Category Archives: Uncategorized

Love is Faith in Action

Posted on October 4, 2022 by expressyourself4him

When the topic of faith is preached about in the pulpit, Hebrews 11 and James 2 is often referenced. Yet, after considering the words of King Solomon and Jesus, faith and love is a matter of the heart. Solomon warns one of his sons to guard his heart above all else. When the flow of blood to a heart is cut off, physical life is in jeopardy. However, Jesus speaks of the spiritual condition of hearts.

Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life, Proverbs 4:23.

During a rough week of cross-country practice in high school, Coach Mauer give some advice dating girls during the season. I can still hear coach proclaiming, “if you let girls screw with your mind, you won’t be able to concentrate.” Unfortunately, these words came a week too late as I was turned down to attend homecoming with a female runner. As DC Talk once sang, love isn’t just another word, love is a verb.

For there is no good (healthy) tree that bears decayed (worthless, stale) fruit, nor on the other hand does a decayed (worthless, sickly) tree bear good fruit. 44 For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit; for figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a bramblebush. 45 The upright (honorable, intrinsically good) man out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart produces what is upright (honorable and intrinsically good), and the evil man out of the evil storehouse brings forth that which is depraved (wicked and intrinsically evil); for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks, Luke 6:43-45.

Love isn’t something that you can take on and off like an article of clothing. Rather, love begins in your heart. Jesus taught that what’s in your heart naturally flows out of you in the form of words. The battered, beaten, and bruised will likely spew hatred and resentment of the life they have endured. Yet, this doesn’t have to be the end as Galatians 5:22-23 speaks of a Spirit of spiritual fruit. May the words of Solomon and Jesus give you hope of a new heart where God’s love flows in the form of faith in action.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 244: Testify to Love

Posted on October 3, 2022 by expressyourself4him

The Christian group Avalon formed in 1995 as a vocal quartet from Nashville, Tennessee. However, over the years, Avalon’s focus on worship music led to a slight name change to Avalon Worship. I was first introduced to Avalon through one of their Christmas albums. While some of their songs or more memorable than others, Testify to Love is one of my favorites.

And He said to them, Go into all the world and preach and publish openly the good news (the Gospel) to every creature [of the whole [e]human race], Mark 16:15

The lyrics to Testify to Love are based upon the passage above. Known as the Great Commission, Jesus leaves a blueprint behind for future Christians to follow, Acts 1:8. First century Jewish Christians completed phase one: testifying about Jesus to everyone in Jerusalem. The apostles completed phase two by the end of the first century by testifying to surrounding towns and villages. The final phase is up to believers to testify about Jesus to the ends of the earth. May this song inspire you to do your part.

by Jay Mankus

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Shut Up and Listen for a Minute

Posted on October 3, 2022 by expressyourself4him

One of my greatest weaknesses is listening. This is likely due to my intense nature, completely focused on what I am doing. I must confess that when I meet someone for the first time, I rarely remember new names. Instead of taking off my blinders to pay attention to this individual, my mind is still fixated on what I’m doing or what I’m about to do. Therefore, shut up and listen is directed at my own life, but you may have a similar issue or struggle.

Let be and be still, and know (recognize and understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth! – Psalm 46:10

Whether you’re a child sitting at a lunchroom table in school or an adult meeting new people at a social gathering, you’ll find a few people who will try to dominate the topic of conversation. If you listen intently, you may even hear two individuals wrestle for control, trying to one up the other. From time to time, I refer to this as a pissing match. This occurs when two or more talkers try to convince the group or table who’s the best or wisest.

There he came to a cave and lodged in it; and behold, the word of the Lord came to him, and He said to him, What are you doing here, Elijah? 10 He replied, I have been very jealous for the Lord God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken Your covenant, thrown down Your altars, and killed Your prophets with the sword. And I, I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away. 11 And He said, Go out and stand on the mount before the Lord. And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 And after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire [a sound of gentle stillness and] a still, small voice, 1 Kings 19:9-12.

