Author Archives: expressyourself4him

Jude’s Warnings

Posted on March 10, 2012 by expressyourself4him

As I read through the book of Jude, I was struck by his imagery and call to perseverance.  Jude, one of the Catholic Letters, is addressed to Christians scattered throughout the world following Nero’s persecution.  Jude’s first call to action is for believers to contend for the faith, surrounded by heavy opposition trying to diminish the name of Jesus in verse 4.

Continuing in verse 10, Jude exposes the mindset which the church is fighting about today.  People in Jude’s days were like unreasoning animals, following their own instincts, their sinful nature instead of the Holy Spirit.  Unfortunately, we live in an opinion oriented society, where in many cases opinions have risen to the same level as facts, making it nearly impossible to reason with other beliefs..

Finally, Jude builts upon the apostle Paul teaching in Romans 14:1 and Galatians 6:1, to merciful on younger and weaker believers.  Jude calls followers to hold less mature believers accountable, snatching them away from the fire in verse 23.  If we heed these warnings, we will receive the blessing of James 5:19-20.  in these last days, contend for the faith, follow the Spirit and snatch backsliding Christians away from hell’s gates.

by Jay Mankus

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Making Sense of Uncertainty

Posted on March 9, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Over the course of your life, everyone has peaks and valleys.  When you experience mountain highs, they don’t seem to last very long.  Unfortunately, when you hit rock bottom, time tends to stand still, motionless, desperate for improvement or a glimpse of hope.

Since February 1st, my first day without a job in 14 years, I have endured and felt a cloud of uncertainty over my life.  Currently, this cloud is more like dense fog, a white out, blinding me from where I need to go and what I need to do.  From time to time, I receive an impression from the Holy Spirit, a sense of peace and comfort.  Yet, today is another one of those days which sucks the life out of you as in Psalm 32:3-4.

The eternally optimistic and theologians may have a simple or concrete answer for me, but I won’t feel any better until I can once again see beyond this haze and into the heart of God.  Jonah had to go into a whale, David had to go into a cave and I have been led into unemployment to show me what’s next.  I haven’t been spit out upon the shores of Nineveh nor have I had my kingdom restored like David.  Rather, I am waiting for God’s harvest, Matthew 13:36-41, trusting in God’s angels to separate the weeds from my life so that I can once again be fruitful, Galatians 6:9-10.

by Jay Mankus

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Remembering Solomon’s Colonnade

Posted on March 8, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Modern day Christians have a tendency to be lukewarm, blending into the various environments that they encounter daily like a chameleon.  Wavering Christians tend to cause more harm than good, causing unbelievers to think all Christians are hypocrites.  Often, these same people pretend to be Christians or try to copy Christ like acts without a genuine faith.  The story of Ananias and Sapphira in Acts 5 illustrates this behavior.

After Ananias and Sapphira saw how much attention Joseph, nick-named Barnabas, received for selling his land and giving the proceeds to the church, they tried to duplicate his generous act.  However, instead of giving all the proceeds to the church, they decided to withhold some of the profit and keep it for themselves.  When the Holy Spirit revealed this information to Peter, he gave each of them the opportunity to tell the truth.  Unfortunately, when confronted separately, each lied and immediately died of massive heart attacks.

When news of this event spread throughout the first century Christian community, great fear seized the church, Acts 5:11.  Anyone who was not committed, dedicated and or genuine about their relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ guarded against being exposed for who they were.  Therefore, only the true believers gathered to worship the Lord at Solomon’s Colonnade, Acts 5:12.  If you find yourself drifting away from the Lord, remember the Colonnade, by rededicating your life to God.

by Jay Mankus

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Everything About You

Posted on March 7, 2012 by expressyourself4him

As I was listening today to Oceans Above’s remake of the song, Everything About You, I was reminded of the importance to worship God 7 days a week, not just on Sunday.  When things are going well, I find myself often coasting through life, relying on my own gifts, strength and talents.  When despair, depression or death protrude upon us, interrupting life as we know it, I get flustered and impatient, wanting an answer immediately.

In the chorus of Everything About You, the lyrics refer to trying to live without God as one of the greatest mistakes that we can make.  During my junior year of college, while working in Cleveland, Ohio, I reached a point where I was disgusted by my faith.  I was one of the leader’s of the Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s at the University of Delaware while classes were in session, yet in the summer I was hanging out at nightclubs and sports bars with my non-Christian friends.  One dark night, restless from my hypocrisy and convicted by a web of sin, I contemplated walking away from my faith forever.

