Tag Archives: faith

Disconnected

Posted on February 25, 2013 by expressyourself4him

For a 5 day stretch from February 11th through February 15th, my cell phone became disconnected.  After applying for 5 jobs over 2 days, anyone who tried to contact my number was placed into a cyber black hole.  According to a telecommunications agent, when you switch from one cell phone carrier to another, your number goes into a virtual portal for usually 24 hours.  As soon as a previous carrier releases your old number, you can begin your new service contract.  Unfortunately, my number remained locked for nearly a week, crippling any hopes of receiving one of these new positions.

Cell phones, emails, Facebook and texting have become popular avenues to maintain daily contact with key individuals.  When these optional aren’t available, people like me panic, especially when one phone call or email is the difference between a new job and unemployment.  Yet, it could be worse.  You can also become disconnected from God.  Prayer becomes a few moments of talking to yourself, reading the Bible like trying to decipher a confusing new language and going to church develops into a meaningless ritual, hallow of any true intimacy with God.

The Bible is filled with examples of people and nations who were unplugged from God.  Moses once worked 18 hour days in Exodus 18:13, Achan’s sin hid God’s blessing from Israel in Joshua 7 and God became tired of Israel’s evil deeds in Isaiah 1:15-17.  Despite these temporary outages, God is only a confession away from reconnecting your service.  Therefore, follow the directions in James 5:13-16 and you can get back online today.  Faith is just a phone call away!

by Jay Mankus

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Extreme Soul Makeover

Posted on February 22, 2013 by expressyourself4him

 

For the past decade, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition served as a shining light in a dark and selfish world.  As one of the few family centered programs in prime time, this ABC hit show reached a broad audience through comedy, entertainment and music.  Ty Pennington, Paul DiMeo, Michael Moloney and Tracy Hutson made Extreme Makeover a Sunday night tradition for my family.  This reality program often touched my heart, brought tears to my eyes and made me proud to be an American.

Fading into the night on January 12th, 2012, this final episode is a reminder that all good things on earth come to an end.  Like a sheep without a shepherd, a new leader, group or ministry needs to replace this new void in society left by the end of this show.  While the cast and volunteers worked non-stop for one week to provide a new residence to a needy family or school, thousands more were passed over, still waiting for a helping hand and loving support.

 

If you want to make an eternal difference in life, Jesus reveals 3 essential conditions which must be met for an extreme soul makeover, Matthew 16:24.

1. Deny yourself by becoming a selfless servant, meeting the needs of the people whom you come into contact with on a daily basis.

2. Pick up Jesus’ cross by owning your faith, dedicating your life to God.  Unless you become born again, you cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven, John 3:3.

3. Follow Jesus by walking in his footsteps, Matthew 20:27-28.  While what would Jesus do is cliche, its a starting point that leads toward a Galatians 5:25 mentality.

If you are thinking twice about this makeover, listen to Jesus’ warning in Matthew 16:26.

“What good will it be for a man (or woman) if they gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?  Or what can a (person) give in exchange for their soul?”

May the words of the Bible, instill faith from within, Romans 10:17, to undergo this life changing procedure.  Sign up today, Romans 10:9-10!

by Jay Mankus

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The Fireproof Test

Posted on February 19, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Part of any firefighting school involves a basic review of the 4 stages of fire.  Beginning with incipient, fires grow until fully developed, eventually decaying over time due to a lack of energy.  A fire needs 3 components to form: an ignition source, oxygen and a fuel source.  Sparks trigger the initial flame, but the classification of each fire depends upon the amount of fuel which is available and degree of oxygen inside.

From a spiritual point of view, Christians have another test to determine their condition.  As kindling begins to catch, a lukewarm fire is born.  If consistently maintained, a fire can blossom into poppers, bursting out of comfort zones, consuming any liquid or sap within wood.  Once mature, raging fires blaze, spreading from person to person, as new logs are added.  However, if not properly supervised, fires can burn outsiders and lead to flickering embers, prior to dying out.

The Bible contains 3 elements which magnify the amount of spiritual heat a person gives off.  First, one must ask, have you seen the light of God’s Word, Acts 9:1-2, while hearing or reading the Bible?  Second, have you received the life of God’s Spirit, Acts 9:17, ignited and filled by the power of the Holy Spirit?  Finally, have you been compelled to display the love of Jesus, Acts 9:20-22, by sharing your testimony with a person?  This assessment, The Fireproof Test, seeks to ascertain whether or not your faith is on fire.  If your soul is not consumed by a raging fire, may you see the light, rise to new heights and flourish with God’s might!

by Jay Mankus

ps – The inspiration for this blog came after listening to a sermon from James Merritt, founder of Touching Lives, a ministry on TBN.  For music lovers, U2’s The Unforgettable Fire album contains several songs to ignite your journey.

