Author Archives: expressyourself4him

On my way home from work I stopped at a local grocery store to buy some ingredients for a meal I felt compelled to make.  On my way to check out, I noticed an old man behind the cash register.  As I saw this elderly man, likely in his 80’s, I was filled with sympathy.  Although we never talked, it was clear he was unable to retire because of the economy.  Moments later I thought, this could be me in thirty years unless I begin to claim and take hold of God’s promise in Philippians 1:6.

This encounter led me to ponder the question, what’s more important eternity or retirement?  In fact this very question may explain Paul’s beliefs about marriage in 1 Corinthians.  According to chapter 7, verses 32-35, the apostle Paul talks about the distractions involved in marriage, especially providing for the needs of your family.  On the other hand, eternity and retirement are equally important.

In the parable of the talents, Matthew 25:14-30, Jesus tells a story about a master who entrusts his servants with money, expecting each to be resourceful.  However, the master does not tell the servants when he will return, forcing them to be disciplined, responsible and wise.  The fist 2 servants made their master proud, doubling the money their master left them.  However, the last servant wasted their talent, by burying it, afraid to fail or take a chance.

God has called each person whom He created to a specific task.  Yes, we all have free will to accept or reject God, Romans 6:23.  Yet, when you reach that moment in your life, when you begin to keep in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, there is nothing more satisfying in all the world.  However, this doesn’t come easy as Romans 12:1-2 implies.  Therefore, whether you are pursuing eternity, retirement or both, seek God first, Matthew 6:33.  Then and only then, can you become the workman that God desires, Ephesians 2:10.

by Jay Mankus

As I try to monitor my spiritual condition daily, I have discovered an unhealthy pattern.  I seem to be hovering some where between broken and lukewarm.  Instead of staying red hot, consistently being stoked by the Holy Spirit, I have allowed myself to waver away from the Lord as I am drawn back toward the things of the world.

The cliche “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” does not apply to spiritual matters,  If the tread on your spiritual tires are wearing thin, you must be proactive or else you might end up having a blow out or simply spin out of control.  It only takes one wrong turn to get lost.  Once lost. its extremely difficult to get back on track, stay motivated and develop the same spiritual discipline you had before.  Being broken can be your state of mind or due to spiritual warfare, Ephesians 6:10-12.  King Solomon makes a great point when he said two are better than one for if one man falls, the other can pick them up, but pity the man who has no one to help them up, Ecclesiastes 4:9-10.

Last year, 6 million Americans participated in Fantasy Football, spending countless hours each week proposing trades, watching the waiver wire and thinking about next week’s starting line up.  As millions find it easy to worship foot baal 7 days a week, these same people struggle to wake up in time for church, let alone worship God for a single hour each Sunday.  Like a frog which boils slowly in water with rising temperatures, many people can’t jump out because they are spiritually cooked.  As people get cooked by apathy, complacency and moral decay, Christian brothers and sisters need to help another.  We need to be strong for the broken, compassionate to the lukewarm and prayerful for the countless souls caught up in a web of sin.  Rise up church, like a cord of three strands, Ecclesiastes 4:12 to rescue saints from sin, James 5:19-20.

by Jay Mankus

Every summer day my neighborhood had some type of athletic competition, usually in the street.  One of the local rules we adopted was if a ball hit a car or took a strange bounce off the reverse C curbs, we would call it a do-over.  This meant that the play did not count, like this play never occurred.

According to John 8:1-11, a similar thing happened, but much more serious than an afternoon game.  A woman was caught having an affair with a married man.  The Jewish law called for public stoning, having the offender tied to a post, surrounded by the citizens of the town and slowly killed, stone by stone.  However, Jesus jumped in, began writing something  in the sand and called people to examine their own lives before throwing the first stone.  Kneeling down, Jesus did not see that the entire crowd leave, giving this woman a do-over in life.

As I wait to walk through an open door to begin the next phase in my life, I feel as if I am getting a do-over.  Although, the unknown is scary, I have a chance to do some things I have always wanted to do.  However, I need to heed the words of Jesus in John 8:11.  When I leave my ties to sins of the past, I am able to have a clearer vision to God’s will for my life!

by Jay Mankus