Double Minded Double Lives

Posted on June 29, 2021 by expressyourself4him

The earthly brother of Jesus is similar to the main character in a modern film. James finds himself struggling to come to grips with his past. Despite watching his older brother grow up to become the greatest spiritual of the first century, James began to listen to Jewish religious leaders. Based upon the confessions within his epistle, James’ mind was poisoned by the elders from local synagogues. This led to a double mind and a subsequent double life.

Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind. 7 For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord, 8 [For being as he is] a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything [he thinks, feels, decides], James 1:6-8.

When you are young, it’s easy to be persuaded by classmates and peers with strong personalities. Depending upon who you end up talking with, hanging around and joining at a lunch room table, you may find yourself in a moral dilemma, Psalm 1:1-2. Do you go with the flow of the crowd or do you stand up for what you believe? James compares this to the wind and waves which intensity from a storm, often coming out of no where. When the weather changes quickly, will you waver or stay true to who you are and what you believe?

Come close to God and He will come close to you. [Recognize that you are] sinners, get your soiled hands clean; [realize that you have been disloyal] wavering individuals with divided interests, and purify your hearts [of your spiritual adultery], James 4:8.

If you find yourself in a free fall, living a double life, James provides valuable advice in the passage above. In my final 2 years of college, I was a strong Christian when a new semester began, only to fall away from the Lord each summer. The temporary treasures of the world had become so attractive that my double mind led to a double life. This all came to a crossroad when I broke my ankle playing sand volleyball just before my senior year of college. Stuck in bed for my final weeks of my last summer as a student, I began to use James 5:16 as an outline for prayer. My double mind didn’t go away immediately, but over time a contrite heart helped me withstand this spiritual storm.

by Jay Mankus

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The Parable of 3 Umpires

Posted on June 28, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Despite the strike zone box displayed on modern television broadcasts, each Major League Baseball umpire has their own unique interpretation of what is a strike. There are 3 main theories when it comes to calling balls and strikes. Some follow the standard “I call it as I see it.” Others are more precise, waiting a brief moment before making a decision, often irritating players on the field and coaches in the dugout. Younger umps tend to follow a post modernism perspective where the truth of their strike zone is relative.

But when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future], John 16:13.

Every year coaches and manages of baseball teams around the country argue with umpires about their strike zone. Some of these adults may receive a warning while others will be thrown out after losing control of their emotions. Whether you agree with a particular umpire or not, Jesus refers to a higher power that will help individuals locate the truth. The Holy Spirit was introduced by Jesus as a spiritual counselor that will guide you toward the truth. God’s Spirit was designed to help you overcome the bad breaks and blown calls that go against you in life.

Pilate said to Him, What is Truth? On saying this he went out to the Jews again and told them, I find no fault in Him, John 18:38.

Just before Jesus is handed over to be crucified, a first century governor wants to know what truth is. Following a series of questions. Pilate found no fault in Jesus. Despite his position of power, the religious leaders turned the crowd against Jesus as Barabbas was released and Jesus was put to death in his place. From an umpire’s perspective, Jesus was safe. Yet, God’s will was for Jesus was to seek to save that which was lost, Luke 19:10. This blown call by the Chief Priest and elders was all part of God’s plan, John 3:16-17. Balls and strikes don’t matter as long as you see the big picture, Romans 5:8.

by Jay Mankus

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A Molecular Miracle

Posted on June 27, 2021 by expressyourself4him

A miracle is defined as an extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers. When science can’t explain what just happened, miracles are ascribed to a supernatural cause. One of nature’s most powerful organic electrolytes is Fulvic Acid. This organic natural electrolyte can balance and energize biological properties it comes into contact. This attribute has led scientists to refer to Fulvic Acid as a molecular miracle.

And when the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no more wine! 4 Jesus said to her, [Dear] woman, what is that to you and to Me? [What do we have in common? Leave it to Me.] My time (hour to act) has not yet come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it, John 2:3-5.

One of Jesus’ disciples recalls the Bible’s version of a molecular miracle in the passage above. At this time, Jesus has only called 6 of his 12 disciples, still waiting to recruit half of his ministry team. In the meantime, Jesus is invited to wedding, a family friend of Mary’s. When news of the wine running out reached Jesus’ mother, she knew her son had special powers to save the day.