A week later, I broke my foot in 2 places, playing sand volleyball, landing on a girl’s leg who was playing behind me.  I spend an entire month, on bed rest, elevating my foot.  This was the turning point in my life, where I was forced to be still, Psalm 46:10.  God used this point in time to teach me about Himself, using passages like Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him.”  When I was in this pit, like David in Psalm 30:1-3, I began to see Everything About You Lord.  If you are feeling like a prodigal son or daughter, Luke 15:11-32, come to your senses, for God is waiting for you with open arms, Luke 15:20.  As Benny Hester once sang, this is When God Ran.  Run to Him now!

by Jay Mankus

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Feeling 4 the Feeley’s

Posted on March 6, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Sometimes in life, we have to put aside our own needs and extend a helping hand to someone else.  This morning I am reminded of the Feeley Family who laid to rest their 23 year old son last night.  Galatians 6:2 says carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.

Joe Sr, Joseph’s father is a man of character, faith and passion.  Although, when you lose the apple of your eye, as Joseph clearly was, each day without your one and only son must be difficult.  Therefore, I ask the entire Christian community, to carry Joe Sr’s burden today and for many weeks to come.  May the words of Psalm 34:18 be fulfilled in Joseph’s dad, that the Lord will be close to him and renew his crushed spirit.

As for Karen, Joseph’s mother, she has been a biblical example of faith, like Job.  On Karen’s Caringbridge site, she has poured out her heart, revealing the biblical truths God has shown her through these last 3 years.  If anyone can claim Galatians 5:25, it was Karen, who was led by the Holy Spirit day by day.  Like Job, the Feeley’s have lost almost everything during their quest to care for their son.  Therefore, I ask the Christian community to pray that Job 42:12 be fulfilled in their lives.  That God in His almighty power, will provide and restore the finances lost, on Joseph’s cancer treatment.

Finally, I ask you to lift up Jullian, Joseph’s little sister and Janie, Joseph’s girl friend, who stood by him to the end.  These 2 woman have suffered greatly and have sacrificed their time to love and support Joseph.  In their moment of sadness, pray that Isaiah 40:31 will be fulfilled in Julian and Janie.  When you think of the Feeley or see them in person, remember the words of the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:6b, “the only things that counts is faith expressing itself through love.”  As you feel for the Feeley family, show them the love of Christ in their time of need.

by Jay Mankus

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Waiting for Calamity

Posted on March 5, 2012 by expressyourself4him

In the days of the prophet Habakkuk, God was going to do the unthinkable, allow Babylon to defeat Judah, taking the southern kingdom into captivity, 1:5-6.  Distraught, Habakkuk spends one chapter complaining and another questioning God’s logic.  However, in chapter 3, there is a shift in Habakkuk’s thinking, 3:2, recognizing God is in control.

For those people who enjoy or like being in control, Habakkuk teaches us a hard lesson, sometimes you have to wait for calamity, 3:16.  For the last 10 years, I thought I was in control, staying in the same position since 2002.  However, just when I thought I would teach all 3 of my children, God closed this door, taking me on a two month long detour which is now at a standstill.

Christian’s should not be surprised by calamity since Jesus warned us all in Matthew 24:1-35.  Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes and famine are just the tip of the iceberg, or in this context just the beginning of future calamity.  The apostle Paul builds upon Jesus’ words in 2 Timothy 3:1-9.  Paul focuses on the calamity which will fall upon human beings, becoming self-absorbed and swayed by evil desires.  Therefore, as we wait for calamity, all we can do is claim the promises in 2 Peter 1:3-4 so that we can escape the corruption surrounding us by tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit.

by Jay Mankus

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Trusting God in the Dark

Posted on March 4, 2012 by expressyourself4him

I have been a Christian since 1983, yet I can’t remember a time when I have felt so abandoned.  I have written a 100 page movie script, faithfully written a blog each day, tried to restart my used golf ball business and have applied to close to 50 job openings in the last 2 months.  I am running out of answers, options and solutions.  Except for one job offer that I turned down due to a lack of pay, I feel as if I am suffering a spiritual power outage.