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The Eraser

Posted on February 18, 2013 by expressyourself4him

On the surface, a small piece of rubber, either red or white in appearance, seems rather inconspicuous.  Like tiny bread crumbs, these particles are designed to void any mistake made by a lead pencil.  While somewhat flawed, if used properly, the eraser can make imperfections disappear.

As technology continues to improve, the eraser is on the verge of becoming an endangered species.  Since the invention of personal computers led to the extinction of type writers, white out threatens to replace erasers.  With the goal of paperless schools on the horizon, environmentalist seek to save trees, not concerned if or when erasers will be phased out.

From a spiritual sense, there is only One true Eraser.  This eraser is as white as snow, spotless and pure, without any blemishes.  Unlike the typical eraser that darkens with use, this Eraser remains shiny and new year round.  Therefore, if you’re tired of messing up, making mistakes and ruining the body of your paper, keep your head up.  As far as the East is from the West, this is how far God is willing to go to erase the sins from your life, Psalm 103:11-12.

by Jay Mankus

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Supersize Your Faith

Posted on February 14, 2013 by expressyourself4him

In the 2004 documentary film Supersize Me, Morgan Spurlock wanted to know how eating 3 meals a day at McDonald’s for 30 consecutive days would impact his body.  Thus, from February 1st thru March 2nd, Morgan ate every item on the menu at least once.  The 32 year old gained nearly 25 pounds in one month, consuming 5,000 calories on average per day.  As a result, McDonald’s no longer has a Supersize Value Meal and state governments are creating legislation to eliminate soft drinks larger than 16 ounces.  While local officials are trying to attack my 7Eleven Big Gulp, I would rather supersize my faith than my body.

In the Greek, there are 2 words used to describe time: kronis and kairos.  Kronis refers to when someone asks or wants to know the exact time.  Kairos means a specific place; a special moment in time.  Mark 1:15-16 contains a quote from Jesus, “The time has come, he said.  The kingdom of God is near.  Repent and believe the good news!”  The context of the term repent is like making a u-turn away from sin, back toward God.  Jesus wants people to change their diets so you make reach the future God has for you, Jeremiah 29:11.  In view of this, I want to propose the Supersize Your Faith Challenge.

Beginning March 1st, 2013 thru March 30th, 2013, I invite you to take a leap of faith.  I am urging all who are interested to try 3 spiritual disciplines for 30 days.  The first is reading 3 chapters of the Bible per day, 90 total.  To remember what you read, keep a notebook of any Insight you receive, Question you have and Actions you can take daily.  I will post any question you may have and try to answer it or seek another scholar to satisfy your request.

Second, I want everyone who participates to create a separate prayer journal for the month of March.  I am asking everyone to spend 30 minutes per day total, writing down prayers and praying.  To stay on task, start with any Petition you want to ask God for, then move on to Repenting any sin of action or inaction, followed by words of Adoration, thanking God for completely forgiving you and end with Your own concerns.  This usually consists of personal, family, school, work, neighborhood and church requests.  Feel free to add whatever the Holy Spirit puts on your heart.

Finally, the last piece of this challenge involves getting plugged into a local church.  Depending upon the size and scope of a church, you may want to join a weekly Accountability, Bible Study, Prayer or Sunday School Group.  Besides the obvious, attending church, reach out to people who look lost, aren’t connected or appear to be having a bad day.  Like Philip in Acts 8, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes during the 30 days of March to become the hands, feet and body of Christ!  The time is now, kairos, to consider accepting the Supersize Challenge!

by Jay Mankus

Please notify me if you are willing to embrace this adventure.

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Flush

Posted on February 9, 2013 by expressyourself4him

The word flush has numerous meanings depending upon its context.  For a poker player, a Royal Flush can’t be beat.  In the Men in Black movies, flush refers to an emergency escape route.  On the other hand, nutrients in water purify internal organs from chemicals, flushing impurities from the human body.  Meanwhile, if you aren’t feeling well, you might become flush in the face, reddening your complexion.  However, for me, there are certain days, weeks, months or years, I feel like flushing down the toilet!

