift and talents. Once you discover where you belong in a church or school setting, God can and will accomplish great things through you. However, when disagreements arise, love must be genuine and sincere.

Closing Song:

When you experience special moments in life like a prom or special church event that was pulled off due to the hard work of countless individuals, give thanks to God. Never grow tired of displaying a sincere love.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 9-Passing on Love to the Next Generation

Video of the Day: Scene from the 1994 film “Forrest Gump”

Bible Verse of the Day:

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? 18 Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth, 1 John 3:16-18.

Biblical Connection:

Tom Hanks is Forrest Gump, a momma’s boy whose life is woven into historic events. Despite his disabilities and social disfunctions, Forrest spends every moment that he can with his only friend Jenny, Robin Wright. As Jenny leaves Alabama and goes off on her own to find love and peace, Forrest never stops writing. When their paths cross, Forrest always defends and protects the only girl he’s ever known and loved. When Jenny gets sick, she comes back home to spend her final days with Forrest.

Today’s Bible author was given a special nickname by Jesus in Mark 3:17, Boanerges. John was one of the sons of thunder as well as the disciple whom Jesus loved. As John writes letters to first century Christians scattered throughout the world following Nero’s persecution in Rome, today’s passage mirrors Jesus’ words in John 3:16-17. As John writes to correct false teachers about God’s character and nature, genuine love lays down their lives for others. John understood this as he outlived all other disciples, the upcoming generation needed to know the love of Jesus. Just as Forrest prays to his dead wife for direction, Christians must show the love of Jesus to the next generation.

Closing Song:

The only way to pass on God’s love to the next generation is to be personally transformed by the love of Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 8-Crippling Your Capacity to Love

Video of the Day: Scene from the 2017 film “The Shack”

Bible Verse of the Day:

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins, Matthew 6:12-15.

Biblical Connection:

A weekend of camping for a man and his three children turns into a living nightmare. Sam Worthington plays Mack Phillips, a grieving man who receives a mysterious invitation to meet with God. The location where God wants to me is a shack in the middle of the wilderness. Unfortunately, the shack just happens to be the place where his daughter Missy was abducted and murdered. When a root of bitterness takes hold of Mack’s heart, his ability to love is crippled.

The words of today’s featured passage come from the middle of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. After teaching about the spiritual discipline of fasting, Jesus turns his attention toward prayer. Rather than overwhelm His audience, Jesus provides a basic outline on topics that you should cover as you pray. Immediately following this prayer, Jesus throws a curve to this crowd about forgiveness. If you don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive you. There are plenty of Mack Phillips that you’ll encounter in life, struggling to recover from a shocking trial that has shaken and tattered their faith.

Closing Song:

Bart Millard endured a rough upbringing which inspired the film I Can Only Image. May the lyrics of this song help you or someone you love who has been crippled by a devasting trial in their life.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 7-Celebrating the Perfect Day

Video of the Day: Scene from the 2006 film “The Ultimate Gift”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that,” James 4:14-15.

Biblical Connection:

The Ultimate Gift is a movie based upon the book written by author Jim Stovall. In the screenplay, Drew Fuller plays Jason Stevens, a grandson of a dead billionaire who leaves him with an unusual inheritance. As Jason pursues this inheritance, he crosses paths with a single mom, Alexia (Ali Hillis) and her daughter Emily (Abigail Breslin). During one of the assignments given to Jason, he relies on Emily who befriends him. However, when Emily’s medical condition worsens, Jason does everything in his power to help Alexia and Emily through this trying time.

The author of today’s passage is one of Jesus’ younger brothers, one of a few children born by Mary not mentioned in the Bible. According to first century scholars, James aligned with first century religious leaders, not believing that Jesus was the Messiah and Savior of the world. Realizing the error of his way, James urges first century Christians to live one day at a time. While human beings may have aspirations and dreams for the future, no one is guaranteed tomorrow. Therefore, celebrate today while you are still alive. If you’re fortunate enough to see tomorrow, enjoy it when the sun rises. As for now, be thankful for the friends and family currently in your life.

Closing Song:

Take sometime today to look around, pause, and reflect upon all the good things God has given you in this life. Make gratitude a part of every new day the Lord grants you.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 6-Fighting for the Love of Your Life

Video of the Day: Scene from the 1989 film “Say Anything”

Bible Verse of the Day:

All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him, Song of Solomon 3:1-3.

Biblical Connection:

John Cusack plays Lloyd Nobler a high school senior who doesn’t have a clue about his future. Searching for a date to the final party before graduation, Lloyd takes a chance on the valedictorian who reluctantly takes a break from studying. When Lloyd falls head over heels for Diane Court (Ione Skye), this relationship clicks. For the first time in his life, Lloyd finds himself able to express himself like never before to a girl. However, when this relationship gets intense, Diane choses her future career in college over Lloyd. This sets the stage for today’s scene as Lloyd fights for the love of his life.

The Song of Solomon celebrates the love between Solomon and one of his wives. The first two chapters go back and forth where Solomon shares his feelings followed by his wife in this poetic book of the Bible. Yet, today’s passage reminds all human beings that there will be nights, weeks, months and years where love will not be found. This is the emotional condition which prompts Lloyd to come back to Diane’s house after she broke off their relationship. Rather than turn to lawyers in filing for divorce, this is the resolve that Christian men and women should possess, doing everything in their power to fight for the love of their lives.

Closing Song:

May the lyrics of today’s song inspire a spirit of reconciliation to mend and repair broken relationships that exist in your life.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: February 5-A Father’s Love

Video of the Day: Scene from the 2011 film “Courageous”

Bible Verse of the Day:

 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, Deuteronomy 6:7-9.

Biblical Connection:

Courageous follows the lives of four men with one calling: To serve and protect. As each police officer faces their own individual challenges at home and on duty, their faith is put to the test. Through a series of events, a courageous calling from God prompts each man to make a public demonstration of faith. Known as a Father’s Resolution, there is a public ceremony held where each man vows to become an agent of love for their wives and children. Unfortunately, not everyone keeps their vow. Today’s scene follows this ceremony.

Consistently living out your faith in a secular world isn’t easy. This often involves failure and humility. Today’s passage of the Bible reveals God’s calling to Jewish men. Faith begins in the home, demonstrated and modeled by parents. Whenever God’s commands in the Bible are lived out inside of a home, this creates a loving climate. Yet, Moses doesn’t stop here. Conversations about God should continue outside. A father’s love is demonstrated by submersing their homes with biblical symbols and verses to train children up in the way they should go.

Closing Song:

May the power of the Holy Spirit move you this February to become captured by God’s love, thereby passing this on to others through the fruits of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.

by Jay Mankus