Tag Archives: Christianity

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2006 movie “The Pursuit of Happiness”

Bible Verse of the Day:

I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. ¹¹ I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. ¹² I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. ¹³ I can do all this through him who gives me strength, Philippians 4:10-13.

Biblical Connection:

The Pursuit of Happiness is based upon the true story of Christopher Gardner. Part of Chris’ journey to becoming a successful businessman involves a divorce and spending time in a homeless shelter with his son. While Chris does end up winning over the interview team, this initial job doesn’t provide a guaranteed salary. This is where being content is more important than happiness.

The apostle Paul was raised to become a learned Pharisee who went by the name Saul. As a Roman citizen and a Jew, Saul went on to become a powerful synagogue leader who fought against the establishment of the first century. Yet, following the death of the apostle Stephen, a series of events transformed Saul’s life. This is why a born-again Paul writes about how the pursuit of happiness can result in disappointment. Over the years Paul learned to be content in life.

Closing Song:

C.S. Lewis refers to success as the process of arriving in Mere Christianity. Subsequently, to those on their own pursuit of happiness, learn to be content in current circumstances. As you seek to acquire this biblical trait, your faith journey will guide you where God wants you to be.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1994 movie “Good Will Hunting” (Language Warning)

Bible Verse of the Day:

“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?” ¹³ Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” ¹⁶ He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” ¹⁷ “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. ¹⁸ The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true,” John 4:11-18.

Biblical Connection::

Will is an orphan with an unusual gift; he is a genius. This leads Will to take a janitor position at MIT, quietly solving Mathematic problems written on a chalkboard that no other student enrolled at this prestigious university could solve. Unfortunately, Will has a painful past which he is afraid to reveal. This is the context of today’s conversation.

Instead of sitting on a park bench, Jesus is standing at a well, waiting for individuals to arrive. As a woman comes forward, the topic of water breaks the ice. Yet, Jesus transforms a shallow conversation into a spiritual one. Prior to sending her away, Jesus wants to meet her husband. This one question opens the door, peeling back the layers of this woman’s life.

Closing Song:

I talked to a Buddhist woman last week. Our discussions ranged from a myriad of topics. After a good friend recently became born again, this woman was turned off to Christianity, so I followed the C.S. Lewis approach, searching for common ground. Only God knows what is in store next, but you have to give individuals time to stop hiding from their past before an open dialogue can be established.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1989 movie “Field of Dreams”

Bible Verse of the Day:

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the road?” ³⁴ But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. ³⁵ Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all,” Mark 9:33-35.

Biblical Connection:

An ungodly belief are beliefs that do not align with the Bible’s teaching and God’s character. Ungodly beliefs are absorbed, developed and engrained within minds of a child which are carried over into adulthood. When Ray is not invited to see what’s beyond his own cornfield, the ungodly belief of “what’s in it for me” arises. Society teaches the opposite: to get what is yours.

Jesus often listened to conversations that his disciples thought went unheard. Subsequently, Jesus asks about the topic of discussion as the disciples traveled to Capernaum. Instead of revealing their debate on who is the greatest disciple among the 12, Jesus was prepared to correct their flawed mindset. From a biblical perspective, the greatest is the one most willing to become a servant.

Closing Song:

Over the course of my lifetime, Hollywood has convinced Americans that October is the month dedicated to embracing horror. In a processional leading up to Halloween, television networks air one slasher movie after another. To avoid falling prey to another ungodly belief, take your thoughts captive, 2 Corinthians 10:4-6, so you won’t imitate a what’s it in for me attitude.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2009 movie “The Blindside” (language warning)

Bible Verse of the Day:

Give proper recognition to those widows who are really in need. ⁴ But if a widow has children or grandchildren, these should learn first of all to put their religion into practice by caring for their own family and so repaying their parents and grandparents, for this is pleasing to God. ⁵ The widow who is really in need and left all alone puts her hope in God and continues night and day to pray and to ask God for help. ⁶ But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives. ⁷ Give the people these instructions, so that no one may be open to blame. ⁸ Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever, 1 Timothy 5:3-8.

Biblical Connection:

The Blindside contains an earlier scene when Michael Oher’s adopted mom pulls him aside during tryouts. Sandra Bullock tells Michael to embrace all of his teammates by treating each like a family member. Just before the snap in today’s scene, Michael has a flashback of these words, inspiring him to defend his teammates by blocking with all his might until the whistle blows.

As a teenage pastor, Timothy receives instructions from the apostle Paul about leading his congregation. Paul’s advice includes God’s expectations for Christians, treating members of their church like family members. Jesus told his disciples that others will know you by the love that you display daily. This is how you should defend and treat your family.

Closing Song:

Love doesn’t come naturally. Nor is love instantly absorbed by reading a slogan on an NFL field like “choose love.” Rather, love flows out of Christians who have developed a legacy of faith.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2004 movie “Bourne Supremacy”

Bible Verse of the Day:

And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh, Romans 13:11-14.

Every so often an old movie scene, a song or visiting a specific location will suddenly trigger a memory from my past. This is what Jason Bourne experiences in today’s scene. Sometimes a previous event can be so painful that you do everything in your power to suppress this stain from your past. This one flashback leads Jason to return to Berlin to discover what really happened.

Based upon the words of today’s passage, the apostle Paul received news that members of the Church of Rome began reverting back to their former way of life. Instead of living with a sense of urgency, an idle faith led some to participate in deeds of darkness from their past. Therefore, Paul calls this church to spiritually clothe themselves with Jesus, putting on the mind of Christ in prayer.

