Author Archives: expressyourself4him

At the beginning of every new year or to start each week, people often have good intentions.  Depending upon how driven you are, most individuals start with a few goals, objectives or a list of things that they want to accomplish.  This vision is your blue print, a mental map to help guide you along the way.  However, before you know it, you can drift away into a pattern of bad habits.

Last night, I was convicted by my acceptance to mediocre results and poor time management.  I began 2012 with a bang, disciplined, reading a chapter per day of 2 different books which I finished before February.  This is a huge accomplishment for me since I usually meditate on the key concepts of what I read, spending several minutes on each page, pondering how I can apply what I am reading.  However, before I knew it, this healthy pattern was broken, resulting in a few chapters read, scattered throughout the last 6 months of 2 different books without much consistency.

Getting back on track or simply gaining some positive momentum is difficult when you don’t have or live with a sense of urgency.  Unfortunately, I have allowed 2012 to slowly pass me by, living on reruns, copies of copies television series and a relatively empty social life.  Meanwhile, the friends and company I have shared many delightful moments with in the past have been few and far between.  Although, just as present is a painful pill to swallow, before you know, things can turn around for the better.  Therefore, I take joy in knowing James 5:16, claim the promise of this passage and look forward to a much brighter future during the remainder of 2012!

by Jay Mankus

Yesterday I witnessed an unusual sight.  After boarding her pet during a vacation, a woman embraced her dog for several minutes like a scene out of a movie, except I wasn’t at an airport and she wasn’t hugging a person.  In a sense, pets have replaced teddy bears today, becoming living members of the family.

The apostle Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, a teenage pastor, makes a case for why pets are loved more than children.  According to 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul gives a glimpse of what the world will resemble during end times.  People’s priorities have changes from once upon a time of bearing children to replacing children with pets.  Recently, an individual was able to get out of paying child support when they complained to a judge about the monthly cost of their 2 dogs.

When people become lovers of themselves, they become narcissistic.  C.S. Lewis refers to this as diabolical pride in Mere Christianity.  When someone is proud, conceited and boastful, they disregard any advice or opinions except for the one or two people they trust.  Therefore, our world is decaying before our very eyes as the blind are leading the blind.  Over 70 percent of African Americans born are growing up without a father figure in their life.  When you add to this a national divorce rate over 50 percent, people are truly lovers of themselves, not their children.  It’s no wonder that man’s best friend is not their children, but their dog!

by Jay Mankus

Not much has changed since the first century, prostitutes and tax collectors are still disliked and are often condemned by society.  Beginning in 26 or 27 A.D., Jesus began his earthly ministry using a series of stories called parables to illustrate his daily message.  In the parable of the two sons, Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus uses tax collectors and prostitutes within his story to highlight the fact that these 2 groups believed the words of John the Baptist, but the chief priest, elders and Pharisees did not.

After Jesus’ ascension into heaven in Acts 1:9-11, the apostle Paul uses a similar analogy in his letter to the church of Rome.  Throughout history, individuals tend to compare themselves to inferior or lesser citizens to build their own self-esteem or make themselves feel better.  The Roman Church appears to have developed a similar mindset, a Pharisee like attitude thinking, “at least I’m not like one of those people,” mentioned in Romans 1:26-32.  Sensing this superiority complex, Paul rebukes this judgmental mentality in Romans 2:1, building upon Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:1-6.

Unfortunately, Christians and non-Christians alike have carried on the traditions of the Pharisees.  Arrogance, pride and self-conceit is blinding people from their sins of omission.  Instead of inwardly looking at their heart, Luke 6:45, a spirit of narcissism is preventing souls from understanding Jesus’ message of the parable of the two sons.  While the spiritual elite think they are heading for eternity, prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners are convicted of their shameful acts, have repented from these sins and are receiving the forgiveness and mercy only found in Jesus, Matthew 6:14-15.  Though society continues to reject prostitutes and tax collectors, our heavenly Father is waiting for all prodigals to return with open arms of love, Luke 15:30-32.

by Jay Mankus

When I taught a grammar class for Junior High students in West Virginia, I had to brush up on my English.  This morning as I was listening to a sermon, I was reminded of the power of words like therefore.  However, there is one word used over and over in the Bible.  This is one word God doesn’t want to hear, but is used as a disclaimer or an excuse to sin.

The word BUT eliminates every thing said at the beginning of a sentence.  But nullifies any positive statement, turning the attention toward imperfections and the negative.  In the Old Testament, there are several passages which illustrate this truth.  In Deuteronomy 30:17, Moses uses but if, to warn Israel about being disobedient.  Joshua 23:12-13 serves as a similar reminder, as Joshua steps down as Israel’s leader.

Meanwhile, Samson uses but to convince his parents to allow him to marry a Philistine, Judges 13:3.  The author of 2 Samuel uses the term but to indicate David was being idle, not where he was suppose to be, 2 Samuel 11:1.  The term but is also used to highlight Samuel’s sons, whom chose corruption over justice, 1 Samuel 8:3.  Unfortunately, when individuals use the word but, it often is in the context of disobedience.  Few get a second chance like Jonah in chapter 3.  Therefore, the next time an opportunity presents itself, the words God wants to hear are like Isaiah 6, “hear I am Lord, send me!”

by Jay Mankus

Pets are often accused of having a mind of their own.  Meanwhile, some people use the excuse that they have a one track mind when they get in trouble.  However, there are only a few people throughout the course of history who had a clue, an idea about the mind of God.

There are 2 examples from Genesis that reveal Abraham’s understanding of God’s nature.  During his prayer in Genesis 18:16-33, Abraham challenges God, recognizing that if a righteous person was found in Sodom, the city would not be destroyed by God.  On the other hand, Abraham was willing to take out a knife to sacrifice his one and only son, some how knowing God would either resurrect Isaac or supernaturally intervene in Genesis 22.

Esther, with the help of Mordecai, began to see God’s plan and His timing.  As the queen, Esther was willing to risk her own death, trusting their was a divine reason for her to be placed in the position she held, Esther 4:14.  The apostle Paul also became enlightened to the mind of God as he wrote a letter to the church of Corinth, 1 Corinthians 1:18-30.

Finally, the last person I can think of who had an inclination of God’s mind is Job.  According Job 1-2, God understood the importance of righteousness.  Although, tempted by his wife to curse God, he knew there was a reason for the chain of trials his house endured.  In Job 38-40, God puts Job in his place, a lowly servant.  In response, Job acknowledges a truth that all human beings should proclaim, a message memorialized each Ash Wednesday, Job 42:1-6.

For those of you who have questioned God like me, there is a glimmer of hope.  When you pray for your friends, restoration follows, Job 42:10.  Therefore, as I wait for my future to be revealed, I will cling to the promises which helped Abraham, Esther, Paul and Job rise above their circumstances.

by Jay Mankus