Tag Archives: Christianity

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2002 movie “The Bourne Identity”

Bible Verse of the Day:

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸ We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹ persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰ We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹ For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹² So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you, 2 Corinthians 4:7-12.

Biblical Connection:

Matt Damon plays Jason Bourne, a film based upon the 1980 novel The Bourne Identity by Robert Ludlum. Damon starts out as a mystery man, left for dead before being discovered at sea by a fishing vessel. When Damon regains consciousness, he suffers from amnesia, with only a few memories of his true identity. Damon pays Marie to drive him to Paris, helping him to retrace his steps, trying to figure out who he really is.

The apostle Paul writes another letter to the Church at Corinth. This portion of 2 Corinthians compares human beings to jars of clay, in the process of being molded and fashioned by our heavenly father. As individuals experience daily hardships, imperfections are exposed. As Christians begin to seek God’s calling, Romans 12:1-2, human minds may struggle with a spiritual identity crisis. This compels Paul to talk about life and death, explaining how God works in us.

Closing Song:

The next time you find yourself struggling to overcome the pain of past failures, may you find hope in the words of the apostle Paul. As the Holy Spirit helps you sort out your next identity crisis, remember that faith is a process with big plans for your future, Philippians 1:6.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1996 movie “Larger Than Life”

Bible Verse of the Day:

I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. ² My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, ³ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, Colossians 2:1-3.

Biblical Connection:

Bill Murray plays motivational speaker Jack Corcoran who finds out about the secret past of his father. Upon receiving a misleading telegram about a huge inheritance from his circus clown father, Jack is stuck with a destructive elephant. This inconvenience places Jack’s speaking engagements on hold until he is able to figure out what to do with Vera. This is what leads Jack into renting an 18-wheeler which he doesn’t have a clue on how to operate.

Every day on earth is filled with intrigue, fueled by mysteries of the unknown. Sometimes unforeseen circumstances place you into a position where you don’t know what you’re doing. In a letter to the Church at Colosse, the apostle Paul encourages Christians who don’t have a clear understanding of the mysteries of God. Since faith is a process of facing daily trials and tribulations, keep seeking out Jesus to uncover treasures of knowledge and wisdom.

Closing Song:

Whenever you’re a famous actor or a nobody, life lessons are discovered through trial and error. If you currently find yourself in uncharted territory, place your trust in Jesus until you receive clarity and guidance to help through clueless moments in life.

by Jay Mankus

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

Bible Verse of the Day:

Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life^[f] will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? ²⁷ For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done, Matthew 16:24-27.

Biblical Connection:

As the second stage of Horse Racing’s triple crown takes place this afternoon, this year’s Preakness Stakes will write a new name in the history books. Unfortunately, many horses like Seabiscuit never got a chance to compete in the Kentucky Derby, Preakness or Belmont. When immediate progress isn’t demonstrated, some horses are left as partners where they are trained to lose.

Shortly after Peter verbalizes that Jesus is the promised Messiah, expectations are laid out for anyone who desires to become a disciple of Jesus. Following the 3 core principles in verse 25, Jesus transitions to what this spiritual commitment truly means. If you want to save your life, you must lose it. Just as Seabiscuit was trained to lose, Christians must learn to give up their lives for others.

Closing Song:

As a former competitive athlete, losing is something that I despise. Yet, from the spiritual sense, giving up your life for God is a challenging, an ongoing process. Losing serves as a form of humility as God allows failure to occur, eventually leading you to the place where the Lord wants you to be. This trained to lose concept lite a fire deep inside of Seabiscuit to inspire him to reach his full potential as a racehorse. May God use disappointments in life to bring you closer to Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2000 movie “Cast Away”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. ⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing,” John 15:1-5.

Biblical Connection:

Tom Hanks plays FedEx operations executive Chuck Noland who is the lone survivor of a plane crash. As packages from FedEx wash up upon shore, Chuck is resourceful, using what he has to survive. However, after 4 long years, Chuck comes to the grim reality that he has power over nothing. This is Chuck’s confession after a freighter at sea discovers him floating on a raft.

During Passion Week, Jesus shares a similar message to His disciples. Unaware of His upcoming betrayal, arrest and crucifixion, Jesus is trying to prepare these men for the future. Jesus uses a gardening analogy, to call His disciples to stay connected to the vine. Eleven of twelve failed their first spiritual test on Good Friday, trusting their own abilities rather than placing their hope in God.

Closing Song:

Sometimes making a big mistake or messing up serves as a spiritual wakeup call. If you find yourself trying to stay in control with power over nothing, get plugged into God by tapping into the power of the Holy Spirit, 2 Peter 1:3-4. This will help you get reconnected with God.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1974 movie “Chinatown”

Bible Verse of the Day:

So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever^[c] you want. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law, Galatians 5:16-18.

Biblical Connection:

Chinatown is considered one of the top ten screenplays ever written. Jack Nicholson is J.J. Gittes, a private investigator. As Gittes gets closer to solving his most recent case, he encounters the powerful and wealthy Noah Cross. Whenever corruption and sin are exposed, high profile individuals are capable of almost anything to avoid being charged. There is where politics become dirty, bringing out the worst in human beings.

In a letter to the Church in Galatia, the apostle Paul highlights what people are capable of. Paul brings up a theological term known as dualism, a belief that there are two equal and separate powers of good and evil at work in the world. Christians are drawn to do good by the power of the Holy Spirit. Meanwhile, there is an internal tug of war led by the human flesh, carnal and earthly desires pulling you toward evil. This is where free will comes into play.

Closing Song:

The next time you sense evil dragging you closer to your sinful nature, pull back before it’s too late. Once you find the way out from temptation, draw close to Jesus so that you can keep in step with the Holy Spirit.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Trailer from the 2007 movie “Welcome to Paradise”

Bible Verse of the Day:

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls, 1 Peter 1:6-9.

Biblical Connection:

I started attending a Methodist youth group during my junior year of high school. In the years that followed, I joined my first church in college and became friends with individuals who went on to be pastors in the Methodist Church. Like the character of Reverend Debbie Laramie in Welcome to Paradise, pastors regularly were moved from church to church, often without much notice. Subsequently, when Debbie, Crystal Bernard, is forced to move to a small remote town, her vision for Paradise Church is delayed until a fire brings this church community together.

Peter, one of the members of Jesus’ inner circle, isn’t referring to a physical fire inside a building. Rather, Peter compares fire to a spiritual refining process that Christians must go through. Unlike prosperity preachers who proclaim that your life will be filled with blessings once you become a Christian, this is far from reality. Instead, life consists of a serious of trials designed to test and refine your faith. Like the words of Jesus’ earthly brother, these unscheduled events come without warning, teaching character, maturity and perseverance to all who endure this pain, James 1:2-4.

Closing Song:

If you feel like your world is melting this month, reach out to the hand of Jesus who will walk by your side. Like the words of the famous poem Footprints, God will be right there without you all the way.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2005 movie “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”

Bible Verse of the Day:

And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.

Biblical Connection:

Author C.S. Lewis crafted a series of books from 1950-1956 which were made into a film in 2005. Lewis uses biblical symbolism to illustrate specific character traits that you may experience in real life. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe reveal that first impressions maybe masked with impure motives. The White Witch starts off like a magical genie granting Edmund’s requests, but as this conversation continues her wicked intentions rise to the surface.

Edmund was too hungry and thirsty to notice the White Witch’s sinister plan. As the youngest brother, overshadowed by his older two siblings, the Witch used this for her own advantage. Peter’s second visit to see the White Witch wasn’t pleasant, no longer an angel in disguise. The apostle Paul warns the Church at Corinth of ongoing spiritual attacks. Unfortunately, some church members walked in the footsteps of Edmund, deceived by followers of Satan.

Closing Song:

There was an old saying that I was introduced to in college. Parking yourself in a garage doesn’t make you a car. In the same manner, simply attending church doesn’t make you a Christian. Jesus doesn’t want worshippers of a religion. Rather, God desires a personal relationship, Romans 10:9-11. This relationship helps shine light on imitators of faith with impure motives.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1989 movie “Terms of Endearment”

Bible Verse of the Day:

For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.^[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. ¹⁹ For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing., Romans 7:18-19.

Biblical Connection:

Star Wars introduced the concept of the force and the dark side to many Americans. Instead of inserting of clip from this movie franchise, I opted for a shorter scene that human beings can relate to. There are certain individuals that bring out the worst in you. This could be due to a personality clash or power struggle for control. Whatever the reason, when someone knows what buttons to push, you end up losing control and your sinful nature acts out.

The apostle Paul writes about a thorn in his flesh to the Church in Corinth, 2 Corinthians 12:7. Paul isn’t clear if this was a medical condition, nagging injury, or demonic oppression. Yet, in a letter to the Church at Rome, Paul becomes vulnerable, sharing what happens to him when the sinful nature begins to take over his life. This is spiritual darkness, when a lack of self-control results in evil and devilish acts. Paul comes to the conclusion that only Jesus can rescue him from this condition.

Closing Song:

The next time you find yourself about to lose it, cry out to Jesus before the sinful nature takes control of your body. Although you may not win every battle, allow the Devil to get the best of you, success is a process of praying for repentance and mercy to do better tomorrow and beyond.

by Jay Mankus