Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Reason to Change

Posted on March 16, 2022 by expressyourself4him

A defining moment is very brief portion of time, an instant, where you have to decide in a moment. If you’re too slow to react, this moment will define your life in the form of disappointment, failure, and shame. This old French expression is now nearly 1000 years old since it first appeared in literature. Whether you just experienced the agony of defeat or thrill of victory, defining moments provide an opportunity to change.

For the time that is past already suffices for doing what the Gentiles like to do—living [as you have done] in shameless, insolent wantonness, in lustful desires, drunkenness, reveling, drinking bouts and abominable, lawless idolatries, 1 Peter 4:3.

If anyone had a reason to change, it was one of Jesus’ disciples. John 21:15-21 details Peter’s first interaction with Jesus following his public denial. Jesus asked Peter, “do you love me” three times as if remind Peter of his failure to acknowledge his friendship with Jesus three times. Hearing these words likely pierced Peter’s heart, creating an intense desire to never deny his faith again.

They are astonished and think it very queer that you do not now run hand in hand with them in the same excesses of dissipation, and they abuse [you]. 5 But they will have to give an account to Him Who is ready to judge and pass sentence on the living and the dead, 1 Peter 4:4-5.

When I was a new Christian in high school, I really didn’t know what it meant to be a follower of Jesus. Attending spiritual retreats in college pushed me in the right direction to the point where I had to decide if I wanted Jesus to take the wheel of my life? This is what the Bible refers to as the lordship of Christ, Philippians 2:9-11. Over the course of your life, you’ll likely receive bad information and instructions. Becoming a Christian doesn’t make problems go away. Rather, Jesus has a dumping station where you can unload excess weight, Matthew 11:28-30. This is the reason I changed, Romans 10:9-11.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 40: Back to the Start

Posted on March 15, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Today’s song came from a $1 bin that I discovered at a local Christian Bookstore before it went out of business. While the name Esterlyn didn’t impress me, the album cover and several inspiring songs got my attention. Back when making music mixes on CD’s was popular, I created a soft rock collection. After rediscovering this CD while cleaning last weekend, I put 3 songs from Esterlyn on this special mix.

Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! – 2 Corinthians 5:17

While the songs on Esterlyn’s Lamp album are relatively short, each contains a quality sound with solid biblical lyrics. The featured song Back to the Start is my favorite Esterlyn tune. Everyone reaches a point in life where you have to start over. In the film City Slickers, Billy Crystal goes away with his two best friends on a cattle ranch. Billy’s character Mitch refers to this trip as a do-over, a chance for a fresh start. As you listen to Back to the Start, may you be inspired to begin again with Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

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Demonstrating What You Believe

Posted on March 15, 2022 by expressyourself4him

As a former Bible teacher, you have to demonstrate what you believe before any student will take you seriously. You can be prepared and know exactly what you are going to teach, but if you are not walking the walk as a Christian, your words will fall upon deaf ears. It doesn’t take long to spot a hypocrite so unless you demonstrate what you believe your audience will continue to shrink.

And baptism, which is a figure [of their deliverance], does now also save you [from inward questionings and fears], not by the removing of outward body filth [bathing], but by [providing you with] the answer of a good and clear conscience (inward cleanness and peace) before God [because you are demonstrating what you believe to be yours] through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 3:21.

One of my favorite passages in the Bible comes from John 8:10-11. One day Jesus approaches a town where and man and woman are caught in the act of adultery. As members of the community begin to pick up stones to fulfill Leviticus 20:10, Jesus starts writing in the sand. Although no one is sure what was written, some scholars have suggested Jesus began to write down secret sins of those with stones. After a call for inner reflection, Jesus keeps writing until everyone in the crowd had left and gone home.

But without faith it is impossible to please and be satisfactory to Him. For whoever would come near to God must [necessarily] believe that God exists and that He is the rewarder of those who earnestly and diligently seek Him [out]. 7 [Prompted] by faith Noah, being forewarned by God concerning events of which as yet there was no visible sign, took heed and diligently and reverently constructed and prepared an ark for the deliverance of his own family. By this [his faith which relied on God] he passed judgment and sentence on the world’s unbelief and became an heir and possessor of righteousness ([c]that relation of being right into which God puts the person who has faith), Hebrews 11:6-7.

