Category Archives: Truth

Engaging Our Culture: July 1-Painful Reminders of War

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1993 movie “Gettysburg”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains, Matthew 24:4-8.

Biblical Connection:

The battle at Gettysburg began on July 1st in 1863 between the Confederate and Union armies. Over 46,000 soldiers were killed in this Civil War conflict making Gettysburg the deadliest. In today’s scene, Colonel Pickett meets up with the remainder of the Confederate forces. Wondering where his soldiers were, Pickett announces his men were part of the 7,058 Confederate fatalities.

Jesus is asked about the destruction of the temple in connection with end times prior to his reply in Matthew 24. Eager to find out the exact date and time, Jesus opts to leave a series of clues to look for to ascertain signs of end times. Later on in this chapter, Jesus compares these moments in history to the pains of a woman giving birth. When I study history, I am always stunned by fatalities statistics that serve of painful reminders of war.

Closing Song:

As the heat of July continues to shine down on you, don’t forget the grave cost of war. May the lyrics of today’s song remind you that there is an ongoing spiritual war that continues today, Ephesians 6:10-12.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 30-Recreation and Vacations

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1983 movie “National Lampoon’s Vacation”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31 Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” 32 So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place, Mark 6:30-32.

Biblical Connection:

I grew up in an age where fathers took several weeks off each summer to spend time with their family. Part of the American dream included earning enough to pay for these annual trips. The Griswold family’s cross-country drive to the Walley World is something that American families could relate to. My family drove 9 hours to visit Maine in August every summer.

John Mark writes about the hectic pace experienced during Jesus’ 3-year earthly ministry. Jesus realized that even in full time ministry, you have to take time to recreate by doing something fun. While not every vacation occurs in a solitary or quiet place, this is a good practice to avoid burning yourself out mentality. This is a daily practice that prepared Jesus for each day, Mark 1:35.

Closing Song:

Sometimes the hardest part of any vacation is the drive or plane trip to your destination. This is when you might start to fall asleep like Clark Griswold. However, when you arrive, make sure that you are able to recreate your soul during this break from real life.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 29-What You Can Learn Over a Meal This Summer

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2005 movie “Man of the House”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do, James 1:22-25.

Biblical Connection:

A Texas Ranger is assigned a cheerleading squad after one of the girls witnesses a murder. Rather than try to get to know these women, Roland Sharp keeps his focus on protecting the members of the University of Texas squad. During two different encounters, ordering pizza for dinner, the girls discover Roland is divorced and has a daughter. This is what happens when you listen.

The earthly brother of Jesus addresses the difference between listening and applying what you learn. As God fearing Jews began to follow the teaching of Jesus, these new converts had to let go of their legalistic traditions. Jesus didn’t want first century Christians to just listen to the words of the Sermon on the Mount. Rather, Jesus urged those in attendance to put His words into practice.

Closing Song:

As the Man of the House continued,Roland begins to open up to some of the cheerleaders. As Roland begins to listen, he takes steps in restoring his relationship with his daughter. When you have opportunities to meet new people this summer, you’ll be surprised by what you learn when you become an active listener.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 28-A Search for the Truth

Video of the Day: Trailer for the 1993 movie “The Pelican Brief”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.24 See if there is any offensive way in me and lead me in the way everlasting, Psalm 139:23-24.

Biblical Connection:

Julia Roberts plays Darby Shaw, a young law student who takes an active interest in current events. As Darby applies her knowledge of law to the death of two Supreme Court justices, she turns her theory into a brief. This search for the truth leads Darby into danger as the people she trusts begin to die. When you get close to the truth, evil is threatened to be exposed.

David is referring to a different kind of search. David’s words serve as a prayer to God exposing any unholy aspects in his life. This search for truth is an internal struggle detailed by the apostle Paul in Galatians 5:16-17. To combat these sinful desires, Paul encouraged the Ephesians to put on the armor of God, Ephesians 6:13. This is the search for spiritual truth.

Closing Song:

The lyrics to In the Light serve as a daily reminder of the temptations that exist in life. However, if you hunger and thirst for spiritual truth, you’ll be on your way toward seeking God like King David.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 27-Why You Should Follow the Rules

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2002 movie “Men in Black II”

Bible Verse of the Day:

So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction, 2 Peter 3:14-16.

Biblical Connection:

Agent K asks to leave the agency at the end of Men in Black I, returning to his former life. Yet, when the world is in danger of an alien attack, Agent J finds K working in a post office. Searching for the Light of Zartha, Agent K’s memory begins to return. Getting emotionally involved with the Queen of Zartha, K realized he comprised his agent’s status by not following the rules set by the agency.

Peter writes to first century Christians to confront the topic of false teachers inside the church. This issue continues today as leaders have a tendency to add, alter or subtract from the commands of the Bible to excuse their actions, Deuteronomy 4:2. Subsequently, Peter call believers to be found blameless and spotless. This is a call to follow the commands set by God in the Bible.

Closing Song:

I joined 2 different accountability groups when I was in college. While one was more of a sharing group, the other challenged me to put my faith into action. When one of these individuals caught me in an inappropriate relationship, I was convicted like agent K with a sense of urgency to follow the rules established for life and at work.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 26-When Lying Catches Up with You

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1999 movie “Blue Streak”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in people who are trustworthy. 23 The prudent keep their knowledge to themselves, but a fool’s heart blurts out folly, Proverbs 12:22-23.