In Genesis 12, God called Abram to move to a foreign land.  In Genesis 39, Joseph was falsely accused of a crime, thrown in prison and forgotten about.  At the end of Deuteronomy, Moses was kept out of the Promised Land for not following directions about striking a rock to receive water.  God had a plan for each of these situations, but these men had to trust God in the dark before He revealed why these events occurred.

As I approach one of the narrowest paths, Matthew 7:13-14, that I have come across, I need to recall the words of Psalm 1:1-3 and Colossians 2:6-7.  As Amy Grant once sang, God’s Word is a lamp to my feet and light for the narrow path that I am currently facing, Psalm 119;105.  In an age of constant mirages, I need to cling to the words of Joseph in Genesis 45:5-8, “what you meant for bad needed to happen so that God would put me here to save you!”  As my power remains out at the moment, all I can do is trust God in the dark!

by Jay Mankus.

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The Freedom Fast

Posted on March 3, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Above the words of Isaiah 58 in the New International Version are the words, “True fasting.”  In this chapter, God is revealing to Isaiah the difference between man’s idea of fasting and God’s vision for fasting.  Isaiah 58:6 illuminates this, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loosen the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke.”

This is the freedom fast, where prayer yields bodies of believers to seek God’s power for justice to prevail worldwide and where denominations will put aside their theological differences to call on the Holy Spirit to breakdown the barriers that separate us from being one body in Christ.  As believers join this concert of prayer, we must call on angelic forces to tear down any existing spiritual strongholds that are holding back spiritual revival.  As we fast, we must have a heart like Nehemiah within Nehemiah 1, confessing our sins, humbling ourselves before the Lord and weeping for those who are in bondage to sin.  Ultimately, the goal of this fast to experience freedom that we have in Christ, to live life to the full, John 10:10.

Once Christians begin this journey together, please feel free to share your experience with us on this site.  The Fasting Edge is a great resource book to read prior or during your fast.  While its rare to see people tear their garments or put a sackcloth over their head like the Old Testament, God still uses desperate times to move believers to fast.

by Jay Mankus

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Blocked Paths

Posted on March 2, 2012 by expressyourself4him

With the recent tornado outbreak in the mid-west, I am reminded that landscapes can be forever changed in a blinking of an eye.  After the storm subsides, mangled debris, trees stripped of their bark and objects lay in ruin.  Streets, homes and parks blend together into one, shutting down entry and exit into a town for days at a time.

For those who have experienced Job-like trials in their lives, its easy to feel trapped.  Some times when we cry out to God for answers, a sin in our life blocks the path, causing our connection with the Holy Spirit to fail.  When Christian’s experience spiritual power outages, they are most vulnerable, opening a door to demons of despair, hopelessness and suicide like Judas in Matthew 27:1-5.

As I stress, day after day, praying and searching for a new position, I am reminded of Ephesians 2:10.  The apostle Paul uses the Greek word poiema, meaning end product.  The English word used in the translation from the Greek is workmanship.  What Paul is trying to say in this passage is God is the Poet and we are His Poems.  Although we may appear to face a blocked path or experience writer’s block, God knows the ending to our poem.  Therefore, if you are feeling discouraged today, read Ephesians 2:10, claim the good works God has prepared in advance for us and trust God to carry you through life’s storms!

by Jay Mankus

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Sense of Urgency

Posted on March 1, 2012 by expressyourself4him

When I played professional golf in 1995, I met people who lived in their cars and ate peanut butter and jelly every day until they reached their dream.  In 1999, I was introduced to a few people who worked 7 days a week, foregoing vacations to achieve their financial goal.  As of today, exactly one month unemployed, a sense of urgency to find a new job is seizing my soul.

 

Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live, not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.”  My present plan is to find a position which I can do for the next 10 years.  However, each day out of work makes my financial situation dire, like America’s debt crisis.  On the other hand, I need to make the most of every second of every day, taking advantage of conversations, past relationships and untapped skills to attract a company.

 

My patience is wearing thin, my wisdom seems empty and my hope is fading until I can go to sleep knowing I will be working again.  As for now, I have to suck it up, press on and persist like the Persistent Widow in Luke 18 pleading with God until a new position is found.  As I wander through a forest of despair, I see the sun rising on a new day of opportunities with a sense of urgency spurring me on until hope is restored!

 

by Jay Mankus

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