A Distinct Manifestation

Posted on August 4, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Shows like Joan of Arcadia compare talking with God to someone experiencing a hallucination. The season one finale revealed that Joan Garadi had contracted a severe case of Lyme disease. While Joan did have face to face conversations with God as a distinct manifestation, the doctor’s diagnosis threw Joan into a crisis of faith, questioning if all that had happened was real or simply her own imagination.

And God [in a distinctly visible manifestation] appeared to Jacob again when he came out of Padan-aram, and declared a blessing on him. 10 Again God said to him, Your name is Jacob [supplanter]; you shall not be called Jacob any longer, but Israel shall be your name. So He called him Israel [contender with God]. 11 And God said to him, I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall come from you and kings shall be born of your stock; 12 The land which I gave Abraham and Isaac I will give to you, and to your descendants after you I will give the land. 13 Then God ascended from him in the place where He talked with him, Genesis 35:9-12.

As I study the Bible, God’s process of communication transitions from face-to-face conversations while talking a walk with Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden to using angels and dreams. Depending upon the situation, God does make special appearances as described by Moses in the passage above. This spiritual encounter served as a reminder to Jacob of God’s promises to his family as well as hope for his future.

And six days after this, Jesus took with Him Peter and James and John his brother, and led them up on a high mountain by themselves. 2 And His appearance underwent a change in their presence; and His face shone [a]clear and bright like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light. 3 And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, who kept talking with Him. 4 Then Peter began to speak and said to Jesus, Lord, it is good and delightful that we are here; if You approve, I will put up three booths here—one for You and one for Moses and one for Elijah. 5 While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [[b]composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and [c]have always been] delighted. Listen to Him! 6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces and were [d]seized with alarm and struck with fear. 7 But Jesus came and touched them and said, Get up, and do not be afraid. 8 And when they raised their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only, Matthew 17:1-7.

When you study the 12 disciples in the 4 gospels, they all appear to believe in ghosts. When Jesus walked on water, most of the disciples’ thought their minds were playing tricks on them. According to John 14:26, Jesus promises to send a Holy Spirit which will serve as a new form of a distinct manifestation. If you’ve ever attended a spiritual retreat where God began to do amazing and miraculous things, then you too have experienced a distinct manifestation of God.

by Jay Mankus

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A Sojourner Seeking To Find Genuine Faith

Posted on August 3, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The term sojourner refers to a temporary resident. From a biblical context, a sojourner is someone going through a transition in life, moving from their original home to a place yet to be determined by God. Moses highlights the lives of Abraham and Isaac who were called by God to visit foreign lands to fulfill God’s calling and will for their lives.

And Jacob came to Isaac his father at Mamre or Kiriath-arba, that is, Hebron, where Abraham and Isaac had sojourned. 28 Now the days of Isaac were 180 years. 29 And Isaac’s spirit departed; he died and was gathered to his people, being an old man, satisfied and satiated with days; his sons Esau and Jacob buried him, Genesis 35:27-29.

While I have now resided in South Carolina for over one year, I too feel like a sojourner, unsure of where to go and what to do. The apostle Paul suggests that discovering God’s will can be a lengthy process, Romans 12:1-2. This process always begins by offering your body as a holy sacrifice to God. However, without meditating upon the words of the Bible, this transformation isn’t possible.

But seek ([z]aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness ([aa]His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [ab]taken together will be given you besides. 34 So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble, Matthew 6:33-34.

If today’s blog finds you living a life similar to a sojourner, may the words of Jesus in the passage above comfort you. King Solomon touches on these words in Proverbs 3:5-6. Trusting God is crucial to finding a genuine faith. Like any practice for a sport designed to improve your mechanics, seeking God first in your life results in the belief that God will provide for your needs. As you draw close to the Lord, may you find a peace that surpasses all understanding, Philippians 4:6-7.

by Jay Mankus

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Drama and Trauma in the Bible

Posted on August 2, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Drama can refer to theatrical, over-the-top and sensational. Meanwhile, trauma is a deeply distressing or disturbing experience. If drama is your response to a particular situation, a traumatic event often links both of these emotions together. Today’s featured passage of the Bible is like the opening of a television drama, setting the stage for an hour-long episode.

Now Dinah daughter of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob, went out [unattended] to see the girls of the place. 2 And when Shechem son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he seized her, lay with her, and humbled, defiled, and disgraced her. 3 But his soul longed for and clung to Dinah daughter of Jacob, and he loved the girl and spoke comfortingly to her young heart’s wishes. 4 And Shechem said to his father Hamor, Get me this girl to be my wife, Genesis 34:1-4.