Biblical Connection:

Miles Logan is a jewel thief who poses as a member of the Los Angelos Police Department. After serving 2 years in prison, Miles is trying to gain access to a diamond that he hid in this police station. While Miles is a smooth talker, the young detective he is paired with begins to notice his unusual practices and statements. In the end, Miles’ lying caught up with him.

While being raised by the King of Israel, Solomon was taught to tell the truth. Perhaps, his father’s fall from grace in 2 Samuel 12 inspired David to ensure that his children don’t repeat his past mistakes. When the Holy Spirit inspired to write the book of Proverbs, telling the truth is crucial. To those who continue to stretch the truth, lying lips will catch up with you.

Closing Song:

As the father of all lies, John 8:44, the more something is repeated it is perceived to be true. This is how the Devil has controlled the air waves and social media. Yet, once you exaggerate just a bit, sooner or later lying with catch up with you.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 25-Don’t Be Ignorant of History

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1993 movie “The Sandlot”

Bible Verse of the Day:

For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers and sisters, that our ancestors were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea. They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ. Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did, 1 Corinthians 10:1-6.

Biblical Connection:

Scotty Smalls moves during the summer of 1962. As a novice baseball player, Smalls is eager to learn as Benny Rodriguez takes him under his wings as the neighborhood’s best player. Unfortunately, Scotty is ignorant of baseball’s history, thinking that Babe Ruth was a lady. This lack of knowledge places Smalls in a bind when a Babe Ruth autographed ball is hit over the fence.

As the apostle Paul writes to the Church of Corinth, he points to Israel’s past. Hoping that first century Christians don’t repeat a list of historic mistakes, Paul urges these members to learn from history. At the conclusion of this section on Israel’s past mistakes, Paul urges Christians to look for a way out when tempted. This is the key to avoid repeating the same mistakes over and over again.

Closing Song:

When you become a student of history, you will learn valuable life lessons. However, the moment that you think you’ve arrived spiritually, ignorance and pride will lead you toward disobedience. Heed Paul’s advice so that you start breaking free of sinful addictions of your past.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 24-Distractions in the Classroom

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1993 movie “Sister Act 2”

Bible Verse of the Day:

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you,” Ephesians 5:8-14.

Biblical Connection:

Today’s scene depicts a classroom 32 years ago. Doing a favor for a nun, Sister Mary Clarence volunteers to help teach a music class at a local Catholic High School. When a teacher loses control of their class, chaos will reign. When a substitute is forced to take over, removing these distractions takes a new approach using learning techniques that engage students.

The apostle Paul addresses members of the Church at Ephesus about deeds of darkness which are stunting their spiritual growth. These fruitless deeds are present in the classrooms of public education today. Unless the light, truth of the Bible, exposes these deeds of darkness, distractions will continue. When order is restored to classrooms, learning has a chance to succeed.

Closing Song:

Every age has individuals who believe that each generation is worse. While the world continues to deteriorate, there are always remnants of light that exists. There is where Christians must stand up to deeds of darkness so that the light Christ exposes spiritual distractions. Let your light shine into a world filled with darkness.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 23-Times of Mourning

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1986 movie “Karate Kid II”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Joseph threw himself on his father and wept over him and kissed him. Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him, taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days, Genesis 50:1-3.

Biblical Connection:

Daniel grew up with a single mom after the death of his father. When Daniel moved to a new town as a teenager in Karate Kid I, Mr. Miyagi became his karate instructor. Although initially Daniel felt like he was being used to do household chores, Mr. Miyagi incorporated each task with a specific karate move. Over time, Mr. Miyagi became a mentor and second father to Daniel.

Joseph of the Old Testament and son of Jacob, Israel, had an unusual relationship with his siblings. Dreams and visions Joseph had as a child led to envy and jealousy, resulting in being sold into slavery. When Joseph’s brother staged his death to hide his disappearance, Israel believed Joseph was dead. Subsequently, when they were reunited in Egypt, this special bond grow. This explains the emotions displayed by Joseph when his father passed away.

Closing Song:

When my father passed away last spring, my first thought was whether or not my dad was saved. I can speculate, but I don’t know for sure. Today’s song focuses on Christians who know for sure about their eternal destination, 1 John 5:11-13. The next time you find yourself mourning for a loved one or preparing yourself, make the most of the time that you have to ensure you’ll be reunited in heaven.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: June 22-Dealing with Sins of Omission

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1989 movie “When Harry Met Sally”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. 33 When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots, Luke 23:32-34.

Biblical Connection:

Depending upon your personality, you either freely share your opinions openly or chose to suppress what you’re feeling inside. When opposites attract like Harry and Sally, there will be friction due to blunt verbalized jabs. However, human beings all reach a moment in life where you discover what you really desire in a soul mate. This is what triggered Billy Crystal to run, searching for Sally.

In any interaction, the slightest comment, glance or mannerism might offend a person that you’re engaging. This omission is called a sin of inaction by Jesus’ earthly brother in James 4:17. In the heat of the moment, individuals may get caught up in what others are doing, led astray. As Jesus hangs from a cross, he recognizes this herd mentality, forgiving their behavior stirred up by a mob.

Closing Song:

Whenever a sin of omission is revealed to you, seeking forgiveness and reconciliation is a must. The sooner you respond, the greater your chances will be for being reunited with those whom you love.

by Jay Mankus