When God places me into humbling situations, I tend to shut down socially. I may feel compelled to speak, but I usually spend the rest of the day listening and observing others. If you get too carried away talking, you may miss the lesson God is trying to teach you through disappointment and failure. Although I rarely have something special like Elijah happen to me, when I open the Bible to study, God’s still small voice in the form of the Holy Spirit pierces my heart and rings my ears. When I shut up and listen for a minute, I’m always amazed by what the Lord teaches me by simply reading the Bible.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 243: Walking Free

Posted on October 2, 2022 by expressyourself4him

The hymn In the Garden is the first song that I heard in church that points to a personal testimony. The chorus of In the Garden suggest that God walks and talks to Christians. In today’s featured song, Micah Tyler uses a series of true stories, testimonies of sinners who have testified about Walking Free despite being behind bars.

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.

Walking Free reminds me of one of the first Christian movies I saw called Twice Pardoned. While the story was different, the message is the same, God’s grace and forgiveness, Ephesians 2:8-10. If you like to watch sports, some athletes celebrate way too much. Yet, as Christians who have been saved, there isn’t enough celebration over the fact that in Christ we are walking free.

by Jay Mankus

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Transforming Your Mind Through Song

Posted on October 2, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Why did Jesus sing a hymn prior to leaving the Last Supper? What song did the disciples join Jesus in singing? Was anyone humming this tune on the way to the Garden of Gethsemane? When I first read the apostle Paul’s call to sing hymns and spiritual songs, I wasn’t sure why or where to do this? Yet, over the past month I’ve found myself re-singing a couple of the songs I listened to prior to going to work. Little by little, my attitude and mind has been transformed through Christian music.

 And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always]. 16 Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts, Colossians 3:15-16.

To provide the proper context, I was forced to leave my position at Amazon in Delaware when my wife’s mom was living in hospice care in South Carolina. When I wasn’t able to find a full-time position before our move this past summer, I took a hardship transfer but was forced to start all over like I had never worked for Amazon. Like the Israelites wandering around in the wilderness following the Exodus out of Egypt, there were numerous days of bickering and complaining. This was my state of mind in July.

Speak out to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, offering praise with voices [[e]and instruments] and making melody with all your heart to the Lord, 20 At all times and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father, Ephesians 5:19-20.

Every day was like David’s confession in Psalm 51:1-4, struggling to get up to head off to work. This poor mindset took a toll on my body and soul. Beginning in August, like taking a pill to numb my pain, I started to sing Christian songs in my head that I listened to on my way to work. Rather than participate in a daily pity party, “oh woe is me,” I began singing these songs in my head. The more I hummed and sang, the better I felt. While my work situation hasn’t changed, my mind has been transformed via song.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 242: Take Courage

Posted on October 1, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Courage is one of those traits that is often hidden until a crisis, event or circumstance forces individuals to act. If you’re caught off guard, you may freeze like a deer stunned by the headlights of a moving vehicle. If you do flunk a test of faith, it’s not the end of the world. This is where King David calls believers in the Lord to take courage internally so that you can recover spiritually.

Wait and hope for and expect the Lord; be brave and of good courage and let your heart be stout and enduring. Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord, Psalm 27:14.

Kristene DiMarco offers up a similar call in her song Take Courage. The apostle Paul warns Christians to arm yourself with spiritual weapons to take your stand against the Devil, Ephesians 6:10-20. The lyrics of Take Courage point to what is possible when Christians begin to fix their eyes on Jesus. Whatever you may be currently facing, miracles happen when you fix your eyes on Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

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Does God Know that You Fear the Lord?

Posted on October 1, 2022 by expressyourself4him

As September ends today, October transitions from fall to a month of horror movies. One of my former co-workers tries to watch a scary movie once a day for the entire month. These types of movies are designed to inflict fear, crafted in such a way to scare the hell out of you. While this may be a good way to pass the time, does God know that you fear the Lord?

And Isaac said to Abraham, My father! And he said, Here I am, my son. [Isaac] said, See, here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt sacrifice? 8 Abraham said, My son, [b]God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering. So the two went on together, Genesis 22:7-8.

While children are introduced to Abraham as the guy in that funny song “Father Abraham,” this man of God had his own internal struggles. When placed into an awkward situation, Abraham had a tendency to exaggerate, stretching the truth. In other words, when push came to shove, Abraham lied like a politician on the campaign trail. This sinful pattern went on out for years until God forced Abe to make a change.

