Tag Archives: faith

Video of the Day: Trailer from the 2007 movie “Welcome to Paradise”

Bible Verse of the Day:

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷ These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸ Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹ for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls, 1 Peter 1:6-9.

Biblical Connection:

I started attending a Methodist youth group during my junior year of high school. In the years that followed, I joined my first church in college and became friends with individuals who went on to be pastors in the Methodist Church. Like the character of Reverend Debbie Laramie in Welcome to Paradise, pastors regularly were moved from church to church, often without much notice. Subsequently, when Debbie, Crystal Bernard, is forced to move to a small remote town, her vision for Paradise Church is delayed until a fire brings this church community together.

Peter, one of the members of Jesus’ inner circle, isn’t referring to a physical fire inside a building. Rather, Peter compares fire to a spiritual refining process that Christians must go through. Unlike prosperity preachers who proclaim that your life will be filled with blessings once you become a Christian, this is far from reality. Instead, life consists of a serious of trials designed to test and refine your faith. Like the words of Jesus’ earthly brother, these unscheduled events come without warning, teaching character, maturity and perseverance to all who endure this pain, James 1:2-4.

Closing Song:

If you feel like your world is melting this month, reach out to the hand of Jesus who will walk by your side. Like the words of the famous poem Footprints, God will be right there without you all the way.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2005 movie “Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”

Bible Verse of the Day:

And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. ¹³ For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. ¹⁴ And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. ¹⁵ It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve, 2 Corinthians 11:12-15.

Biblical Connection:

Author C.S. Lewis crafted a series of books from 1950-1956 which were made into a film in 2005. Lewis uses biblical symbolism to illustrate specific character traits that you may experience in real life. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe reveal that first impressions maybe masked with impure motives. The White Witch starts off like a magical genie granting Edmund’s requests, but as this conversation continues her wicked intentions rise to the surface.

Edmund was too hungry and thirsty to notice the White Witch’s sinister plan. As the youngest brother, overshadowed by his older two siblings, the Witch used this for her own advantage. Peter’s second visit to see the White Witch wasn’t pleasant, no longer an angel in disguise. The apostle Paul warns the Church at Corinth of ongoing spiritual attacks. Unfortunately, some church members walked in the footsteps of Edmund, deceived by followers of Satan.

Closing Song:

There was an old saying that I was introduced to in college. Parking yourself in a garage doesn’t make you a car. In the same manner, simply attending church doesn’t make you a Christian. Jesus doesn’t want worshippers of a religion. Rather, God desires a personal relationship, Romans 10:9-11. This relationship helps shine light on imitators of faith with impure motives.

by Jay Mankus

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