Category Archives: Uncategorized

A Prayer for Significance

Posted on June 14, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Unless you are feeling depressed, no one wants to live a meaningless life, void of any worth or value.  Something within the human soul cries out for purpose in life, hoping to make a difference in this world.  Deep inside the longest chapter of the Bible, lies a prayer for significance, Psalm 119:36-37.

This prayer begins with the heart, shifting one’s attention toward the statues written in the Bible.  Following this call, one must crucify their selfish desires and passions as the apostle Paul suggests in Galatians 5:24.  Once these habits, patterns and ways are purged from one’s mind, a new person can emerge.

The second portion of this prayer focuses on replacing the old with an entirely new perspective.  Like an addict starting over from scratch, individuals must learn what it means to invest your time in worthwhile activities.  As eyes and ears start to grasp the truths of Scripture, Psalm 119:9-11, this journey commences.  Within a Romans 12:1-2 attitude, the words of the Bible can preserve your steps, leading you to significance!

by Jay Mankus

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Get Over It!

Posted on June 13, 2013 by expressyourself4him

For 30 plus years, the national media has killed Philadelphia sports fans for booing and throwing snow balls at Santa Claus during an Eagle’s football game in the 1970’s.  With the eyes of the golfing world now on Merion Golf Club, just outside of center city, for this week’s 2013 U.S. Open, another story continues to drag on.  After a disappointing career up to this point, Sergio Garcia recently made an off colored remark toward Tiger Woods, trying to be funny at an news conference in Europe.  Like beating a dead horse, golf and sports analysts continue to bring this up over and over again, trying to stir up bad blood.  For now, can  everyone please move on and get over it?

In life, each individual has endured heartache, frustration and pain at least once.  Bitterness is often a natural response, left behind by someone or something from your past.  Although its true time does heal all things, scar tissue remains, brought to the surface by people, places or things.  If you fail to let go of these emotions, barriers will rise up out of the ground in the form of spiritual roots, Hebrews 12:16.  This obstacle will eat away at your soul, leaving behind division, friction and hatred toward others.  For your own good, I urge you to get over these events, Matthew 6:15.

At the conclusion of Scrooged starring Bill Murray, he confesses his sins to a live audience.  After evaluating his own life, Murray realizes that he has been a jerk, selfish and damaged by a poor relationship with his own father.  When you practice this kind of behavior, James 5:16, individuals can reclaim a sense of freedom.  Reaching this point is no easy task as thoughts of certain co-workers, neighbors or relatives may bring out the worst in you.  However, its time to bury the hatchet, to seek forgiveness or forgive anyone you haven’t been able to up to this point in life.  Whether its a former boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse or relative, please for the love of God, get over it!

by Jay Mankus

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Spam I Am

Posted on June 12, 2013 by expressyourself4him

As a child, I became enamored with Dr. Seuss at an early age.  The advent of television brought his books to life, especially the Christmas classic The Grinch Who Stole Christmas.  Now as an adult, a new project comes to mind, how to eliminate spam from the internet.  Yet, for today, Spam I am.

Thanks to Google Translate, I am able to decipher spam written in German, French and Spanish from my bi-lingual audience.  Despite taking 4 years of French and 3 in Spanish, I still need to rely on this site to insure I am interpreting each comment accurately.  However, spam has recently overrun my email account, like bacteria attacking internal organs.  Like pop up ads on commercial websites, these images tempt one to indulge their curious nature.

If you seek to please God as the apostle Paul urges the church in 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5, spam needs to be monitored closely.  When you do your do diligence, organizing your life properly, God can place a lock and key on these unwanted messages.  On the flip side, if you are careless, this can open the door, leaving a foot hold for the devil, Ephesians 4:26.  One can, two can, 3 spam cans, don’t ease up or you might be Spam I am.

by Jay Mankus

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Lost Lips

Posted on June 11, 2013 by expressyourself4him

“I can’t believe I just said that,” occurs more and more in today’s society.  While working in Philadelphia nearly 15 years ago, I became a regular in an establishment in Bensalem, 30 minutes north of downtown, passing time during my hour long lunch break.  An older couple sat in their usual perch, spewing venom, cursing like sailors day in and day out.  Four letter words echoed throughout this restaurant, regardless if innocent ears were present or not.

