Tag Archives: Bible

Engaging Our Culture: February 8-Crippling Your Capacity to Love

Posted on February 8, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Scene from the 2017 film “The Shack”

Bible Verse of the Day:

And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins, Matthew 6:12-15.

Biblical Connection:

A weekend of camping for a man and his three children turns into a living nightmare. Sam Worthington plays Mack Phillips, a grieving man who receives a mysterious invitation to meet with God. The location where God wants to me is a shack in the middle of the wilderness. Unfortunately, the shack just happens to be the place where his daughter Missy was abducted and murdered. When a root of bitterness takes hold of Mack’s heart, his ability to love is crippled.

The words of today’s featured passage come from the middle of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. After teaching about the spiritual discipline of fasting, Jesus turns his attention toward prayer. Rather than overwhelm His audience, Jesus provides a basic outline on topics that you should cover as you pray. Immediately following this prayer, Jesus throws a curve to this crowd about forgiveness. If you don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive you. There are plenty of Mack Phillips that you’ll encounter in life, struggling to recover from a shocking trial that has shaken and tattered their faith.

Closing Song:

Bart Millard endured a rough upbringing which inspired the film I Can Only Image. May the lyrics of this song help you or someone you love who has been crippled by a devasting trial in their life.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: February 6-Fighting for the Love of Your Life

Posted on February 6, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Scene from the 1989 film “Say Anything”

Bible Verse of the Day:

All night long on my bed I looked for the one my heart loves; I looked for him but did not find him. 2 I will get up now and go about the city, through its streets and squares; I will search for the one my heart loves. So I looked for him but did not find him, Song of Solomon 3:1-3.

Biblical Connection:

John Cusack plays Lloyd Nobler a high school senior who doesn’t have a clue about his future. Searching for a date to the final party before graduation, Lloyd takes a chance on the valedictorian who reluctantly takes a break from studying. When Lloyd falls head over heels for Diane Court (Ione Skye), this relationship clicks. For the first time in his life, Lloyd finds himself able to express himself like never before to a girl. However, when this relationship gets intense, Diane choses her future career in college over Lloyd. This sets the stage for today’s scene as Lloyd fights for the love of his life.

The Song of Solomon celebrates the love between Solomon and one of his wives. The first two chapters go back and forth where Solomon shares his feelings followed by his wife in this poetic book of the Bible. Yet, today’s passage reminds all human beings that there will be nights, weeks, months and years where love will not be found. This is the emotional condition which prompts Lloyd to come back to Diane’s house after she broke off their relationship. Rather than turn to lawyers in filing for divorce, this is the resolve that Christian men and women should possess, doing everything in their power to fight for the love of their lives.

Closing Song:

May the lyrics of today’s song inspire a spirit of reconciliation to mend and repair broken relationships that exist in your life.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: February 5-A Father’s Love

Posted on February 5, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Scene from the 2011 film “Courageous”

Bible Verse of the Day:

 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, Deuteronomy 6:7-9.

Biblical Connection:

Courageous follows the lives of four men with one calling: To serve and protect. As each police officer faces their own individual challenges at home and on duty, their faith is put to the test. Through a series of events, a courageous calling from God prompts each man to make a public demonstration of faith. Known as a Father’s Resolution, there is a public ceremony held where each man vows to become an agent of love for their wives and children. Unfortunately, not everyone keeps their vow. Today’s scene follows this ceremony.

Consistently living out your faith in a secular world isn’t easy. This often involves failure and humility. Today’s passage of the Bible reveals God’s calling to Jewish men. Faith begins in the home, demonstrated and modeled by parents. Whenever God’s commands in the Bible are lived out inside of a home, this creates a loving climate. Yet, Moses doesn’t stop here. Conversations about God should continue outside. A father’s love is demonstrated by submersing their homes with biblical symbols and verses to train children up in the way they should go.

Closing Song:

May the power of the Holy Spirit move you this February to become captured by God’s love, thereby passing this on to others through the fruits of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: February 2-Seeking God’s Errands for You Today

Posted on February 2, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Scene from the 1993 film “Groundhog Day”

Bible Verse of the Day:

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii[e] and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have,’ Luke 10:33-35.

Biblical Connection:

Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, a narcissistic, self-centered weatherman who finds himself reliving February 2nd over and over again. Once Phil realizes that they aren’t any consequences for his wrong actions, he follows the path of the prodigal son, Luke 15:13, pursuing a series of wild acts in a search for personal gratification. When these actions fail to satisfy the empty feeling inside his heart, Phil begins to see opportunities over the course of a 24-hour day to help other people. This is the context of today’s video clip.