Dinah’s birth is one of the few females mentioned by Moses alongside all the boys in Jacob’s family. The reason for Dinah’s initial introduction earlier in Genesis comes to light in the passage above. While there are plenty of strange and weirds events in the first book of the Bible, this is the first mention of rape. From a Jewish perspective, this is more about being defiled and disgraced.

Jacob heard that [Shechem] had defiled Dinah his daughter. Now his sons were with his livestock in the field. So Jacob held his peace until they came. 6 But Hamor father of Shechem went out to Jacob to have a talk with him. 7 When Jacob’s sons heard it, they came from the field; and they were distressed and grieved and very angry, for [Shechem] had done a vile thing to Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter, which ought not to be done, Genesis 34:5-7.

While Moses reveals Jacob is the first to find out about this traumatic event, her brothers went busy out in the fields tending livestock. The news that their sister had been raped brought on raw emotions, especially among Simeon and Levi. Although Shechem’s father and Jacob come to a peaceful resolution, Simeon and Levi were unable to let this sinful act go unpunished. Subsequently, the end of Genesis 34 ends just like it started with drama and trauma.

by Jay Mankus

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Who Needs a Treaty When There is the Lord

Posted on August 1, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The more I study the book of Genesis, the more I realize the need for a sense of spiritual direction for Israel. The addictions, bad habits, and unwholesome cravings displayed throughout the first book in the Bible illustrate the disease of sin deep inside the hearts and souls of mankind. When Simeon and Levi sought revenge over peace, Jacob was worried that surrounding nations would unite to completely wipe out Israel.

And Jacob said to Simeon and Levi, You have ruined me, making me infamous and embroiling me with the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites and the Perizzites! And we are few in number, and they will gather together against me and attack me; and I shall be destroyed, I and my household, Genesis 34:30.

The term treaty describes a variety of instruments, including conventions, agreements, arrangements, protocols, covenants, charters, and acts all done in the name of upholding peace. However, when Israel makes treaties in the Old Testament, they are putting their trust in another nation rather than the God of Abraham. In the passage below, Moses suggests who needs a treaty when the terror of the Lord consumes surrounding nations.

And they journeyed and a terror from God fell on the towns round about them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob. 6 So Jacob came to Luz, that is, Bethel, which is in the land of Canaan, he and all the people with him. 7 There he built an altar, and called the place El-bethel [God of Bethel], for there God revealed Himself to him when he fled from the presence of his brother, Genesis 35:5-6.

If you tend to be into mathematics, numbers, and statistics, the odds of Israel surviving as a nation in the 21st century isn’t good on paper. Yet, somehow and some way, the God of Abraham continues to watch over Israel today. When you search the internet for miraculous wars survived by Israel, a list of 17 different modern accounts exist. These Cinderella stories should not have happened, but the God of Abraham continues to do the impossible, using terror over treaties.

by Jay Mankus

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When the Day is Breaking

Posted on July 31, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Depending upon where you live, certain expressions may not mean anything to you, going right over your head. However, as Moses reflects upon Jacob’s encounter with an angel, when the day is breaking refers to the period in the day when light from the sun begins to appear in the sky. What Moses is trying to say, Jacob wrestled with God all night long as the sun began to rise.

And when [the [a]Man] saw that He did not prevail against [Jacob], He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him. 26 Then He said, Let Me go, for day is breaking. But [Jacob] said, I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me, Genesis 32:25-26.

After spending eight years working night shift, I’ve spent the last year driving to work early in the morning as the day is breaking. Depending upon where I am on the Interstate, the sun rises over the rolling hills of western South Carolina. If I’m not careful by placing my car visor down, I can be blinded momentarily by bright sun rises.

It is God Who sits above the circle (the horizon) of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; it is He Who stretches out the heavens like [gauze] curtains and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in, Isaiah 40:22.

One of my favorite passages on the sunset is found in Lamentations 3:19-24. The prophet Jeremiah transitions from a broken soul, struggling to undue past sins to when the day is breaking. Jeremiah refers to every new day as a refresh start, like God giving each of us a do-over in life. May these words of hope give you a new perspective on life when another sun rises signals the start of a new day.

by Jay Mankus

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The First Purging in the Bible

Posted on July 30, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Depending upon the translation of the Bible that you prefer to read and study, there are approximately 100 passages that directly or indirectly reference purging. From a cultural perspective, there are two types of purging. The abrupt or violent removal of a group of people from an organization or place with the latter focusing on cleansing and purifying your body.

