ExpressYourself4Him

From age 5 to 17, my family made an annual trek to Maine, spending a few weeks there each August.  While we lived in New Jersey the first couple of years, most of our family vacations began in Delaware, a 9 hour trip by car from Wilmington to Lake Thompson in Maine.  As an impatient child, I asked my parents every hour or so, “are we there yet?”

I can’t image being in a chariot, riding on the back of a donkey or walking from Egypt to the promised land.  The Exodus out of Egypt was suppose to be a relatively short journey, 2-3 weeks on foot.  However, a little complaining here, disobedience there and a whole lot of faithlessness turned a joyful journey into a real life nightmare.  Not 1, not 2, not 3, but it took Israel 40 years to finally arrive to their cherished destination.  I don’t know for sure, but many children likely shared a similar question in Hebrew, “are we there yet?”

I have been asking this same question to God since January, once I found out I would be losing my job at the end of the first semester.  I can’t fathom the agony the children of Israel experienced on their way to Jericho.  At the same time, the emotional toll the last 7 months has taken on my body, mind and spirit has been draining.  I can’t much much more uncertainty.  As I cry out to the Lord, “I am there yet,” my prayer is that God will reply, “not much longer, only a little while to go!”

by Jay Mankus

Last night I had a flashback to the sitcom Different Strokes.  During almost every episode Gary Coleman would respond to his older brother in a classic tone, with the same facial expression and the words, “What you talking about Willis?”  As I was reading a chapter on words, this chapter had such a profound impact on me that I could picture Gary Coleman saying his famous punchline.  However, I was speaking to God, trying to figure out why its taken me so long to discover the biblical truths from James 3.

The chapter which got my attention was called The Voice, chapter 8 of Dutch Sheets’ book Authority in Prayer.  Prior to discussing James 3, Sheets does an exegesis of Job 6:25, “How forcible are right words!”  Job uses the Hebrew word morat, meaning to press.  The context of this passage is referring to a king pressing his seal of authority onto a decree, an official edict made by the king.  To finalize his decision, a king will press his signet ring onto this decree making this the law of the land.

When you visualize this passage and begin to examine James 3 in this light, words become more powerful.  This is why James declares that with one positive word people can be blessed and with one harsh word people can be cursed.  Its no wonder that James gives the imagery of a forest fire, triggered by just one word.  Therefore, the next time you get angry, frustrated or tempted to spit fire at someone, think about James’ words in chapter 3.  If you fail to adhere to this message, someone will likely respond to you just like Gary Coleman, “what’s you talking about Willis?”

by Jay Mankus

At the beginning of every new year or to start each week, people often have good intentions.  Depending upon how driven you are, most individuals start with a few goals, objectives or a list of things that they want to accomplish.  This vision is your blue print, a mental map to help guide you along the way.  However, before you know it, you can drift away into a pattern of bad habits.

Last night, I was convicted by my acceptance to mediocre results and poor time management.  I began 2012 with a bang, disciplined, reading a chapter per day of 2 different books which I finished before February.  This is a huge accomplishment for me since I usually meditate on the key concepts of what I read, spending several minutes on each page, pondering how I can apply what I am reading.  However, before I knew it, this healthy pattern was broken, resulting in a few chapters read, scattered throughout the last 6 months of 2 different books without much consistency.

Getting back on track or simply gaining some positive momentum is difficult when you don’t have or live with a sense of urgency.  Unfortunately, I have allowed 2012 to slowly pass me by, living on reruns, copies of copies television series and a relatively empty social life.  Meanwhile, the friends and company I have shared many delightful moments with in the past have been few and far between.  Although, just as present is a painful pill to swallow, before you know, things can turn around for the better.  Therefore, I take joy in knowing James 5:16, claim the promise of this passage and look forward to a much brighter future during the remainder of 2012!

by Jay Mankus

Yesterday I witnessed an unusual sight.  After boarding her pet during a vacation, a woman embraced her dog for several minutes like a scene out of a movie, except I wasn’t at an airport and she wasn’t hugging a person.  In a sense, pets have replaced teddy bears today, becoming living members of the family.