Jesus could had said a number of things before leaving town. Yet, Jesus turns to this adulterous woman and declares, “go now and leave your life of sin.” The apostle Paul devotes Romans 8:1-13 to demonstrating what you believe. After sharing his own personal failures and struggles in Romans 7, Paul reveals how to leave your life of sin. Demonstrating what you believe is based upon leaving your former desires for sin and replace this with a craving for the Holy Spirit. When your life begins to reflect the acts of the Spirit and not the flesh, Galatians 5:16-25, you’re on your way toward demonstrating faith.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 39: Supernatural

Posted on March 14, 2022 by expressyourself4him

While attending my first spiritual retreat in college, a couple of students stepped up on top of a cafeteria table and began to rap. Later that night a friend informed me that these students were from Liberty University and referred to themselves as DC Talk. This strange encounter didn’t win me over to rap music, but the Supernatural album made me a fan of DC Talk.

Jesus said to him, “Away from me, Satan! For it is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only,” Matthew 4:10.

When I first purchased this album, I drove a couple of students from Red Lion to a leadership conference in the Pocono Mountains. No one in my car objected to replaying this CD once the final song came to an end. While the song Red Letters moved me due to the inspiration lyrics, Supernatural in my mind is by far the best overall song. I hope that Supernatural touches you like it did for me two decades ago.

by Jay Mankus

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Do You Want to Enjoy Life and See Good Days?

Posted on March 14, 2022 by expressyourself4him

I tend to be outspoken about issues that affect or impact my life. While teaching high school Bible for a decade, I lost my cool a couple of times. On one occasion I wrote a letter to the administration which got me in hot water with other teachers. Following this escapade, my good friend Spencer provided words of wisdom: “loose lips sink ships.” According to one of Jesus’ disciples, this is crucial to enjoying life and seeing good days ahead.

For let him who wants to enjoy life and see good days [good—whether apparent or not] keep his tongue free from evil and his lips from guile (treachery, deceit), 1 Peter 3:10.

My grandmother Joana always greeted me with the same corny phrase, “you’re such a good religious boy.” As a children raised in the Roman Catholic Church, I was taught to pursue the holy sacraments. From my first communion, years of CCD (Sunday School for Catholics), and completing the Confirmation process, I thought I was well on my way toward enjoying life and seeing good days. Boy was I wrong as if God was whispering, “not so fast.”

Even so the tongue is a little member, and it can boast of great things. See how much wood or how great a forest a tiny spark can set ablaze! 6 And the tongue is a fire. [The tongue is a] world of wickedness set among our members, contaminating and depraving the whole body and setting on fire the wheel of birth (the cycle of man’s nature), being itself ignited by hell (Gehenna), James 3:5-6.

While I knew all the right religious answers, my life was void of a personal relationship with God, Romans 10:9-10. Subsequently, I struggled through my first two years of high school with many unanswered questions. Thanks to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes group at Concord High and a local Methodist youth group, I started to run the race of faith, Hebrews 12:1-2. Although I’m nowhere near graduating from this spiritual adventure, I’m on the right path to clearing up my speech. As Christian’s mature, enjoying life and good days are slices of heaven on earth before the real party in the sky commences.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 38: Go and Sin No More

Posted on March 13, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Back in the 1980’s, the Christian bookstores that I shopped at had a series of items positioned on the counter. The impulse buyer in me was a sucker for music samplers, individual songs from new albums that were set to be released sometime in the year. As I went through my closest this winter to prepare to move this summer, I was astonished by all the sampler CD’s that I have accumulated. Yet, if it wasn’t for these CD’s, I might not have heard of the group Liaison.

When Jesus raised Himself up, He said to her, Woman, where are your accusers? Has no man condemned you? 11 She answered, No one, Lord! And Jesus said, I do not condemn you either. Go on your way and from now on sin no more, John 8:10-11.

Go and Sin No More was one of the featured songs that introduced me to Liaison. While in college, a special radio program on Saturday night highlighted new and unknown Christian rock bands. As for today’s featured song, it comes right out of the Bible as Jesus addresses a woman who was spared from being stoned to death. Instead of falling into bad habits of your past life, Jesus leaves this woman with a simple message: go and sin no more. I hope you enjoy this classic ballad.

by Jay Mankus

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The Reason to Forgive

Posted on March 13, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Everyone has been burned, disappointed with or hurt by a close friend. Whether this was due to betrayal, growing apart or temptation bought on by human nature, there is no one righteous, not even one, Romans 3:9-12. When the shoe is on the other foot and you are the guilty one, remember the principle you reap what you sow. When you add this to Jesus’ teaching in the passage below, this is the reason to forgive.

And lead (bring) us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. 14 For if you forgive people their trespasses [their [g]reckless and willful sins, [h]leaving them, letting them go, and [i]giving up resentment], your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their trespasses [their [j]reckless and willful sins, [k]leaving them, letting them go, and [l]giving up resentment], neither will your Father forgive you your trespasses, Matthew 6:13-15.