As I endured another sleepless night, the image of the secondary definition for flush kept spinning through my mind.  I guess this is a sign of God wanting me to cleanse, dispose and purge all that is negative from my memory.  According to Proverbs 30:12, purity is not reached until filth is removed from your life.  In John 3:2-9, Jesus asks Nicodemus to flush everything he has been taught by man and replace it with a new concept.  This conversion, new birth and spiritual creation was too foreign for Nicodemus to grasp.  Thus, he stopped talking, becoming a listener, trying to absorb this new teaching, like Bounty Towels, the quicker picker upper.

 

Unfortunately, there might be decisions, experiences and images that you can’t seem to flush completely down the toilet.  Plungers may help with some issues, yet others may require a call to Roto Rooter to spiritually clear the plumbing within your temple.  The author of Hebrews probably addresses this better than anyone I have ever heard.  “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood,”Hebrews 12:4.  Therefore, hang in there, Galatians 6:9, keep fighting, 1 Timothy 6:12 and flush sin from your life, Romans 13:13-14.

by Jay Mankus

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Don’t Fool Yourself

Posted on February 7, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Hebrews 4:12 refers to the Bible as containing living and active words.  This unique characteristic sets the Bible apart from all other books ever written.  Ranked as one of the top selling books annually, the Bible has become the greatest seller of all time.  However, when you open this book to read it, don’t fool yourself like a narcissist by thinking you are better than you actually are.

When I opened Proverbs 26 today, God gave me a revelation, new insight to what King Solomon is trying to communicate to readers.  Solomon devotes this particular chapter to qualities of a fool.  Like a Litness Test to assess your degree of foolishness, chapter 26 contains over 20 traits of a fool.  Though you may rate yourself low, similar to a golfer who is under par, Romans 3:23 suggest everyone possesses at least one of these foolish attributes.

The apostle Paul gives new meaning to the term fool in the New Testament.  In his epistle to the educated citizens of Corinth, Paul makes being a fool not so bad.  According to 1 Corinthians 1:18-2:16, wisdom does not come from schooling, which encourages students to trust in themselves.  Rather, wisdom is obtained through the power of the Holy Spirit, leading one to put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus.  While the world will continue to emphasize intelligence, becoming a fool for Christ will have the last laugh.  Therefore, don’t be a fool by following Jesus, – 1 Corinthians 1:27-31.

by Jay Mankus

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Spiritual Mulligans

Posted on January 14, 2013 by expressyourself4him

According to the United States Golf Association Museum, the term mulligan originated from one of 3 potential sources.  David Mulligan, a regular at St. Lambert Country Club in Montreal, Quebec didn’t like his tee shot on the first hole one day so he re-teed trying to correct the mistake on his first swing.  While he called his second tee ball a correction, his playing partners dubbed this shot a “mulligan.”  Meanwhile, John “Buddy” Mulligan was a member of Essex Fells Country Club in New Jersey.  Developing a reputation for replaying poor shots, some claim this term was founded by Buddy himself.  Finally, since Mulligan was a common last name of Irish immigrants, others believe this term initiated from an Irish golfer playing somewhere in the Northeastern part of America in the early 1900’s.  Whoever coined this phrase, a mulligan is another name for a do-over, a second chance at redemption.

During his 2 terms as President from 1993-2001, Bill Clinton became an avid golfer.  This love for the game of golf has led Bill to Host the Humana Challenge, this week’s PGA tour stop beginning January 17th-20th in La Quinta, California, formerly known as the Bob Hope Desert Classic.  President Clinton is also passionate about mulligans, something he often abused during his rounds of golf as president.  In fact, some of his playing partners over the years of his presidency began to rename mulligans Clintons.  Today, golf fundraisers all across America use a scramble format, allowing participants a chance to purchase mulligans so that their team score might have a better chance of winning the grand prize.  Whatever the final result, mulligans make the game of golf much more enjoyable for the average amateur golfer.

The prophet Jeremiah eludes to mulligans in Lamentations 3:22-23.  However, in this context he is referring to a spiritual mulligan.  Although you may have a bad day, either failing and or sinning, God wipes your slate clean every morning.  Like resetting a video game after getting off to a poor start, God is able to erase any bad shot or sin from His memory, Psalm 103:11-12.  Hollywood’s version of mulligans is demonstrated by Bill Murray in Groundhog Day as he kept reliving the same day over and over until he got it right.  Unfortunately for human beings, the Bible tells us we will never get it right according to Romans 3:22-23.  Yet, like the words of Jeremiah, the apostle Paul reminds mankind that Jesus became our bad shots in life, our sin, so that we might have a chance at redemption, Romans 3;24-26.  Placing your faith in Jesus is the only way to obtain a spiritual mulligan, Matthew 16:25-27.

