Tag Archives: Christianity

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

Video of the Day: Trailer from the 2007 movie “The Last Sin Eater”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, ²¹ so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord, Romans 5:20-21.

Biblical Connection:

A 10-year-old girl feels responsible for her little sister’s death. Subsequently, Cadi Forbes is consumed by guilt which leads her to search for redemption. This journey leads Cadi to uncover a secret sin haunting her community of Welsh immigrants living in Appalachia. Straying from biblical beliefs, Cadi’s meets the sin eater at the funeral of her grandmother. This spiritual figure is like God’s plan revealed in today’s passage, sending a second Adam to restore what was lost.

The apostle Paul explains the consequences of original sin, what Adam’s fall in the Garden of Eden meant for mankind. Luke uses Jesus’ encounter with a tax collector named Zacchaeus to illustrate a similar point in Luke 19:10. Jesus is the last sin eater, sent to seek and to save that which was lost. For anyone who grows up outside of a Christian church, it’s easy to see how someone like Cadi can embrace a man-made tradition like a sin eater. Yet, Jesus died once and for all sins, 1 Peter 3:18.

Closing Song:

As April comes to an end, it’s important to remember the message of Resurrection Sunday. The Last Sin Eater is Jesus of Nazareth, who came to deliver human beings from the bondage of addiction and the chains of sin.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1991 movie “Hook”

Bible Verse of the Day:

No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs, but rather tries to please his commanding officer. ⁵ Similarly, anyone who competes as an athlete does not receive the victor’s crown except by competing according to the rules, 2 Timothy 2:4-5.

Biblical Connection:

Peter Pan grows up to be a cut-throat merger and acquisitions lawyer played by Robin Williams. The stress of being an adult prevents Peter from having any fun which causes him to neglect his fatherly responsibilities. This sets the stage for Captain James Hook, Dustin Hoffman, to kidnap Peter’s son Jack. Trying to win Jack over, Captain Hook hosts a game where Jack is the star, making his father Peter, jealous as an undercover observer.

The apostle Paul writes a second letter to a first century teenage pastor that he is mentoring. Paul compares Timothy to a solider of God, passing on the truth of the Gospel to his congregation. Yet, just like an athlete who is competing, Timothy has to play by the rules. Unfortunately, modern day public education often teaches students to resist rules because it restricts them for having fun. However, joy is a fruit of God’s Spirit and rules are necessary to prevent chaos and disorder.

Closing Song:

Before electronic devices and game systems, children would spend hours at a playground entertaining themselves. Unfortunately, adults can become so absorbed with their job or making enough money to pay their bills that fun is put on hold. If you find yourself losing your joy for life, take some time weekly for recreation so that you’ll remember what it’s like to have fun again.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump”

Bible Verse for the Bible:

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God, Hebrews 12:1-2.

Biblical Connection:

Forrest Gump appeals to downtrodden individuals who were teased as a child. Forrest’s only friend was Jenny who had her own issues at home which allowed these two to form a special bond growing up. As a former runner, not many athletes ever embrace and fall in love with the concept of running for fun. Yet, when the braces placed on Forrest to straighten out his back break, Forrest is liberated and set free, able to successfully run for his life which opened up doors for Forrest in the future.

Today’s passage immediately follows a chapter known as the Hall of Faith. This highlights people of faith in the Old Testament. After touching on pillars of the Jewish Faith, the author lists other members followed by what they did to make this hall, champions of the faith. If you want to be considered worthy enough, you must throw off anything that is currently entangling you or hindering your Christian faith. Then, run with perseverance, fixing your eyes upon Jesus.

Closing Song:

The Bible compares the Christian life to a marathon. When you run with your head down, you lose sight of where you’re going. By fixing your eyes on Jesus, you’ll see that life is a journey of faith where you may need to run for your life to be set free from sinful addictions. However, as things begin to trip you up, throw off everything that is prohibiting a full stride to keep pace with faith.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from Season 1 “Joan of Arcadia”

Bible Verse of the Day:

For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. ⁸ If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. ⁹ For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living, Romans 14:7-9.

Biblical Connection:

Amber Tamblyn plays Joan Girardi who was raised in a Catholic Church. After Joan’s older brother was paralyzed from the waist down, she had a crisis of faith until God began to speak to her during her junior year of high school. Still a novice at sharing her faith, Joan becomes a babysitter for a young boy who has a severe medical condition. Joan uses Rocky’s obsession with death as an open door to share her personal experiences with God.

When I was Joan’s age, I often stumbled when talking about God. I was an infant Christian trying to figure things out on the fly, leaning on my friends from the Fellowship of Christ Athletes to help me grasp the new relationship that I entered into as a sophomore in high school. Several fatal car accidents and two suicides led me to depressing funerals early on in life. This is what inspired me to find out what the Bible says about death and how Jesus’ resurrection ties everything together.

Closing Song:

Despite my successful rise as an athlete, I spent several years in school as a loner. When I got serious about my faith, this separated me further from my peers. However, the deaths of friends prepared me for my first sermon during Lay Witness Mission weekend in college as I used these life expressions as an open door to talk about God.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2008 movie “Fireproof”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone, Colossians 4:5-6.

Biblical Connection:

Marriage is one of those steps people take in life like going to college. In the film Fireproof, Growing Pains star Kirk Cameron plays Caleb Holt, a fireman whose marriage is falling apart. At some point in Caleb’s life, he started going through the motions. Rather than seek a personal relationship with Jesus, church was something Caleb did on Sundays. Overtime Caleb began to set his heart on temporary pleasures instead of pouring his heart and soul into his marriage.

As you read today’s devotion, there is someone like Caleb in your own life that immediately comes to your mind. Depending upon their personality, this individual may to be open and teachable. However, this is where you have to be delicate when you weave Jesus into a daily conversation. As Caleb’s father confronts his son with God’s standards for living, tension begins to brew. This is where sharing your own faults, mistakes and weaknesses opens the door for grace and mercy.

Closing Song:

I participated in Evangelism Explosion at my church in college. Every Wednesday night a small group of us greeted members and recent visitors. With televisions often playing in the background, we were taught to try to make an instant connection at a surface level to earn someone’s trust. If the timing was right, one of us would weave Jesus into this conversation. Although not everyone is gifted in this area, these conversations plant seeds of faith for future discussions.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1994 movie “The Shawshank Redemption”

Biblical Connection:

Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” ⁷ He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. ⁸ But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” Acts 1:6-8.

Biblical Connection:

Tim Robbins plays Andrew Dufresne, an innocent banker sent to prison for murdering his wife. Today’s scene occurs after Dufresne is attacked by the Sodomites at Shawshank Prison. This surprise inspection by Wardon Norton serves as a test to see if Dufresne can be trusted. In the days that follow, Andy becomes a financial advisor to prison staff, working directly for the Wardon. This is the beginning of Andy’s redemption story.

Every Christmas and Easter, prodigals return to church seeking some sort of spiritual reboot. If there isn’t a special connection made, these individuals will disappear for months until Christmas. One of the reasons for this abandonment of faith is that Christians don’t know what to do after Easter Sunday. Luke provides the answer in today’s featured passage. Faith is a journey, not a sprint, where you become witnesses for Jesus everywhere you go. This is the Great Commission.

Closing Song:

As I have wrestled with God’s will for my life since moving to South Carolina, I stumbled upon today’s song. When I’m having a bad day at work, I have turned the lyrics of I Give Myself Away into a prayer. Whenever you find yourself wondering, “what should I do now, “give yourself to Jesus.

by Jay Mankus