When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there; then he laid the wood in order and [c]bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar on the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand and took hold of the knife to slay his son. 11 But the [d]Angel of the Lord called to him from heaven and said, Abraham, Abraham! He answered, Here I am. 12 And He said, Do not lay your hand on the lad or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear and revere God, since you have not held back from Me or begrudged giving Me your son, your only son. 13 Then Abraham looked up and glanced around, and behold, behind him was a ram caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering and an ascending sacrifice instead of his son! – Genesis 22:9-13

Sometimes God will place you into a situation where you are forced to choose your allegiance. Abraham was asked to sacrifice his one and only son Isaac. Rather than look for a way out, Abraham got up earlier in the morning before the sun rose. Abraham had three days to make a decision if he wanted to go through with this. In the end, Abraham chose to fear the Lord. May this blog challenge you to prove to God that you truly fear Him in October.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 241: The God Who Stays

Posted on September 30, 2022 by expressyourself4him

As a child, it’s easy to feel alone and abandoned. The Father of Lies, John 8:44, has a way of convincing human beings that God is to blame. Yet, Matthew West in his song The God Who Stays seeks to correct and stop any ungodly beliefs from spreading. It’s not God who leaves us. Rather, individuals exercise freewill and, in the process, end up taking a break from God like the Parable of the Prodigal Son.

I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; [just] make me like one of your hired servants. 20 So he got up and came to his [own] father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was moved with pity and tenderness [for him]; and he ran and embraced him and kissed him [[j]fervently], Luke 15:18-20.

The apostle Paul writes an entire chapter about real love in 1 Corinthians 13. The purpose of this chapter is to correct any false assumptions about God’s unconditional love. Unfortunately, this world is filled with fallen and flawed human beings that don’t emulate fruits of God’s Spirit. In view of this fact, may the lyrics of the God Who Stays serve as an encouraging message of hope to anyone who wanders off in life.

by Jay Mankus

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The Cure for a Troubled Mind

Posted on September 30, 2022 by expressyourself4him

A troubled mind is like being a parent at a little league game. One error leads to another as a ground ball in the infield ends up becoming an inside the park homeroom. Great for the hitter who never stops running and gut-wrenching for the fielding team. As a former coach, I once watched my catcher not know the rule for a dropped third strike with the bases loaded. Electing to throw the ball to first rather than step on home plate, he airmailed first by 10 feet. As my right fielder loafed to the ball, all 4 runners scored.

Remember [earnestly] also your Creator [that you are not your own, but His property now] in the days of your youth, before the evil days come or the years draw near when you will say [of physical pleasures], I have no enjoyment in them—Ecclesiastes 12:1.

King Solomon suggests that troubled minds are a byproduct of forgetting God. I find this to be true in my own life when a go a few days without reading the Bible or praying. Rather than keep in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25, I begin to feed my earthly desires, Romans 8:5-8. The apostle Paul goes on to explain in chapter 8 that a carnal mind can’t not please God. This points to the spiritual frustration within Cain in Genesis 4:5-8. Cain’s troubled mind made him to act out rather than submit to fruits of the Spirit.

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness. 6 Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did, 1 Corinthians 10:5-6.

The apostle Paul uses history as a way to prevent yourself from making the same mistakes over and over again in life. Providing a brief summary of Israel’s past failures, Paul claims that these serve as warnings to not crave, covet or indulge your sinful nature. Denzel Washington uses a nearby field in Gettysburg in the film Remember the Titans to communicate to his players, “if we don’t learn from this battle, we too will be destroyed.” Thus, the cure for a troubled mind is seeking daily reminders from the Bible on how to live.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 240: Bigger Than Me

Posted on September 29, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Humility is one of those traits looked down upon in society but applauded by the Bible. John the Baptist was a first century spiritual leader who demonstrated humility. When asked to baptize Jesus, John felt unworthy, not good enough. John served as a forerunner to prepare the way for Jesus. Like Louis Tomlinson’s song, John realized that God was Bigger Than Me.

Then you will call upon Me, and you will come and pray to Me, and I will hear and heed you. 13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart, Jeremiah 29:12-13.

Louis Tomlinson first rose to prominence as a member of the boy band One Direction. Louis also participated on the British Reality competition the X-Factor. After being eliminated, Louis was able to turn this opportunity into an open door to join One Direction. As you listen to Bigger Than Me, may the lyrics help you realize that you’re merely a piece of a puzzle living in a world bigger than you.

by Jay Mankus

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