Jesus said to them, Fill the waterpots with water. So they filled them up to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, Draw some out now and take it to the manager of the feast [to the one presiding, the superintendent of the banquet]. So they took him some. 9 And when the manager tasted the water just now turned into wine, not knowing where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew—he called the bridegroom 10 And said to him, Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now! – John 2:7-10

This molecular miracle began with several pots of water. In a matter of minutes, Jesus turned H2O into fine wine. A typical first century wedding would last somewhere between a weekend up to six days. When guests were drunk, the fine wine was replaced with cheap alcohol. Yet, according to the passage above, not only did Jesus perform a molecular miracle, the quality of this wine was top of the line. This is what is possible when God became flesh, John 1:1.

by Jay Mankus

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Again, Again and Again

Posted on June 26, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Again refers to once more or another time. Meanwhile, déjà vu is a feeling that one has seen or heard something before. This occurs as an illusion of remembering scenes and events when you experience it. If you’ve ever felt this sensation, it’s like your mind is playing tricks on you. If a series of bad luck comes your way, happening over and over again, most people begin to wonder, “why is this happening to me?”

Because it was our will to come to you. [I mean that] I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered and impeded us, 1 Thessalonians 2:18.

Humans beings tend to look for patterns in random data as a way to extract order from disorder. This tendency was first identified by German scientist Klaus Conrad. While studying people suffering from the onset of schizophrenia in 1958, Conrad described this condition as apophenia. Whatever you want to call this perception of how certain events are linked or tied together, when you hit a rough patch in life it’s hard to keep fighting through adversity.

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. 8 Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour, 1 Peter 5:7-8.

After repeated failed attempts to visit the Church at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul didn’t have to speculate. Due to his years in ministry, Paul didn’t need a Saturday Night Live skit to recognize Satan’s schemes, Ephesians 6:10-12. Meanwhile, one of Jesus’ disciples refers to the Devil as a predator waiting for a weak individual to pounce upon. If what is happening to you doesn’t make any sense, it’s time to turn to prayer again, again and again to find answers.

by Jay Mankus

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What are You Avoiding?

Posted on June 25, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Samaria is bordered by Galilee to the north and Judea to the south. The first century historian Josephus set the Mediterranean Sea as Samaria’s boundary to the west, and the Jordan River as its limit to the east. This defined region is consistent with the biblical allotments of the tribe of Ephraim and the western half of Manasseh in the Old Testament. The Jews avoided Samaria because they had become a mixed race with Gentiles and centered their worship at Mount Gerizim rather than Jerusalem. 

He left Judea and returned to Galilee. 4 It was necessary for Him to go through Samaria, John 4:3-4.

While Jesus’ disciples walked around Samaria, Jesus felt it was necessary to go straight through. The remainder of John 4 reveals Jesus’ divine appointment. Using Jacob’s well as a meeting point, it was a matter of time before the locals traveling to retrieve water would arrive. This sets the stage for a conversation with a woman who struggled with commitment. After a series of failed marriages, Jesus changes the subject from water to spiritual matters. In a matter of moments, a spiritual hunger is conceived within this woman’s heart. A spark that would soon transform her life.

And in doing so, He arrived at a Samaritan town called Sychar, near the tract of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 And Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired as He was from His journey, sat down [to rest] by the well. It was then about the sixth hour (about noon), John 4:5-6.

Whenever you avoid someone or something, you miss out on the opportunity to alter another person’s life. If you are led by fear to walk away from conflict, you’re missing out on a potential blessing from God. Meanwhile, if you’re running away from God’s calling like one Old Testament prophet, Jonah 1:2-4, you’ll make things harder on yourself. Instead of wasting months, years or decades of your life walking in the wilderness, consider it a pure joy when you’re forced to endure, face and overcome trials and tribulations in your life, James 1:2-4.

by Jay Mankus

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Beyond the Grave

Posted on June 24, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Kerameikos is the name of the the first organized cemetery in the world. The Kerameikos is located in Athens, Greece which dates back to 1200 Before Christ. Visitors will find this cemetery north of the Acropolis. Kerameikos contains two sections divided by the Wall of Themistocles. This final resting place for the dead reminds the living where they will one day end up.

Now also we would not have you ignorant, brethren, about those who fall asleep [in death], that you may not grieve [for them] as the rest do who have no hope [beyond the grave], 1 Thessalonians 4:13.

