Engaging Our Culture: October 3-How Minds Have Become Lost and Reprogrammed

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2007 movie “The Bourne Ultimatum”

Bible Verse of the Day:

 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God, Galatians 5:19-21.

Biblical Connection:

Bible verses were shared over loudspeakers during the morning announcements or read out loud in homeroom to guide students with a daily theme. Prior to the 1960’s, public education encouraged young minds to be kind, just and moral. In the decades that have followed, social media preys on tired and weak minds like David Webb. This is how lost minds have become reprogrammed today.

The apostle Paul explains to a first century church about the invisible battle that all human beings are facing. Beginning in Galatians 5:16-18, two forces are at work daily: human nature and the Holy Spirit. The weaker your mind becomes, the quicker that acts of the flesh become a part of your life. When this behavior becomes a pattern, you become a slave to sin like the words of James 1:14-15.

Closing Song:

After the love of his life was assassinated, Jason Bourne sets to find where it all began for him. Sleep depreciation led Jason’s mind into being reprogrammed by becoming a hit man. To snap human minds out of this spiritual amnesia, you need to study the words of the apostle Paul in Galatians 5 so that you can learn to keep in step with the Holy Spirit to avoid falling prey to future temptations.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: October 2-The World’s Misunderstanding About Life

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2014 movie “God’s Not Dead”

Bible Verse of the Day:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us, 1 John 1:7-10.

Biblical Connection:

While college was once a platform for ideas, Atheist, Communist and Marxist professors seek to conform young minds to their secular worldview. A billionaire recently spoke out about how his daughter attending Harvard completely transformed into a leftist. While God is certainly not dead, college parents who don’t recognize their children when they come home have their doubts.

False teaching about God increased at the end of the first century. Subsequently, John who was a former disciple of Jesus seeks to set the record straight about these lies. John explains what God desires as well as what it means to walk in the light of God’s truth. Like the man who goes to visit his mother, he fails to recognize human nature and how God uses trials to strengthen faith.

Closing Song:

Syncretism is the best explanation for why many people believe that God is dead. As Christians continue to add and subtract from the Bible, Deuteronomy 4:2, blending secular beliefs with their own, outsiders are dumbfounded and turned off by this hypocrisy. Only when followers of Jesus practice the words of today’s featured passage can the world’s misunderstanding about life be straightened out.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: October 1-Searching for a Hero in a Fallen World

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1999 movie “October Sky”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“I looked for someone among them who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found no one. 31 So I will pour out my wrath on them and consume them with my fiery anger, bringing down on their own heads all they have done, declares the Sovereign Lord,” Ezekiel 22:30-31.

Biblical Connection:

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination on September 10th, Christians are wondering, “who is going to replace this spiritual hero?” Only time will tell who heeds God’s call to stand in the gap to fill the void left by Charlie’s death. Searching for a life outside of working in a coal mind, Homer Hickam finds that building rockets is his best option to escape the coal mines of West Virginia.

Ezekiel was trained to be a priest in the Jewish temple. However, during Babylon’s occupation of Israel, Ezekiel was taken into captivity. Ezekiel was part of the second group of Jews taken to live in Babylon under King Jehoiachin’s reign. This is the context of Ezekiel’s words, reflecting upon the lack of leadership which opened the door for Babylon’s victory over Israel.

Closing Song:

Hero’s stand in the gap, going against the flow of cultural norms by standing up for what is right. May today’s blog inspire you to become filled with conviction to defend, fight and take a stand for God in a dark and fallen world.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: September 30-Extending Grace to the Ungrateful

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2015 movie “The War Room”

Bible Verse of the Day:

I ask then: Did God reject his people? By no means! I am an Israelite myself, a descendant of Abraham, from the tribe of Benjamin. God did not reject his people, whom he foreknew. Don’t you know what Scripture says in the passage about Elijah—how he appealed to God against Israel: “Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars; I am the only one left, and they are trying to kill me”[a]And what was God’s answer to him? “I have reserved for myself seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to Baal.”[b] So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace, Romans 11:1-6.

Biblical Connection:

Miss Clara befriends and begins to mentor Elizabeth Jordan. However, when Elizabeth starts to feel that her marriage is falling apart, she doesn’t like what Miss Clara recommends. Extending grace to an individual sliding further and further away from God is difficult. However, the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount reminds stubborn Christians to the importance of forgiveness, Matthew 6:14-15.