Prior to sharing the Parable of the Good Samaritan, first century Jews believed that all priests and servants inside synagogues were godly individuals. Meanwhile, the Samaritans were descendants of a mixed race, half-Jewish and half-Gentiles. Subsequently, Samaritans were considered second class citizens, causing zealot Jews to avoid social interaction. Jesus attempts to alter this stereotype by illustrating that godliness is based upon love in action. As modern-day Christians begin to ask God in prayer,” what errands do you want me to accomplish today?” The Holy Spirit will open your eyes to see how you can help a stranger like the good Samaritan.

Closing Prayer:

When individuals slow down by putting their agenda and schedule on hold, God’s errands for you to accomplish will come into focus like Jesus in Mark 1:35-39.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: February 1-An Exegesis of Hollywood’s Concept of Love

Posted on February 1, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Scene from the 1982 film “The Last American Virgin”

Bible Verse of the Day:

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be, Psalm 139:13-16.

Biblical Connection:

An exegesis is a critical analysis focused an interpretation of a text like Scripture. However, as secular universities have exchanged faith in God for lived experiences, Hollywood’s concept of love is vastly different from the Bible. According to Chandler and Munday, lived experiences belong to people who have gained knowledge through direct and first-hand involvement in everyday events. The lived experience in The Last American Virgin is that teenagers should follow their sexual desires even if that results in getting a girlfriend pregnant. As a teenager at the time of this movie’s release, this film teaches that a young man should take responsibility by paying for an abortion.

Since the Greek language is much more descriptive than English, the Bible uses 4 words to express love: eros, philia, agape and storge. The Last American Virgin limits it’s understanding of love to eros, a sensual and sexual expression of love. Philia refers to a brotherly love, agape reflects God’s unconditional love and storge is the natural affection that exists between a child and their parents. While writing today’s Psalm, King David receives a rhema from God. This message is that God sees and knows each unborn child. There are no mistakes in God’s eyes as each life has a purpose and reason. While this may not be revealed for years in the form of God’s will, Romans 12:2, God’s love is extended to all in the form of grace, Romans 5:3-5.

Closing Song:

Rather than having a Hallmark Channel ending where once you find the right person you’ll live happily ever after, the final scene of The Last American Virgin highlights the pain of sensual love. When you’re not attractive or popular, life can be lonely with years of lived experiences without love. Rather than lower your standards or force the issue like Hagar, stay the course until the Holy Spirit reveals what you are supposed to be. As you wait for love, draw near the Lord for comfort.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: January 31-Rewards for Sticking with It

Posted on January 31, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Scene from the 1996 film “Jerry Maguire”

Bible Verse of the Day:

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God, 2 Corinthians 5:20.

Biblical Connection:

Tom Cruise plays Jerry Maguire, a successful sports agent who experiences an overwhelming sense of guilt one evening. This conscience moment inspires Jerry to write a new mission statement which goes against everything he initially believed as a sports agent. Aftering sending copies to members of his firm, Jerry is fired and loses all of his clients except for one. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays Rod Tidwell, an aging wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. Rod trusts Jerry to become his ambassador of kwon. Jerry spends the second half of this film doing whatever he can to help his lone client receive the contract that he deserves.

In a letter to the Church at Corinth, the apostle Paul calls members of this congregation to become ambassadors for Christ. The textbook definition for ambassador is an accredited diplomat sent by a country as its official representative to a foreign country. From a spiritual perspective, Jesus is commanding first century Christians to fulfill the great commission, Acts 1:8, in their spheres of influence. Just as Jerry Maguire traveled for city to city for Rod Tidwell, God wants Christians to share Jesus by being the light of Christ in our communities and places of work, Matthew 5:14-16. Only when individuals continue to do this on a consistent basis will you reap God’s blessings like Tidwell’s new contract.

Song of the Day:

As January comes to an end, keep on striving to seize each day of 2025, making an impact to become a Champion for Christ.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: January 29-You Were Born for This Moment

Posted on January 29, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Scene from the 2004 film “Miracle”

Bible Verse of the Day:

 This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place. 11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart, Jeremiah 29:10-13.

Biblical Connection:

Kurt Russell plays Herbs Brooks, Head coach of America’s 1980 Olympic hockey team. The United States made it to the medal round, playing the Soviet Union in the semi-final game. As the host team at Lake Placid, New York, the Americans were facing a team of professionals. Since the United States team was compromised of college players, this was a real-life David verse Goliath competition. As Brooks addresses the team prior to the opening faceoff, he believes in them just like David trusted in God’s power to defeat Goliath.

Jeremiah is referred to as the weeping prophet, often given bad news from God to share with the Israelites. However, in today’s featured passage, God shares with Jeremiah a glimpse of Israel’s future. This vision serves as a sign of hope that God has a plan for your life. While Herb Brooks believed that each member of the United States hockey team was born to be on this gold medal team, every human being is born for a purpose. Free will gives individuals the choice to live for yourselves or live for God. It’s never too late turn to God and begin to live for Him, Romans 10:11.