And God said to Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel and dwell there. And make there an altar to God Who appeared to you [in a distinct manifestation] when you fled from the presence of Esau your brother. 2 Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Put away the [images of] strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves and change [into fresh] garments; 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar to God Who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me wherever I went. 4 So they [both young men and women] gave to Jacob all the strange gods they had and their earrings which were [worn as charms against evil] in their ears; and Jacob buried and hid them under the oak near Shechem, Genesis 35:1-4.

The first examples of purging in the Bible is found in today’s featured passage. After a strange turn of events at the end of Genesis 34, Jacob is concerned about the spiritual state of his family. After his wife Rachel stole images of gods that her father worshipped without being caught, other woman rummaged through vacant houses in Canaan, taking everything that they liked or looked good on them. This plundering inspired God to speak directly to Jacob by addressing this issue.

So kill (deaden, [a]deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God). 6 It is on account of these [very sins] that the [holy] anger of God is ever coming upon the sons of disobedience (those who are obstinately opposed to the divine will), 7 Among whom you also once walked, when you were living in and addicted to [such practices]. 8 But now put away and rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, bad feeling toward others, curses and slander, and foulmouthed abuse and shameful utterances from your lips! 9 Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old (unregenerate) self with its evil practices, 10 And have clothed yourselves with the new [spiritual self], which is [ever in the process of being] renewed and remolded into [fuller and more perfect [b]knowledge upon] knowledge after the image (the likeness) of Him Who created it, Colossians 3:5-10.

Possessions like good luck charms seem innocent but can lead to ungodly beliefs about why good and bad things happen in the world. From a New Testament perspective, the apostle Paul explains why spiritual purging is necessary. If a Christian never relinquishes former addictions, bad habits or unwholesome cravings, where is their faith, James 2:26? One of Paul’s consistent messages throughout the first century, if you want to live you must first die to self, Galatians 5:24. May today’s blog inspire you to begin practice purging your soul of evil, Colossians 3:1-4.

by Jay Mankus

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What Just Happened?

Posted on July 29, 2023 by expressyourself4him

I was first introduced to horror movies at the end of the 1970’s. While the graphics and technology are no match for today’s modern films, the action scenes were sudden and unexpected, causing me to jump from my seat on the couch. While studying the book of Genesis for the first time using the Amplified Bible Classic Edition, the unexpected turn of events to conclude Genesis 34 left me bewildered, wondering, “what just happened?”

The sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, [justifying their intended action by saying, in effect, we are going to do this] because Shechem had defiled and disgraced their sister Dinah. 14 They said to them, We cannot do this thing and give our sister to one who is not circumcised, for that would be a reproach and disgrace to us. 15 But we do consent to do this: if you will become as we are and every male among you be circumcised, 16 Then we will give our daughters to you and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you and become one people. 17 But if you will not listen to us and consent to be circumcised, then we will take our daughter and go. 18 Their words pleased Hamor and his son Shechem. 19 And the young man did not delay to do the thing, for he delighted in Jacob’s daughter. He was honored above all his family [so, ranking first, he acted first], Genesis 34:13-19.

When you read the passage above, Moses leaves readers with a sense of uncertainty as you’re not sure how Dinah’s brothers are going to respond to news of their sister being raped and held captive by the Prince of Canaan. However, as Shechem’s father Hamor serves as a mediator and negotiator on his son’s behalf, cooler heads prevail. Like any sort of negotiation, there is a little give and take on each side. The deal breaker for Jacob is circumcision. As long as Shechem and his entire family agree to become circumcised, Shechem and Dinah will be allowed to get married.

But on the third day [after the circumcision] when [all the men] were sore, two of the sons of Jacob, Simeon and Levi, Dinah’s [full] brothers, took their swords, boldly entered the city [without danger], and slew all the males. 26 And they killed Hamor and Shechem his son with the edge of the sword and took Dinah out of Shechem’s house [where she had been all this time] and departed. 27 [Then the rest of] Jacob’s [eleven] sons came upon the slain and plundered the town, because there their sister had been defiled and disgraced. 28 They took their flocks, their herds, their donkeys, and whatever was in the town and in the field; 29 All their wealth and all their little ones and their wives they took captive, making spoil even of all [they found] in the houses, Genesis 34:25-29.