As a child, forgiveness is a daily ordeal. Someone hurts your feelings, said something mean to you or as you get older, breaks your heart. If the words of Jeremiah 17:9 are any indication, life is filled with anguish, frustration, and pain. This is where children learn the hard way that it’s better to forgive rather than holding a grudge. The sooner you mend fences with friends, the better you’ll feel. Unfortunately, stubbornness often blocks the path toward peace.

Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and [e]disregards the offenses of others], 1 Peter 4:8.

The words of the passage above might have been conceived in John 21:15-17. Peter is confronted by Jesus following his public denial. This conversation serves as a form of reconciliation as Jesus forgives Peter for his past sin. While the Lord’s Prayer is a basic prayer children learned in Sunday School classes, this is a great aid for forgiveness. As you reflect upon the past day, week, month or year, forgive those who have trespassed against you. If you want God to forgive you, this is the reason to forgive others.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 37: Breakdown

Posted on March 12, 2022 by expressyourself4him

One of the last albums I purchased before my local Christian bookstore went out of business was Group One Crew’s Outta Space Love. At this time, I was still teaching Bible at Red Lion Christian Academy so I was looking for a hip hop artist who could reach teenagers. According to my students, the music I had shared up to this point in class was too Christian and not cool enough.

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might. 6 And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then] Deuteronomy 6:5-6.

While driving my kids to school, my oldest son James connected with the opening song on Outta Space Love entitled Live It Up. However, my younger son Daniel and I both felt that one other song was slightly better. Breakdown is not your typically Christian song, but it’s great for rolling down your windows and blasting the volume for others to listen. When you add solid lyrics to this beat, Breakdown is one of the best Christian hip hop tunes that I have found.

by Jay Mankus

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Pursue Peaceful Relations

Posted on March 12, 2022 by expressyourself4him

One of the most eye-opening experiences in my life was teaching a semester at a boarding school in West Virginia. The High Scope Institute for Ideas was located in the Monongahela National Forest. This setting was a great place for career underachievers living in broken homes to escape the distractions in life that were holding them back academically. As I got to know these teenagers as a counselor and teacher, I began to understand the importance pursuing peaceful relations.

Let him turn away from wickedness and shun it, and let him do right. Let him search for peace (harmony; undisturbedness from fears, agitating passions, and moral conflicts) and seek it eagerly. [Do not merely desire peaceful relations with God, with your fellowmen, and with yourself, but pursue, go after them!] – 1 Peter 3:11

Staying positive in the midst of any stressful predicament is difficult. Yet, when you’re a child and one or both of your parents are living in denial of an addiction seems like a no-win situation. If you apply Peter’s advice in the passage above, tough love is necessary to shun wickedness living inside of someone you care about. Whether you are currently dealing with an agitating individual or a series of moral conflicts, the quest for peace can bring forth harmony.

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition ([b]definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. 7 And God’s peace [shall be yours, that [c]tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with its earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that peace] which transcends all understanding shall [d]garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, Philippians 4:6-7.

The apostle Paul takes Peter’s instructions to the next level. Whether before, during or after enduring this chaos in your life, pray. Don’t just lift up your voice to the Lord in a casual manner or with a hopeless heart. Rather, thank God for the little things in life and long for a new perspective so that you can begin to see life as Jesus did. In the meantime, as you wait for answers to prayer, unload any burden, concern or pain that you’re still carrying, Matthew 11:28-30, and place it at the foot of the cross.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 36: Much Afraid

Posted on March 11, 2022 by expressyourself4him

 Illinois’ Greenville College is where singer and songwriter Dan Haseltine met keyboardist Charlie Lowell in 1993. Guitarist Stephen Mason and Matthew Odmark on rhythm guitar were soon added to complete the band known as Jars of Clay. Following their debut album Flood, Jars of Clay’s acoustic-oriented music fit perfectly into the pop wing of alternative rock radio. This contemporary Christian group was one of the first to be embraced by both a Christian and secular music audience.

There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love [g]turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear [h]brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection], 1 John 4:18.

While I own several of Jars of Clay’s albums, my favorite is Much Afraid. Although the sound is more mellow than a typical collection, the lyrics of Much Afraid provide a topic that speaks to my heart. Anyone who is having a bad day or struggling with depression can relate to the opening stanza of Much Afraid. “Empty again; Sunken down so far; So scared to fall; I might not get up again” is like reading someone’s thoughts. When you add a smooth sound to Much Afraid, it’s a classic song that has stood the test of time.

by Jay Mankus

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