Closing Song:

When you experience your first rough stretch in 2025, turn to God to get you through adversity.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: January 28-Coming to Your Senses

Posted on January 28, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Clip from a 2024 Speech “Motivation 2 Study”

Bible Verse of the Day:

So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son,’ Luke 15:15-21.

Biblical Connection:

Today’s inspirational speech reminds me of the Parable of the Prodigal Son. However, based upon Mark’s testimony, he was raised by his mother. Like the younger son in Jesus’ story, Mark wasted his early years hanging around people who dragged him down. Yet, like the father who waited for his son to return on his front porch, Mark’s mom never stopped believing in him. When you’re chasing after temporary pleasures in life, a mentor once told me, “Sin will cause you to stay longer than you ever intended.” If today’s devotion finds you held hostage to an addiction or bad habit that you can’t resist, come to your senses like the prodigal son. Follow the prayers in today’s passage so that you can come home and be reunited with your heavenly Father.

Closing Song:

Don’t believe the lies of the Devil who will try to convince you that God could never love a sinner like you. Instead, take your burden and laid them at the feet of Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: January 27-When Bad Things Happen to Good People

Posted on January 27, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Trailer from the 2010 film “The 5th Quarter”

Bible Verse of the Day:

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles[b] from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. 21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask,” John 11:17-22.

Biblical Connection:

When I’m not able to find a scene reflective of a film, I’ll provide the entire trailer to give readers a broader perspective. As a former high school teacher, one thing is certain during the course of any year, one or more students will die in a car accident at your school or one nearby. This is the plot based upon the true story of Luke Abbate who dies days before his 16th birthday. When bad things happen to God people, families can be torn apart, always second guessing themselves and God. Older brother Jon, a member of the Wake Forest University football team, changes his number to Luke’s #5. After taking a leave of absence from the team following his brother’s death, Jon leads Wake to one of their most successful seasons ever, moving fans to refer to the 4th as the 5th quarter.

One of the scenes in the 5th Quarter has a coach talking about the two knowns in life: birth and death. Unfortunately, coping with the loss of one loved one is nothing new. After her own brother dies, Martha blames Jesus for Lazarus’ death. Despite her emotional anguish, Martha believed that Jesus could somehow bring Lazarus back from the dead. While the Lazarus effect does occur today, people who have been pronounced dead and do wake up, why bad things happen to good people remains a mystery. King Solomon writes about a time for everything in Ecclesiastes 3. Peter talks about faith being tested by trials in 1 Peter 1:6-7. The younger brother of Jesus points to unexpected events as things that build character, maturity and perseverance. When bad things do happen to you, you may never receive a direct answer from God, but these situations will challenge you to grow in your faith.

Closing Song:

Like the Abbate family who founded The Luke Abbate 5th Quarter Foundation, as you go through your first trial of 2025, may the Lord bring something positive out of this negative experience.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Engaging Our Culture: January 26-Coming Back from the Gates of Hell

Posted on January 26, 2025 by expressyourself4him

Video of the Day: Scene from the 1999 film “Any Given Sunday”

Viewer Discretion: a couple of curse words do appear on this clip for NFL Championship Sunday.

Bible Verse of the Day:

If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God, Hebrews 10:26-27.

Biblical Connection:

Al Pacino addresses the Miami Shark as Coach Tony D’Amato before taking the field, he compares football to the game of life. Down to their third-string quarterback, the odds of winning this game isn’t good. Yet, Coach D’Amato compares this desire situation to his own failures in life. The only way D’Amato knows how to climb out of their hellish position is by fighting back, “inch by inch.” Since football is often a game of inches, players connect with this analogy, preparing their minds for their upcoming battle on the gridiron. When individuals come together as a team, lesser talent can upset better players on Any Given Sunday.

The author of Hebrews addresses a growing concern within the first century church. Apparently, false teachers began to convince young Christians that the more they sinned, the greater God’s grace would be poured out upon you. Subsequently, Hebrews 6:1-6 blames this on a lack of depth, Christians who stop growing spiritually after learning the elementary teachings of Christ. As a former seminary student, young theologians can be persuaded into justifying ungodly beliefs by over emphasizing certain passages of Scripture and devaluing others. To avoid continuing down the highway to hell, Matthew 7:13, take your thoughts captive by making them obedient to the words of the Bible, Psalm 119:9-11.

Closing Song:

My today’s song open your mind to the ongoing spiritual war happening behind the scenes. Pray for protection so that you won’t find yourself slipping away from God in 2025.

by Jay Mankus

Leave a comment

Posted in Truth and tagged , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →