Tag Archives: Christianity

Video of the Day: Clip from commentary on the 2006 movie “End of the Spear”

Bible Verse of the Day:

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” ¹³ The Pharisees challenged him, “Here you are, appearing as your own witness; your testimony is not valid.” ¹⁴ Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid, for I know where I came from and where I am going. But you have no idea where I come from or where I am going. ¹⁵ You judge by human standards; I pass judgment on no one. ¹⁶ But if I do judge, my decisions are true, because I am not alone. I stand with the Father, who sent me. ¹⁷ In your own Law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. ¹⁸ I am one who testifies for myself; my other witness is the Father, who sent me,” John 8:12-18.

Biblical Connection:

Members of the audience who watched End of the Spear in theaters had a similar experience to those who went to see The Passion of the Christ. Rather than show the scene where members of the tribe have an encounter with God, I wanted to touch on the impact this film has made on our culture. When missionary’s give up their lives for their faith, many are moved by their testimony.

After sparing a woman’s life from being stoned to death, religious leaders begin to dispute the identity of Jesus. When faith is lived out, many can’t fathom or comprehend the sacrifices that loyal people of faith make on a daily basis. Yet, when you come to the light by entering into a personal relationship with God, Romans 10:9-11, lives are transformed like tribal members.

Closing Song:

As the summer light fades, growing shorter day after day in the northern hemisphere, don’t miss your opportunity to come to the light of Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30. May today’s song inspire you to take this initial step of faith toward the light of Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

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

Bible Verse of the Day:

Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world, 1 John 4:1-3.

Biblical Connection:

October Sky is a true story about an unlikely teenager who is inspired after watching the Sputnik 1 launch in 1957. Despite being a coal miner’s son, Homer Hickam becomes fascinated by rocketry. Surrounding himself with a couple of nerds, Homer relies on one of his father’s mechanists to build a rocket. After being accused of setting a brush fire, Homer uses math to prove his innocence.

At the end of the first century, false teaching about Jesus and Christianity spread throughout the Middle East. Subsequently, one of Jesus’ former disciples encourages believers to test every teaching that one encounters with the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:21. Behind each idea is a spirit similar to modern-day opinions. Challenging these theories with biblical insight can distinguish truth from lies and like Homer prove that you are right.

Closing Song:

Whenever you’re searching for an answer, you often have to dig deep. This time-consuming process involves research like the formula used to prove Homer’s innocence. When you’re persistent, willing to keep on digging, you can prove fact from fiction.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2005 movie “The Greatest Game Ever Played”

Bible Verse of the Day:

By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! ² I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. ³ For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. ⁴ The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. ⁵ We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. ⁶ And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete, 2 Corinthians 10:1-6.

Biblical Connection:

Today is the first round of the 2025 British Open, the final golf major of this year. Harry Vardon’s family was forced to move when the construction of a new golf course bought their land. Throughout the film the Greatest Game Ever Played, Harry has flashbacks of the four men who told his father they had to move. Images of these men appear on Harry’s driver during the 1913 United States Open. This is one of the tricks minds play on human beings to bring up their past.

In a letter to the Church at Corinth, the apostle Paul brings up the concept of taking your thoughts captive. When minds dwell on the negative, these thoughts can become self-fulfilled prophecies. If you have endured a rough life, past failures could turn into inner demons which can haunt you throughout life. However, by making thoughts obedient to Christ, self-doubt can be erased by belief and faith in Christ, Matthew 21:18-22.

Closing Song:

The popularity of sports psychology continues to grow in professional golf. While Harry Vardon developed his own pre-shot ritual to block out his inner demons, inviting Jesus into your thought life translates into all aspects of life. May your faith be an example to others by daily taking your thoughts captive to avoid evil sown into your mind by the Devil.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the television series “Castle”

Bible Verse of the Day:

It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, ⁵ who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age ⁶ and who have fallen^[c] away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace. ⁷ Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸ But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned, Hebrews 6:4-8.

Biblical Connection:

The ABC television drama Castle ran for 8 seasons featuring detective Kate Beckett and novelist Richard Castle. Castle is introduced to the NYPD when a copycat killer lives out murders in Richard’s books. While Beckett and Castle relationship is on and off again the last 4 seasons, Richard attempts to protect Kate until she is unwilling to change her ways.

The author of Hebrews appears to reference Jesus’ Parable of the Sower. Back in Matthew 13:1-23, Jesus talks about different obstacles farmers face prior to planting seeds. Since not every soil is ideal, Jesus breaks down what each of these specific barriers represent. Since Kate’s heart has become hardened, Richard has reached a point in their relationship where there is nothing else, he can do. Until individuals are willing to change, you have to let them go until they are ready for help.