In most cases, individuals are shaped by their parents or guardians, with the good, bad and ugly sprinkled in together.  Right and wrong is determined over time as one’s worldview draws the lines in the sand.  Those positive traits passed on to children, inspire kids to cling to and acquire these attributes.  Meanwhile, the bad habits demonstrated by misguided souls are left behind, at least as much as one can flee before their natures became ingrained within you.  Lost lips just don’t appear out of the blue, its a lifelong journey of picking up unwholesome slang deemed acceptable by peers.

The Psalmist provides a cure for this disease, a prescription to heal this ailment.  Psalm 119:13 suggest a spiritual washing your mouth out with soap.  Instead of regurgitating poisonous words, replace lost lips with the Words of the Bible.  As you recount God’s laws, blessings will replace any curses that you once verbalized.  Though your current state of affairs might be summed up as lost lips, there is a God in heaven who wants to transform your vocabulary, Ephesians 5:4.  Therefore, be wise, making the most of every conversation you partake in, Ephesians 5:15-16.

by Jay Mankus

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Conventional Thinking

Posted on June 10, 2013 by expressyourself4him

A convent is a facility where woman seek refuge from the ways of the world.  This building serves as a refuge, a place where individuals attempt to devote their lives to prayer, reading the Bible and service.  While Hollywood has their own ideas from films such as Sister Act and the Sound of Music, convents provide a setting which goes against conventional thinking.

Unfortunately, worldly thinking has infiltrated the church, causing believers to have selfish thoughts.  When members of a congregation expect pastors, priests and teachers to do this or that because this is what they are paid to do, they are missing the point.  The apostle Paul reminds followers that the church is one body with many parts, 1 Corinthians 12:1-6.  The Bible clearly goes against the flow, suggesting you might be the only Jesus someone might ever encounter, Matthew 5:13-16.

Thus, after experiencing joy earlier in the week, I have found myself in a battle between complacency and conventional thinking.  Tired of leading this and that, I indulged in laziness, sitting along the sidelines this weekend.  Although pop culture may applaud me for taking a break, my heart was convicted by sins of omission.  Whenever idleness lulls you into a false sense of security, guard your heart and protect your mind, 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8.  When you arm yourself with Scripture, conventional thinking will be a thing of the past, replaced by a Mother Teresa like faith.

by Jay Mankus

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Addicted

Posted on June 9, 2013 by expressyourself4him

When I taught high school for 10 years, there were many days when I forgot to eat or simply didn’t have time to.  Thus, when a friend from church convinced me to start fasting, the transition was easier than I thought.  During my final semester of teaching, my body became use to just one meal a day per week, with 4 meals on the weekend.  Although depression had something to do with this, I lost most of my cravings for food.

Eight-teen months later, I find the opposite to be true.  While depression is still a factor, my body has become addicted to certain foods.  During a 3 day fast I attempted earlier this week, my body went through severe withdrawal on day 1, leaving me miserable with a high fever.  Based upon books I have read, toxins within my body were reacting to their lack of food supply.  Instead of toughing it out, I broke my fast after 24 hours, disappointed by my weakness, Matthew 26:41.

Maybe this is why the apostle Paul goes to extreme measures in his letter to the church in Corinth.  According to 1 Corinthians 9:26-27, fasting requires the mindset of an athletic who goes into strict training.  Sometimes the only way to overcome bad habits, temptation and a weak flesh is through a teetotalism mentality.  When there is a will, there is a way to overcome addiction.  May your battle with the world’s obstacles lead you to lean on God’s compassion, forgiveness and mercy to press on, praying for victory over the giants in your life.

by Jay Mankus

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When Joy Reemerged

Posted on June 8, 2013 by expressyourself4him

On New Year’s Day, 2012, my oldest son, James and I played in a Disc Golf tournament.  After a small entry fee, James and I played well enough to earn a Frisbee, placing in our age brackets.  Before leaving, I also received money for winning a closest to the pin contest, 3 feet away.  We celebrated on the way home, going out to lunch with our 2 brand new discs.  Before last night, this was the last time I experienced joy.

This mood was broken by a chilling a phone call, a lost job and 18 months of hopelessness.  While I thought earlier in the year my luck was going to change, subtle signs from the Lord clearly revealed Chick-fil-A was not going to be in my future.  Falling apart on the inside, the prayers of dear friends and my church, has carried me across a barren desert of disappointment.

Deep in my heart, the only place I initially felt called was to coach Daniel, my younger son’s baseball team in Newark.  During my month as a Marketing Director, I was convicted by my lack of time with family.  In my absence, Coach Adrian, Coach Alex and my wife stepped in to fill the void left by me.  The team held their own, hovering above 500 before I returned.