The Bible addresses life beyond the grave. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus refers to two different destinations, Matthew 7:13-14. One road leads to destruction while a less traveled path ends near the gates of heaven. If you haven’t made up your mind, the choice is yours, Deuteronomy 30:15-17. God isn’t forcing you to comply, offering free will as a way to exercise your mind, Revelation 3:20.

For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a loud cry of summons, with the shout of an archangel, and with the blast of the trumpet of God. And those who have departed this life in Christ will rise first, 1 Thessalonians 4:16.

The apostle Paul puts another spin on life beyond the grave. Paul illustrates what Jesus’ return will look like, Without any sign of formal warning, Jesus will descend from heaven with a loud cry, followed by an angelic shout before the blast from the trumpet of God sounds the alarm. Anyone who put their faith in Jesus, Romans 10:9-10, before dying will rise from cemetery’s around the world first. Once this has been completed, living Christians will vanish from the earth in twinkling of an eye. In order to celebrate life beyond the grave, make sure you choose Jesus, Acts 4:12.

by Jay Mankus

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Accepting an Improbable Mission

Posted on June 23, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Depending upon the era, there is always someone that comes along who thinks they can do something better than everyone else before them. In 1985 Billy Bean developed a system that he called Moneyball to compete with Major League Baseball teams from major television markets. The latest theory in sports is analytics which is on pace to pass $4 billion by 2022. Sports analytics is a field that applies data analysis techniques to analyze various components of sports such as player performance. When coaches, managers and owners focus too much on analytics, Cinderella stories like David would have never been given a chance to face Goliath today.

And a champion went out of the camp of the Philistines named Goliath of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span [almost ten feet]. 5 And he had a bronze helmet on his head and wore a coat of mail, and the coat weighed 5,000 shekels of bronze. 6 He had bronze shin armor on his legs and a bronze javelin across his shoulders. 7 And the shaft of his spear was like a weaver’s beam; his spear’s head weighed 600 shekels of iron. And a shield bearer went before him. 8 Goliath stood and shouted to the ranks of Israel, Why have you come out to draw up for battle? Am I not a Philistine, and are you not servants of Saul? Choose a man for yourselves and let him come down to me. 9 If he is able to fight with me and kill me, then we will be your servants; but if I prevail against him and kill him, then you shall be our servants and serve us, 1 Samuel 17:4-9.

If you examine the tale of the tape like a heavy weight boxing match, Goliath stood 9 feet 9 inches while David was just over 6 feet tall according to 1 Samuel 9:2. Although the Bible does not specify each of their weights, Goliath likely had David outweighed by more than 200 pounds. On paper, David didn’t stand a chance, similar to a suicide mission in a modern movie. Yet, based upon the passage below, there was no fear in David’s eyes. Prior to this duel, King Saul tried to prepare David with a coat of armor. but the weight hindered David’s ability to move. Instead of changing his strategy, David stuck with what he knew, approaching Goliath with 5 stones and a slingshot.

And David said to the men standing by him, What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God? – 1 Samuel 17:26

When I was a teenager, baseball was my best sport. After being the ace of my Junior High team, I expected to compete as a pitcher for a spot in the starting rotation on my high school team. Unfortunately, I became a victim of analytics. Since I didn’t throw over 80 miles an hour and I wasn’t 6 feet tall, I wasn’t given the opportunity to try out as a pitcher. Despite having command of my fastball like Greg Maddox, my talent was wasted as I left baseball one year later to pursue golf. I saw the writing on the wall and wasn’t willing to waste another year to accept an improbable mission. The older I get, the less willing I become to bet the odds. Yet, until you confront your fears and face your own Goliath in the eyes, you’ll never knew what you’re capable of with the power of God inside, Philippians 4:13.

by Jay Mankus

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A Simple Confession Can Change the World

Posted on June 22, 2021 by expressyourself4him

The word confession is found six times in the Kings James Version of the Bible. Confession is the act of acceptance, taking responsibility for a wrong act, behavior or deed. This public acknowledgement owns up to something that you’re embarrassed to admit. Fueled by conviction and guilt, a simple confession by a young man inside a church in Great Britain sparked the first Great Awakening.

Beloved, do not put faith in every spirit, but prove (test) the spirits to discover whether they proceed from God; for many false prophets have gone forth into the world. 2 By this you may know (perceive and recognize) the Spirit of God: every spirit which acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [actually] has become man and has come in the flesh is of God [has God for its source]; 1 John 4:1-2.