The apostle Paul addresses the subject of grace in a letter to the Church at Rome. Although you may remain faithful to God throughout your life, many others follow the path of the prodigal son in Luke 15. Perhaps this may explain why Jesus talks about forgiveness being conditional. In other words, if you don’t extend grace to others, God want extend grace to you. This is why loving God and your neighbor plays an essential part in extending grace to others.

Closing Song:

As another month comes to an end, may God fill your heart with a spirit of grace. Just as today’s movie clip addresses undeserved grace, the lyrics of How He Loves Us serves as a reminder of God’s unconditional love. May you pass this love on the form of grace to your community this fall.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: September 29-When a Game of Telephone is Used to Destroy a Strangers Reputation

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1999 movie “The Green Mile” (language warning)

Bible Verse of the Day:

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge: Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths, 2 Timothy 4:1-4.

Biblical Connection:

Telephone was a silly game that I played as a child to illustrate how messages change as they are passed on down the grapevine. As Paul Edgecomb plays a warden on death row, one of his prisoners seems to be innocent. This inspires Paul to see the defense lawyer who tried John Coffey’s case. After a family dog brutally attacked his son, Paul has doubts about Coffey’s innocence.

In today’s passage, Paul provides a glimpse into the future. In the last days before Jesus’ return, human beings will begin to believe what their itching ears want to hear. Subsequently, social media platforms have turned into a real-life game of telephone, slamming and trashing anyone who disagrees with your political and spiritual worldview. Unfortunately, Charlie Kirk’s recent assassination is a direct result of the cesspool known as social media.

Closing Song:

I stopped caring about what people think of me years ago. Yet, it’s sad when adults act like little children, hating a stranger that they have never met because someone on social media demonized their reputation. Make sure that you follow in the footsteps of the Bereans who tested everything that they heard with the Bible, clinging to only what is true, Acts 17:10-12.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: September 28-When You Become What You Despise

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2003 movie “Flywheel”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Now a traveler came to the rich man, but the rich man refrained from taking one of his own sheep or cattle to prepare a meal for the traveler who had come to him. Instead, he took the ewe lamb that belonged to the poor man and prepared it for the one who had come to him.” David burned with anger against the man and said to Nathan, “As surely as the Lord lives, the man who did this must die! He must pay for that lamb four times over, because he did such a thing and had no pity.” Then Nathan said to David, “You are the man! This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul, 2 Samuel 12:4-7.

Biblical Connection:

Jay Austin finds himself in debt which feeds a sinful desire to sell cars for much more than they are worth. Before the days of Car Fax, Jay was ripping off his customers. When Jay began to look at himself in the mirror, he despised the person who he had become. This change of heart leads Jay to begin giving back money and apologizing to his former customers.

Today’s featured passage is a reminder of how devastating sin can impact a godly individual’s life. Prior to an affair with Bathsheba, David was a man after God’s own heart. Yet, when compromise led to an adulterous affair ending in a child, this initial sin snowballed into a spiritual avalanche. Nathan was such a great storyteller that David wanted to condemn the person he had become.

Closing Song:

Today’s song addresses the power of addiction. When you commit a sinful act the first time, you might think that you can easily refrain the next time you find yourself in compromising position. However, when sin becomes full blown, it changes how you act, behave and think. Before you hit rock bottom, may conviction open your eyes to help you see that you’ve become what you despise.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: September 27-Using Common Sense to Prove God’s Existence

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1992 movie “A Few Good Men”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse, Romans 1:18-20.

Biblical Connection:

When two marines give Private William Santiago a code red, trying to teach him a valuable lesson, tragedy occurs. This act of discipline triggers a pre-existing condition that results in his death. As Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee attempts to explain a code red to the jury, it’s not listed in any of the Marine manuals. Yet, Kaffee uses common sense to illustrate that not everything is included.

After the Church in Rome is formed, the apostle Paul receives news of members of the congregation acting as elitists. Paul uses today’s passage to help Roman Christians understand that all human beings are sinners. To those outside the church, Paul points to the visible qualities of God’s creation like rainbows and sunsets so that no one can claim, “I never knew or saw God.”