Little any good thriller, living happily ever after does not follow Pollyanna’s script. Yet, as I kept reading Genesis 34, I couldn’t remember how this story ended. To a certain extent, Simeon and Levi play the role of Denzel Washington in the 2014 film the Equalizer. Moses states their motivation in the passage above, having their sister defiled and disgraced could not be forgotten in their minds. This one act of revenge made it necessary for God to introduce the Ten Commandments one book later; followed by Jesus’ words on forgiveness in Matthew 6:14-15.

by Jay Mankus

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The Crossover Connection Week 26: A Mix of Korn and Rage Against the Machine

Posted on July 29, 2023 by expressyourself4him

While I don’t follow Professional Wrestling like I did in high school, a friend informed me that today’s featured group had some of their songs featured at live events. Like any group with eight albums, Thousand Foot Krutch has evolved over time. Although some of their early songs which became popular are soft rock, modern Thousand Foot Krutch combines hip hop with nu metal.

Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in the heavens of His power! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; praise Him according to the abundance of His greatness! 3 Praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with tambourine and [single or group] dance; praise Him with stringed and wind instruments or flutes! 5 Praise Him with resounding cymbals; praise Him with loud clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath and every breath of life praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!) – Psalm 150:1-6

One of my favorite songs of Thousand Foot Krutch is This is My Call which reminds me of a couple of my former students who lost their lives after battling cancer. While each album contains a few memorable songs, the one that gets the most airtime in my car is The End is Where We Began. As you listen to the attached You Tube, I hope that you appreciate the songs on this album.

by Jay Mankus

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Removing Luck from the Equation

Posted on July 28, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The origin of superstitions likely comes from the Latin word superstitio. When translated into English, this refers to stand over in awe of. However, modern superstitions may also be connected with superstes, Latin for outliving or surviving. The human mind has a way of rationalizing good and bad, using chance and luck as a means to give credit for the positive and blame to any negative.

Then Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, Put away the [images of] strange gods that are among you, and purify yourselves and change [into fresh] garments; 3 Then let us arise and go up to Bethel, and I will make there an altar to God Who answered me in the day of my distress and was with me wherever I went, Genesis 35:2-3.

After plundering Canaan and rummaging through all the vacant homes, Jacob’s family accumulated masses amount of jewelry, possessions and wealth before departing. Based upon the words of Moses in the passage above, God was concerned about the spiritual state of Jacob’s family. With numerous objects of worship serving as a new distraction, Jacob wanted to remove luck from the equation so that the Lord received all the glory and praise.

So they [both young men and women] gave to Jacob all the strange gods they had and their earrings which were [worn as charms against evil] in their ears; and Jacob buried and hid them under the oak near Shechem, Genesis 35:4.

Revelation 3:15-16 makes it clear that following God is either all or nothing. There is no half-way as anyone lukewarm about God will be spit out. Subsequently, any good luck charm, object of worship or symbols of evil were brought before Jacob and buried. This purging of apparel, charms and objects were designed to end and eliminate any ungodly beliefs. May this passage inspire you to self-reflect on your life so that you too may remove luck from stealing God’s credit for blessings.

by Jay Mankus

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A Shocking Revelation

Posted on July 27, 2023 by expressyourself4him

A revelation is a surprising and previously unknown fact, especially one that is made known in a dramatic way. The most common revelation occurs while reading the Bible, but can come from a conversation with a friend or mentor. As Jacob listens to an angel of the Lord in the passage below, the meaning of his birth name convicts him.

And when [the [a]Man] saw that He did not prevail against [Jacob], He touched the hollow of his thigh; and Jacob’s thigh was put out of joint as he wrestled with Him. 26 Then He said, Let Me go, for day is breaking. But [Jacob] said, I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing upon me. 27 [The Man] asked him, What is your name? And [in shock of realization, whispering] he said, Jacob [supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler]! – Genesis 32:25-27

Back when I was in high school, shocking moments were usually isolated to radio morning shows. Shock Jocks were the rage prior to the invention of the internet and social media. Today, modern talk show hosts attempt to do or say something that will go viral, serving as the hot take of the day. Unfortunately, the envelope can only be pushed so far until you’re either cancelled, censored or fired.

And He said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob [supplanter], but Israel [contender with God]; for you have contended and have power with God and with men and have prevailed, Genesis 32:28.

As for the context of today’s featured passage, Jacob has his come to Jesus moment. Despite getting caught up in fooling his father to receive the blessing of the first born, Jacob didn’t show any guilt or remorse. However, when an angel of the Lord exposes Jacob’s past, Moses appears to suggest that Jacob is flooded with conviction. Although it never feels good to be humiliated, shocking revelations tend to make me stronger in the long run. Humble yourself before the Lord.

by Jay Mankus

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