Last night, winning the league championship culminated one of the most gratifying seasons ever as a coach.  Beside a few errors and base running blunders, every player contributed to score and or prevent runs from scoring.  Emotionally fragile at times like my last 18 months, everyone kept their composure until the final out.  The cherry on top is news earlier in the week of receiving a full time position with Amazon, with a start date set for next week.  I thank the Lord for holding me together and providing these blessings so that joy could reemerge.

by Jay Mankus

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Time After Time

Posted on June 7, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Before the days of Cyndi Lauper, there was someone who was there, time after time.  Thus, when I read the chorus line of this #1 hit song of 1984, I was brought

If you’re lost you can look and you will find me,
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you I’ll be waiting
Time after time

back in time to the days of my youth.  However, I recently discovered another artist who gives a similar account in Psalm 116.

This unnamed source gives credit to the Lord in verse 1.  After investigating their past, one thing was clear, God had rescued this individual time after time according to Psalm 116:3-6.  Like a children crying out for help, verse 7 provides an outline for prayer which appears to have been successful every time, Psalm 116:8.

From sheer trial and error, I have learned the pain of disappointment.  Although Cyndi Lauper’s lyrics sound great on the surface, its impossible for one person to be there to catch or find you every time.  Whoever was inspired by God to write this Psalm of the Bible also recognized this truth.  Therefore, if you want to be confident, put your full trust into the Great I Am.  Like the Psalmist, you will find, He is there for you, time after time!

by Jay Mankus

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Not To Us O Lord

Posted on June 6, 2013 by expressyourself4him

 

The seagulls in Finding Nemo illustrate the problem with most individuals today.  Cries for mine, mine, mine take our eyes off of to whom and for whom this life on earth is meant.  Thus, instead of praying not to us O Lord, each soul appears to be seeking credit, fame and glory due their name.

After spending the last 100 plus days reading one Psalm a day, it is clear from these chapters why God created man and woman.  Words like ordained in Psalm 8:2 suggest human beings were established to praise the Lord.  Psalm 33:1 uses the expression “it is fitting,” confirming mankind’s purpose to acknowledge God as the giver of life.  While I haven’t reached this passage on my current journey, Psalm 150:6 insures believers that they are on the right track by praising the Lord.


On Monday, June 3rd, 2013, the Golf Channel held their second ever Golf’s Longest Day.  Programming included hourly updates of United States Open Sectional Qualifying, held at several different locations throughout the country.  Several hundred amateur and professional golfers were fighting for 57 spots at 10 locations, hoping to earn the right to play at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.  As this 36 hole tournament drew to a close, highlights of play as well as interviews of the qualifiers aired.

 Since I am a former assistant golf professional, played in a few mini-tour player events and tried to qualify for the Canadian P.G.A. Tour at Q-School on Vancouver  Island in British Columbia, this coverage intrigued me.  While rooting for Sam Saunders, Scott Stallings and Ryan Palmer, all losing in sudden death playoffs, a relatively unknown got my attention.  Josh Teater, a member of the PGA tour placed second in the Columbus, Ohio sectional.  Instead of stealing the spotlight, Teater gave God the glory for his success.  Well done Josh, thanks for reminding the world,” Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory,” Psalm 115:1.

by Jay Mankus

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W.W.T.W.

Posted on June 5, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Acronyms such as W.W.D.J.; what would Jesus do have existed for centuries as followers of Christ ponder about the right thing to do in a certain situation.  Unfortunately, thinking about an ideal reply or response is much easier said than done.  Thus, when push comes to shove, its essential to recall W.W.T.W.: why waste time worrying.

Psalm 114 recounts a list of reasons why worrying is a waste of time.  As a summary of God’s past miracles performed for Israel, these acts should have transformed the lives of each eyewitness.  Yet, over time, it appears that many waned, as their faith faded like a distant memory.  If God can part rivers and seas, then why wouldn’t the Lord have the power to change your circumstances, eternal destination or ongoing trial.

Recently, I was convicted by my intense worry, recognizing my energy was misdirected, Matthew 6:25-34.  Instead of trusting the God of Creation to provide for my needs, I spent several miserable hours worrying.  Like having your strength sapped by summer heat and humidity, I wilted, feeling worse as the day went on.  Therefore, whenever you are desperate to see results, turn to the Lord in prayer.  Why waste time worrying, when the operator of life is on the other line, waiting to preform another miracle as in the days of old.

by Jay Mankus

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