Closing Song:

Story tellers like Jesus made convincing arguments by using cultural parables that His first century audience could relate to and understand. In modern-times, communicators like Charlie Kirk were able to reach college students by using common sense and logic. The next time you find yourself in a theological debate and discussion, use common sense like Tom Cruise in today’s scene to prove God’s existence to skeptics.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: September 26-Asking God for Advanced Orders

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2006 movie “The Ultimate Gift”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going,” John 14:1-4.

Biblical Connection:

When Jason discovers that Emily has a terminal condition, he finds her in the hospital chapel apologizing for how he handled this initial news. As Emily begins to contemplate her eternal destiny she wonders if God takes prayer requests in advance. Instead of focusing on her condition, Emily’s dying wish is that Jason and her mom would become a couple.

As Passion Week has arrived, the week of the crucifixion, Jesus prepares the disciples for his death. While these 12 men can’t fathom life without Jesus, He begins to explain why his death on a cross is necessary. In a later letter, the disciple whom Jesus loved writes about knowing for certain about your eternal destination in 1 John 5:10-13. This is what Emily was wondering about in this chapel.

Closing Song:

One of the mistakes young Christians make is treating prayer like you’re at the checkout counter at a local supermarket. One Old Testament prophet claims that sometimes sinful actions prevent God from hearing your prayers, Isaiah 1:15-18. However, when you approach the Lord in a humble manner, pouring out your soul in prayer, God does take advance orders like securing your eternal destiny in heaven.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: September 25-Oh My God What is Happening?

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1994 television mini-series “The Stand”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. So these men were brought before the king, 14 and Nebuchadnezzar said to them, “Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, that you do not serve my gods or worship the image of gold I have set up? 15 Now when you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipe and all kinds of music, if you are ready to fall down and worship the image I made, very good. But if you do not worship it, you will be thrown immediately into a blazing furnace. Then what god will be able to rescue you from my hand?” 16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us[c] from Your Majesty’s hand. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up,” Daniel 3:13-18.

Today’s scene brings back memories of freedom of speech denied during the Coronavirus. Doctors, scientists and social media influencers who didn’t conform to Covid shots were demonized, demonetized and were immediately banned from social media sites. This is the background of Stephen King’s made for television mini-series the Stand.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego were being forced to bow down and worship another god. This demand went directly against the second commandment. In the Stand, Rae Flowers took a similar stance, willing to risk death for her belief in freedom of speech. Whether it’s the loudest voice or the greatest political threat, Charlie Kirk’s assassination is causing Americans to wonder, “Oh my God, what is happening?”

Closing Song:

On the verge of facing death, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego trusted in the God of Israel. This spiritual stand was blessed by God, saving their lives and changing the mind of Nebuchadnezzar. This is what can happen when you take a spiritual stand by trusting in an invisible God.

by Jay Mankus

Engaging Our Culture: September 24-When a Group of Misfits Become a Team

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2006 movie “Night at the Museum”

Bible Verse of the Day:

But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!” 12 I realized that God had not sent him, but that he had prophesied against me because Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him. 13 He had been hired to intimidate me so that I would commit a sin by doing this, and then they would give me a bad name to discredit me. 14 Remember Tobiah and Sanballat, my God, because of what they have done; remember also the prophet Noadiah and how she and the rest of the prophets have been trying to intimidate me. 15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days, Nehemiah 6:11-15.

Biblical Connection:

Larry Daley takes a security job at a local museum. Little does Larry know that all the exhibits in the American Museum of Natural History come life at night. When the golden device that allows this transformation to occur is about to be stolen, this group of misfits start working together. Like a coach, Larry leads all the characters to save this device and keep it at the museum.

Nehemiah was the cup bearer to the King of Persia. Upon hearing the news of the demise of Jerusalem, Nehemiah fasts and prayers for 3 months. Following this time, God gives Nehemiah a vision of how to rebuild the walls surrounding Jerusalem. Nehemiah gathered the people who lived near their part of Jerusalem’s wall, using each to create a successful team of workers to finish in 52 days.

Closing Song:

As a former coach, some of my teams didn’t have the talent of others. Yet when you can get a group of individuals to buy into a common goal, even a collection of misfits can become a team.

by Jay Mankus