Closing Song:

Addictions, bad habits and unwholesome cravings don’t suddenly disappear when you enter into a personal relationship with Jesus. However, when new believers begin to read the Bible, meditate upon what they are learning and pray for forgiveness, minds start to conform to God. In the meantime, practice the words of Matthew 11:28-30 by laying your burdens at the feet of Jesus.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2007 movie “The Bourne Ultimatum”

Bible Verse of the Day:

 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; ²⁰ idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions ²¹ and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God, Galatians 5:19-21.

Biblical Connection:

Bible verses were shared over loudspeakers during the morning announcements or read out loud in homeroom to guide students with a daily theme. Prior to the 1960’s, public education encouraged young minds to be kind, just and moral. In the decades that have followed, social media preys on tired and weak minds like David Webb. This is how lost minds have become reprogrammed today.

The apostle Paul explains to a first century church about the invisible battle that all human beings are facing. Beginning in Galatians 5:16-18, two forces are at work daily: human nature and the Holy Spirit. The weaker your mind becomes, the quicker that acts of the flesh become a part of your life. When this behavior becomes a pattern, you become a slave to sin like the words of James 1:14-15.

Closing Song:

After the love of his life was assassinated, Jason Bourne sets to find where it all began for him. Sleep depreciation led Jason’s mind into being reprogrammed by becoming a hit man. To snap human minds out of this spiritual amnesia, you need to study the words of the apostle Paul in Galatians 5 so that you can learn to keep in step with the Holy Spirit to avoid falling prey to future temptations.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2014 movie “God’s Not Dead”

Bible Verse of the Day:

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all^[b] sin. ⁸ If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ¹⁰ If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us, 1 John 1:7-10.

Biblical Connection:

While college was once a platform for ideas, Atheist, Communist and Marxist professors seek to conform young minds to their secular worldview. A billionaire recently spoke out about how his daughter attending Harvard completely transformed into a leftist. While God is certainly not dead, college parents who don’t recognize their children when they come home have their doubts.

False teaching about God increased at the end of the first century. Subsequently, John who was a former disciple of Jesus seeks to set the record straight about these lies. John explains what God desires as well as what it means to walk in the light of God’s truth. Like the man who goes to visit his mother, he fails to recognize human nature and how God uses trials to strengthen faith.

Closing Song:

Syncretism is the best explanation for why many people believe that God is dead. As Christians continue to add and subtract from the Bible, Deuteronomy 4:2, blending secular beliefs with their own, outsiders are dumbfounded and turned off by this hypocrisy. Only when followers of Jesus practice the words of today’s featured passage can the world’s misunderstanding about life be straightened out.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1992 movie “A Few Good Men”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, ¹⁹ since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. ²⁰ For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse, Romans 1:18-20.

Biblical Connection:

When two marines give Private William Santiago a code red, trying to teach him a valuable lesson, tragedy occurs. This act of discipline triggers a pre-existing condition that results in his death. As Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee attempts to explain a code red to the jury, it’s not listed in any of the Marine manuals. Yet, Kaffee uses common sense to illustrate that not everything is included.

After the Church in Rome is formed, the apostle Paul receives news of members of the congregation acting as elitists. Paul uses today’s passage to help Roman Christians understand that all human beings are sinners. To those outside the church, Paul points to the visible qualities of God’s creation like rainbows and sunsets so that no one can claim, “I never knew or saw God.”

Closing Song:

Story tellers like Jesus made convincing arguments by using cultural parables that His first century audience could relate to and understand. In modern-times, communicators like Charlie Kirk were able to reach college students by using common sense and logic. The next time you find yourself in a theological debate and discussion, use common sense like Tom Cruise in today’s scene to prove God’s existence to skeptics.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2006 movie “The Ultimate Gift”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God^[a]; believe also in me. ² My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. ⁴ You know the way to the place where I am going,” John 14:1-4.

Biblical Connection:

When Jason discovers that Emily has a terminal condition, he finds her in the hospital chapel apologizing for how he handled this initial news. As Emily begins to contemplate her eternal destiny she wonders if God takes prayer requests in advance. Instead of focusing on her condition, Emily’s dying wish is that Jason and her mom would become a couple.

As Passion Week has arrived, the week of the crucifixion, Jesus prepares the disciples for his death. While these 12 men can’t fathom life without Jesus, He begins to explain why his death on a cross is necessary. In a later letter, the disciple whom Jesus loved writes about knowing for certain about your eternal destination in 1 John 5:10-13. This is what Emily was wondering about in this chapel.

Closing Song:

One of the mistakes young Christians make is treating prayer like you’re at the checkout counter at a local supermarket. One Old Testament prophet claims that sometimes sinful actions prevent God from hearing your prayers, Isaiah 1:15-18. However, when you approach the Lord in a humble manner, pouring out your soul in prayer, God does take advance orders like securing your eternal destiny in heaven.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2000 movie “Remember the Titans”

Bible Verse of the Day:

That, however, is not the way of life you learned ²¹ when you heard about Christ and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. ²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³ to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴ and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, Ephesians 4:20-24.

Bible Verse of the Day:

Back in 1971, a Virginia school board decided to integrate an all-Black school with an all-white high school. As football players gathered together for training camp, tensions rose. Today’s scene provides context of how a racial divide prevented players from coming together to form a team. Shortly after this scene, Coach Boone plans an early morning run to Gettysburg’s battlefield.

The apostle Paul understood the importance of reminding human beings due to lapses in memory. Just as players began to focus on their own selfish desires, Paul reminds Christian in Ephesus of their call to faith in Jesus. While the easy thing to do is abandon God in times of crisis and trials, the key to change involves embracing the attitude and mind of Christ.

Closing Song:

Chase Utley’s father once told Chase as a child, “don’t tell people how great you are, show them!” This little leaguer went on to become a World Champion with the Philadelphia Phillies. When attitudes begin to assign with the mind of Christ, godly actions follow.

by Jay Mankus