According to one of Jesus’ disciples, genuine confession is a direct sign of God’s presence working inside a human heart. As a member of Jesus’ inner circle, John witnessed love in action for three straight years. When most of his follower’s abandoned him on the first Good Friday, Jesus replied, “forgive them for they know not what they do,” Luke 23:34. These remarks followed by Jesus’ resurrection changed the world forever.

And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working], James 5:15-16.

In the passage above, one of Jesus’ earthly brother’s chimes in as well. According to first century historians, James did not believe his own brother was the Messiah until Jesus rose from the death. Haunted by his own unbelief, James pours out his heart about the importance of confession. Two thousands years later, the earth has gone through a series of changes. Yet, one thing endures: a simple confession can still change the world.

by Jay Mankus

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When a Feeling Passes

Posted on June 21, 2021 by expressyourself4him

The American rock band Boston released More than a Feeling as the lead single from their Eponymous debut album in 1976. According to Tom Scholz who wrote this classic ballad, this song was inspired by a fantasy event, dreaming of his days with Marianne. When you’re having a bad day, a positive dream that comes out of nowhere often provides hope. Yet, when dreams don’t come true, feelings of optimism fade away leaving behind doubt and emptiness.

[Oh, I know, I have been rash to talk out plainly this way to God!] I will [in my thinking] stand upon my post of observation and station myself on the tower or fortress, and will watch to see what He will say within me and what answer I will make [as His mouthpiece] to the perplexities of my complaint against Him, Habakkuk 2:1.

I have a bad habit of reading too much into conversations and personal encounters. When I am unable to clarify or understand someone’s intent, senses often turn into feelings. If a co-worker is around, I’ll double check to see if my instincts are correct. Unfortunately, most of the time, my gut reaction to a situation doesn’t consider all the variables that exist. Thus, when my feeling passes, what I see isn’t reality.

And the Lord answered me and said, Write the vision and engrave it so plainly upon tablets that everyone who passes may [be able to] read [it easily and quickly] as he hastens by. For the vision is yet for an appointed time and it hastens to the end [fulfillment]; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait [earnestly] for it, because it will surely come; it will not be behindhand on its appointed day, Habakkuk 2:2-3.

The Old Testament places a high priority on vision. Instead of going through life chasing after feelings, the Bible urges it’s readers to become vision oriented. The prophet Hosea claims that people perish when they go through life without knowledge of a clear vision. When a feeling passes, where to go or what to do is uncertain. If you want to live with a clear purpose and reason, ask the Lord for vision so that this can be engraved within your heart.

by Jay Mankus

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At the Intersection of Success and Failure

Posted on June 20, 2021 by expressyourself4him

C.S. Lewis was a well educated atheist who sought out to prove that God does not exist. Some might say that this quest ended in failure as Lewis went on to accept Jesus as his personal Savior and Lord. This journey to disprove God altered Lewis’ career path in life as he became a famous author and theologian. Prior to his death in 1898, Lewis left behind a series of famous quotes. My two personal favorites are “It is not your business to succeed, but to do right. When you have done so the rest lies with God.” The second comes from Mere Christianity, “success if the process of arriving.”

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. 4 And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation. 5 Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us, Romans 5:3-5.

The latter quote suggests that one must fail several times before you draw near to success. For example, if you play baseball, failing to get a hit in 7 out of 10 plate appearances is considered good. The current average batting average in Major League Baseball in 2021 is 220. This means that most professional hitters are failing nearly 80% of the time. If you combine this lack of success with local weather forecasters who tend to get their daily predictions right once or twice a week, Americans are surrounded by failure.

Nevertheless, God was not pleased with the great majority of them, for they were overthrown and strewn down along [the ground] in the wilderness. 6 Now these things are examples (warnings and admonitions) for us not to desire or crave or covet or lust after evil and carnal things as they did, 1 Corinthians 10:5-6.

The apostle Paul devotes an entire chapter to remind the Corinthian Church of Israel’s failures. These past errors, mistakes and sins serve as lessons from the past. As I drive around to various places, my photographic memory often triggers a collection of memories within my mind. Yet, as I pass a little league field and two vacated churches, the pain of a defunct baseball league and closed churches hit home. Am I failure because I wasn’t able to save these three organizations or was it God’s will for these things to come to an end? When you’re surrounded by failure, it’s hard to press on. Yet, when you are weak, Christ is strong, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, so with God I go on.

by Jay Mankus

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