Closing Song:

Strong willed individuals are often the hardest to help. Richard Castle stuck around for 4 years hoping to make a difference in Kate’s life. Yet, when you find yourself under the ruins of a broken relationship, prayer and time are your available options until those whom you love realize they have a problem and are open for assistance.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1998 movie “The Truman Show”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish.’ ³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Won’t he first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples, Luke 14:28-33.

Biblical Connection:

While the Truman Show is about a man stuck inside of a reality television show, he reaches a point in life where many individuals find themselves. Truman feels trapped, stuck behind a desk job that he no longer is excited about. Instead, Truman’s mind is fixated on his dream trip of a lifetime to Fiji. The only problem is that traveling to Fiji will time take and plan and money to be saved.

I spent 3 years of my life living in the Bible belt of South Carolina. The people were nice; all my neighbors waved at me when I passed, and I felt the warmth of their genuine care. Yet, one thing was missing, a consistent genuine passion for Jesus Christ. This did exist in a few church leaders that I met, but most Christians lived a carefree faith, picking and choosing when to follow Jesus.

Closing Song:

This was the first century message Jesus gave to Christian leaders who regularly displayed an inconsistent faith. Since faith is a lifelong marathon, make sure that you’re planning for the future. We all have bad days where our faith fails. Yet, when you work out your salvation daily, Philippians 2:12, you’ll stay in touch with God’s will for your life, Romans 12:1-2. This is what Jesus expects of modern-day disciples.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1997 movie “Volcano”

Bible Verse of the Day:

I appeal to you, brothers and sisters,^[a] in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought. ¹¹ My brothers and sisters, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. ¹² What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas^[b]”; still another, “I follow Christ,” 1 Corinthians 1:10-12.

Biblical Connection:

When an ancient volcano rises from the bottom of tar pits in Los Angeles, the city is put in alert. Using the subway system, steams of lava follow through this concrete chasm until it ends underneath a new hospital. To release the pressure from this massive flow of lava, this building is blown up to divert the lava into the Pacific Ocean. When a little boy is separated from his family during this explosion, a police officer tries to help him become reunited.

The apostle Paul addresses the topic of hero worship going on in the Church of Corinth. Instead of being united as a follower of Jesus, church leaders were being elevated to Christ-like status. Instead of reminding these new converts of embracing the body of Christ, a popularity contest began to divide members of this church. When ash covers the faces of the residents of Los Angeles, everyone looked the same. In the same way, Christians should be unified in following Jesus.

Closing Song:

When arrogance, power hungry Christians and pride is allowed to reside within a church, similar divisions that the apostle Paul confronted will arise. To avoid a similar fate, we need to seek harmony and unity within the body of Christ by remaining a humble servant playing your part.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1989 movie “Born of the Fourth of July” (Language Warning)

Bible Verse of the Day:

They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes.^[a] 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. ³ This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. ⁴ For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. ⁵ Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones, Mark 5:1-4.

Biblical Connection:

Ron Kovic is a 10-year-old boy who was born on the Fourth of July. After attending an Independence Day parade on his birthday weekend, a desire to serve his country is conceived within Ron. This boy’s dream turns into a nightmare as Ron’s first battle ends up taking his ability to walk. Now confined to a wheelchair, Ron shares with a friend of his desire to be made whole again.

In the first century, Jesus meets another man who wants healing from his current condition. According to Mark, a man had lost total control of his body. This condition influenced by a demonic spirit led this man to move out of his house to avoid hurting anyone. This real-life demonic possession opens the door for Jesus’ visit and miraculous healing to be made whole again.

Closing Song:

Every human being is like an onion. The more layers that you unpeel via engaging questions, you get to know their life story of the good, bad and ugly. Subsequently, when certain life events and trials occur on or near a holiday, special days life the Fourth of July have a dark side. Therefore, be careful when you enter deep conversations as you may uncover the beautifully broken.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2002 movie “Superfire”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. ¹⁹ Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies, 1 Corinthians 6:18-20.

Biblical Connection:

Superfire contains an earlier scene that illustrates the Law of Human Nature described by C.S. Lewis in the first book of Mere Christianity. The lead tanker pilot whose job it is to release the chemicals to put out forest fires was blamed for the deaths of fire jumpers from a past super fire. This one failed event defined James Merrick’s reputation before his meeting his new team. Sometimes one act, brash decision or careless choice leads individuals to become trapped by sin.

While addressing a serious situation in the Church at Corinth, the apostle Paul warns Christians about sinning sexuality. Paul makes a distinction between breaking one of God’s commands and sinning against your own body. While Paul doesn’t use the word addiction, he alludes to the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew 5:27-30. The point Jesus is making centers around hearts and mind set on sin. Thinking about sin often leads to becoming trapped by sin.

Closing Song:

May the words of today’s song serve as a prayer to help you the next time you feel trapped by sin. Following the advice of Jesus by laying these burdens down at the feet of God.

by Jay Mankus