The apostle Paul, in his second letter to Timothy, a teenage pastor, makes a case for why pets are loved more than children.  According to 2 Timothy 3:1-7, Paul gives a glimpse of what the world will resemble during end times.  People’s priorities have changes from once upon a time of bearing children to replacing children with pets.  Recently, an individual was able to get out of paying child support when they complained to a judge about the monthly cost of their 2 dogs.

When people become lovers of themselves, they become narcissistic.  C.S. Lewis refers to this as diabolical pride in Mere Christianity.  When someone is proud, conceited and boastful, they disregard any advice or opinions except for the one or two people they trust.  Therefore, our world is decaying before our very eyes as the blind are leading the blind.  Over 70 percent of African Americans born are growing up without a father figure in their life.  When you add to this a national divorce rate over 50 percent, people are truly lovers of themselves, not their children.  It’s no wonder that man’s best friend is not their children, but their dog!

by Jay Mankus

Not much has changed since the first century, prostitutes and tax collectors are still disliked and are often condemned by society.  Beginning in 26 or 27 A.D., Jesus began his earthly ministry using a series of stories called parables to illustrate his daily message.  In the parable of the two sons, Matthew 21:28-32, Jesus uses tax collectors and prostitutes within his story to highlight the fact that these 2 groups believed the words of John the Baptist, but the chief priest, elders and Pharisees did not.

After Jesus’ ascension into heaven in Acts 1:9-11, the apostle Paul uses a similar analogy in his letter to the church of Rome.  Throughout history, individuals tend to compare themselves to inferior or lesser citizens to build their own self-esteem or make themselves feel better.  The Roman Church appears to have developed a similar mindset, a Pharisee like attitude thinking, “at least I’m not like one of those people,” mentioned in Romans 1:26-32.  Sensing this superiority complex, Paul rebukes this judgmental mentality in Romans 2:1, building upon Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 7:1-6.

Unfortunately, Christians and non-Christians alike have carried on the traditions of the Pharisees.  Arrogance, pride and self-conceit is blinding people from their sins of omission.  Instead of inwardly looking at their heart, Luke 6:45, a spirit of narcissism is preventing souls from understanding Jesus’ message of the parable of the two sons.  While the spiritual elite think they are heading for eternity, prostitutes, tax collectors and sinners are convicted of their shameful acts, have repented from these sins and are receiving the forgiveness and mercy only found in Jesus, Matthew 6:14-15.  Though society continues to reject prostitutes and tax collectors, our heavenly Father is waiting for all prodigals to return with open arms of love, Luke 15:30-32.

by Jay Mankus

When I taught a grammar class for Junior High students in West Virginia, I had to brush up on my English.  This morning as I was listening to a sermon, I was reminded of the power of words like therefore.  However, there is one word used over and over in the Bible.  This is one word God doesn’t want to hear, but is used as a disclaimer or an excuse to sin.

The word BUT eliminates every thing said at the beginning of a sentence.  But nullifies any positive statement, turning the attention toward imperfections and the negative.  In the Old Testament, there are several passages which illustrate this truth.  In Deuteronomy 30:17, Moses uses but if, to warn Israel about being disobedient.  Joshua 23:12-13 serves as a similar reminder, as Joshua steps down as Israel’s leader.

Meanwhile, Samson uses but to convince his parents to allow him to marry a Philistine, Judges 13:3.  The author of 2 Samuel uses the term but to indicate David was being idle, not where he was suppose to be, 2 Samuel 11:1.  The term but is also used to highlight Samuel’s sons, whom chose corruption over justice, 1 Samuel 8:3.  Unfortunately, when individuals use the word but, it often is in the context of disobedience.  Few get a second chance like Jonah in chapter 3.  Therefore, the next time an opportunity presents itself, the words God wants to hear are like Isaiah 6, “hear I am Lord, send me!”

by Jay Mankus