by Jay Mankus

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The Mystery of Fear

Posted on January 13, 2013 by expressyourself4him

As a child, nightmares blanketed my thoughts as I tried to outrun Bigfoot throughout my neighborhood, escape the Boogie Man who was underneath my bed or reenact a scene from a Creature Double Feature that I had watched earlier in the day.  While awake, I became afraid of heights after visiting the Empire State Building and snakes during a few close calls where snakes slithered between my legs while cutting the grass in my backyard.  Adolescence brought with it a fear of rejection, especially by girls that added to my already fragile psyche.  Never did I once challenge fear; instead I ran away like a little girl, awestruck by this mystery.

Catholic hymns like Be Not Afraid conveyed a little hope to my soul, exposing this unnatural emotion.  In addition, hearing priests read from Proverbs and Psalms from the Bible produced a sense of peace to ease any remaining anxieties of fear.  Yet, in high school I wasn’t mature enough to ask intelligent theological questions.  On the other hand, the busyness of college prevented me from contemplating the unsolved mystery of fear.  The timing was not right for me to tackle this subject, put on hold for another time down the road toward Elm Street.

Like a scene from Back to the Future, God revealed the answer I was searching for as I opened up Proverbs 1.  According to Solomon, unlocking wisdom in life starts with a reverent fear of God.  The spirit of fear on earth uses apprehension, panic and trepidation to form a constant state of worry.  Biblical fear is the key for attaining the cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, justice and fortitude, Proverbs 1:1-7.  These qualities are available to anyone according to C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity.  However, this is only half the mystery.

The missing link and final piece of the puzzle is found in 1 John 4:18.  According to John, the disciple whom Jesus loved as a son, proclaims “perfect love drives out fear.”  The only obstacle to obtaining perfect love is sin.  C.S. Lewis states in his chapter entitled Theological Virtues, access is limited to just Christians.  This love comes from the power of the Holy Spirit mentioned in 2 Peter 1:3-4.  Therefore, if anyone seeks charity, hope and faith, you must come to Jesus, 1 Timothy 2:5.  The apostle Paul’s words in Philippians 4:4-7 gives a glimpse of what one can expect when the Holy Spirit helps you conquer the mystery of fear.  “Be Not Afraid!”

by Jay Mankus

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Polar Opposites

Posted on December 28, 2012 by expressyourself4him

When you travel the country like I did during the 1990’s, you become exposed to various cultures, expressions and traditions.  As I pursued my dreams by following my heart, God led me to nearly one hundred different churches that I attended here and there.  One met in a house, another in a barn, some met in gymnasiums and schools and the most impressive had its own little city.  However, what I soon discovered, their biblical messages were polar opposites.

On one extreme, I heard remnants from the Fire and Brimstone sermons of the 1970’s.  These churches still believed that all dancing and music was from the devil.  Pastor’s preached about burning any idol from your past, severing relationships with all non-Christians and do everything humanly possible to escape the gates of hell.  This view of the Bible eliminates personality and the ability an outgoing person can have on reaching out to lost souls like the apostle Paul in the book of Acts.  Meanwhile, this perspective emphasizes the Old Testament nature of God’s judgment by diminishing the love of Jesus in the New Testament.  In a sense, this is just one side of the story.

On the other side of the aisle, I was introduced to the prosperity gospel.  This theological position merely stresses the positives of God, neglecting any reference to failure, setback or trial.  I quickly found that this rosey picture of life professed by pastors from their pulpits did not exist in my world.  When I gave money in the offering plate, I didn’t receive back one hundred or one thousand fold like a few television evangelist promised.  In addition, their altar call message, “just come to Jesus and everything will go well for you” was hallow.  It’s no wonder that when Ghandi was alive he once said, “I like your Christ, but I don’t like your Christians.”

Unfortunately, these 2 polar opposites miss the mark of properly explaining the message of the gospel.  This good news or good tidings, depending upon your translation of the Bible, can be condensed by a few verses like Romans 5:8.  The baby Jesus fulfilled His purpose by dying for sinners.  John 3:16 provides the answer to how people should respond to Jesus’ sacrifice.  Finally, Galatians 5:6 narrows down life to own thing, “faith expressing itself through the love of Jesus.”  As you travel down the bumpy road called life, test everything you hear in church with the Bible, 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 so that you can stay along the Equator, in the center of God’s will!

by Jay Mankus

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