Tag Archives: deja vu

Again, Again and Again

Again refers to once more or another time. Meanwhile, déjà vu is a feeling that one has seen or heard something before. This occurs as an illusion of remembering scenes and events when you experience it. If you’ve ever felt this sensation, it’s like your mind is playing tricks on you. If a series of bad luck comes your way, happening over and over again, most people begin to wonder, “why is this happening to me?”

Because it was our will to come to you. [I mean that] I, Paul, again and again [wanted to come], but Satan hindered and impeded us, 1 Thessalonians 2:18.

Humans beings tend to look for patterns in random data as a way to extract order from disorder. This tendency was first identified by German scientist Klaus Conrad. While studying people suffering from the onset of schizophrenia in 1958, Conrad described this condition as apophenia. Whatever you want to call this perception of how certain events are linked or tied together, when you hit a rough patch in life it’s hard to keep fighting through adversity.

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour, 1 Peter 5:7-8.

After repeated failed attempts to visit the Church at Thessalonica, the apostle Paul didn’t have to speculate. Due to his years in ministry, Paul didn’t need a Saturday Night Live skit to recognize Satan’s schemes, Ephesians 6:10-12. Meanwhile, one of Jesus’ disciples refers to the Devil as a predator waiting for a weak individual to pounce upon. If what is happening to you doesn’t make any sense, it’s time to turn to prayer again, again and again to find answers.

by Jay Mankus

Starter Fluid

A few year’s ago, I was unable to get my aging push mower to start in the spring.  Initially, I went out and bought a cheap reel mover as a substitute, my earth day contribution.  However, after a conversation with a neighbor, he suggested an old mechanic trick, spraying starter fluid into the carburetor.  After the second pull, my mower was brought back to life.

This year I experienced deja-vu, except my supply of starter fluid had run out.  To my amazement, everywhere I looked to purchase a replacement came up empty.  With the sun about to set today, I was left with one remaining option.  As I bent down to prime the gas pump one final time, I said a simple prayer in my head, “Lord, only you can start this machine!”  As soon as I got back onto my feet, I gave a quick pull and the purr of the engine startled me.

Unfortunately, prayer often is left as a last resort for many.  God is waiting to do a miracle in our lives, but most given up hope that God can or will.  Wherever you are or whatever you are going through, rely on the eternal starter fluid, the Holy Spirit to jump start your day.  Matthew 21:21-22 reveals a promise from Jesus that prayer can move obstacles or any mountain that stands in your way.  Believe!

by Jay Mankus

Deja Vu

This morning I awoke to an awkward feeling’, like I am reliving 2001 all over again.  Unlike Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, my life has become synonymous with the classic Yes song Roundabout written by Jon Anderson and Steven James Howe.  Instead of going on vacation to a lake in the mountains, I have completed a 12 year cycle which has brought me back to where I was in 2001.

The eerie sensation known as deja vu has been attributed to the paranormal, neurological disorders and our own understanding of human recognition memory.  From a psychological perspective, the brain fluctuates between 2 different types of recognition memory: recollection and familiarity.  When our mind processes the here and now, it can trigger emotions from previous times in our past, identical or similar to what we are currently undergoing.  Thereby, producing the phenomena deja vu.

I believe people are born to do certain occupations and professions in life before they die.  Like Doc Graham in the movie Field of Dreams, if he decided to play professional baseball his entire life, he would have never impacted people like he did as a doctor.  In the same way, God has made it painfully clear in 2012 that God has designed me to be a teacher.  The events of 9/1/01 paved the way for me to become a Bible teacher for a decade.  Now I am waiting to be rescued from a pile of debt, shattered dreams and a wounded heart.

Emergency workers, fighter fighters and police who laid down their lives on that  fateful day, ran into the World Trade Center as others were fleeing the scene to save as many people as humanly possible.  Likewise, as Jesus’ disciples tried to fight for his life in Matthew 26:51, Jesus surrendered, laying down his life as a ransom to pay for my sin, Matthew 20:28.  Although I may not be where I feel called at this moment in time, God can, has and will lead me to where I need to be.

by Jay Mankus