Tag Archives: Courageous: the Movie

Use It or Lose It

Posted on August 20, 2014 by expressyourself4him

These are words a coach, parent or teacher may express to someone they care about.  The basis for this expression, “use it or lose it,” serves as a warning to anyone who fails to practice a newly acquired ability.  The longer individuals wait before they apply information, the greater the probability someone will forget this skill.  Fearful leaders encourage their pupils to seize the moment or risk losing their lesson until next week, month or year.

One of the first students, Adam, was given a few simple commands from the Lord in Genesis 2:15-17.  First, Adam was promoted to become the caretaker of Eden’s Garden.  Secondly, Adam was given clear boundaries defined by God, “you can eat from every tree except for one,” this is off limits.  In other words, God told Adam, use it or lose it.  After a long day of work, Adam was tired, not having the strength to contain his wife’s curiosity in Genesis 3:6.  By not using his God given authority, the first family loses it all, kicked out of their home, Genesis 3:23.

Today, father’s are suppose to be the head of their family, 1 Peter 3:1-7.  Unfortunately, children born out of wedlock, divorce and absentee dad’s are signs of wasted authority.  If these trends continue, fathers will suffer the same fate of Adam, a man without a place to call home.  I can hear the following words being shouted from heaven to dad’s on the verge of disaster, “use your God given authority or lose it!”  Like the movie Courageous, may today’s blog inspire parents to leave a legacy of integrity for their children to follow.  Or else you may lose your children to a similar fate.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Mentoring the Masses

Posted on August 6, 2012 by expressyourself4him

One of Jesus’ last words before his ascension was, “go and make disciples.”  Unfortunately, as the public education system, the media and other religions have been successful in making disciples of their worldview, most of the church has been spectators, watching along the sidelines.  As these people spend their time playing Monday Morning Quarterback by casting the blame for our societal struggles, the masses are continuing to follow the broad road which leads to destruction, Matthew 7:14.

Over the last 6 months, God has opened my eyes to this crisis of faith, a lack of godly mentors.  While no one is perfect, children are growing up without a clear right and an absolute wrong.  Instead, the gray areas of life have led most Americans to follow the gospel of Political Correctness.  Meanwhile, experts in our culture known as doctors are now claiming every sin is a disease, not a choice or personal responsibility.

An atheist is actually leading the way, showing Christians what they should be doing.  Author Wendy Shalit created a movement in the form of a book called Girls Gone Mild.  Wendy is trying to teach young girls and women  to reclaim their self-Respect and rediscover that it’s not bad to be good.  If the church is going to continue to ignore, hide or run away from issues like pornography, sex and other taboo topics, people are going to have to take the good news of Jesus Christ into their spheres of influence.  Time is running out on countless souls!  Therefore, its time for men to rise up, like the message in Courageous and begin today to mentor the masses.

by Jay Mankus

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Single Mom Syndrome

Posted on July 11, 2012 by expressyourself4him

Fifteen years ago I first became aware of a societal problem, what I call Single Mom Syndrome.  When I taught a senior high Sunday School class, every other week half of my class was absent.  Initially, I thought people were away, just went to church or were suffering from an illness.  However, as I got to know this group of teenagers, I soon found out the problem.  Every other week, half of my class were at their dad’s house in accordance with the final divorce settlement.

Today, I am seeing the side effects of the Single Mom Syndrome as a baseball coach.  An increasingly number of young boys are selfish, self-centered, lazy and hypocritical.  Unfortunately, many of the youths in America need the rod of correction, mentioned in Proverbs 23:13-14.  Yet due to the wussification of America, political correctness encourages time outs over biblical punishment.  As time is running out to change the course these young boys are currently on, the message of the movie Courageous is like a beacon of hope.

Godly men need to take a stand, straighten out their own lives and step up to be a mentor to the thousands of young boys who are growing up without a father.  These young people are the way they are because they are amoral, not knowing right from wrong.  As mentors live out their faith, they will be able to gain the respect and trust of these young people.  Moms are doing everything they can to provide for their children, yet boys need a man to show them how to live, Proverbs 3:1-2.

by Jay Mankus

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Hope for the Fatherless

Posted on June 10, 2012 by expressyourself4him

As the divorce rate in America skyrockets and families continue to fall apart, an ever increasing number of children are growing up without a father.  Without a mentor, an authoritative voice or a leader to follow, young people are blending into their culture, absent of character, integrity and morals.  Unfortunately, most of these children are like sheep without a shepherd, where the blind are following the blind.

This void in our culture needs help from the local church.  In California, there is hope for the fatherless in a ministry called the Dream Center.  This center is meeting the needs of 18 year olds who have grown up in foster homes, moving from place to place without a family or support group.  This ministry is filling a need that the local government was unable to meet.  God willing the vision for the Dream Center will spread throughout the country to minister to the fatherless.

Like the movie Courageous, there is a vast need for the church to leave the inside of their pews and move outside into their community.  Every where you look there are hurting people, broken and wounded souls living without hope of improvement.  Christian men need to take a stand and impact their community by being the light of Christ in their spheres of influence.  If we are the body of Christ, we must be the hands and feet of Jesus in our cities, towns and neighborhoods.  As love is put into action, there will be hope for the fatherless.

by Jay Mankus

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