Tag Archives: faith

To the Next Generation

Posted on June 14, 2014 by expressyourself4him

When I was your age, I had to walk to school both ways up hill.  This mantra is repeated to each new generation, worded slightly different to drive home the point, “you have it so much easier than I did.”   Whether this is exaggerated, somewhat true or simply a ploy to illicit guilt, the next generation is waiting for a positive message.

A humble shepherd understood this concept, passed over as an after thought by his own father, 1 Samuel 16:2-11.  If there is one lesson everyone can learn, don’t judge someone based upon their physical features, impressive or not.  Rather, the heart holds the key to greatness, 1 Samuel 16:7.  However, unless you speak from the heart, Luke 6:45, no one will know for sure who they should follow.

David verbalizes his beliefs in Psalm 71:14-18.  Recognizing that not everyone shares the same faith, the king felt led by God to express what his eyes have seen.  Instead of regurgitating the same old mantra, David was inspired to pass onto the next generation a message of hope.  Therefore, if you know the truth, don’t withhold this information.  Rather, boldly proclaim the marvelous acts of a risen Messiah to the next generation, 1 Corinthians 5:54-58.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Payne

Posted on June 11, 2014 by expressyourself4him

NBC in affiliation with the Golf Channel debuted their 1 hour special Payne Sunday June 8th, 2014 and reaired this on Monday to commemorate Payne Stewart’s last major golf championship, the 1999 United States Open Championship at Pine Hurst #2.  With Phil Mickelson seeking to win the career grand slam this year at the place where Payne outdeuled him by 1 shot, the timing makes perfect sense.  However, on October 25th, 1999, the world had a different kind of chase, watching cable news networks all day to locate a Leer jet which lost cable pressure shortly after take off, drifting way off course as fighter jets began to follow it.  Winning the P.G.A. Championship on my birthday while in college, I remember this fateful day like it was yesterday as sports lost one of its greatest characters.

Clips  from Payne’s funeral was aired and replayed by the Golf Channel, with many of golf’s greatest players in the attendance, most notably a young Tiger Woods.  Speeches by Paul Azinger and Tracy Stewart his wife, inspired a 2 hour special in 1999, moving most who saw it to tears.  Like a classic movie, I think I watched this original tribute to Payne a half dozen times, eventually leading me to name my second son, Daniel Payne.  In my humble opinion, this second attempt to portray the real Payne Stewart cut and edited out whom became in his final years on earth.

Sure, to captivate an audience, its important to share Payne’s initial years as a brash individual who was immature and at times a jerk.  Clearly explaining Payne’s father influence on his attire, knickers and flare for the game was also beneficial.  Nonetheless, the editors purged Payne’s faith from this film, replacing in with religion.  This sort of revisionist history is disingenuous to those whose closely followed Payne’s transformation from a sinner to a saint.  The NEA may be able to get away with changing history to coincide with its own worldview in modern text books, but the spiritual legacy Payne Stewart has left behind is inspiring me to seek out and attain the abundant life Payne found, John 10:10.  May all who search, find, peace, joy and love before breathing their last breathe, 1 Corinthians 13:13.

by Jay Mankus

 

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The Source of Confidence

Posted on June 8, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Credence, self-assurance and trust are all words synonymous with confidence.  Whether you’re an individual, duo or team, confidence leads people to rely on their partner and or talents.  However, when success is allusive, levels of belief tend to diminish, fade and shrink.

According to Psalm 71:5, the Lord is the source of confidence.  When your own confidence becomes shattered, God puts the hope back into desperate souls.  Whether this is David or some other author, its apparent faith begins at an early age.  This seems to be a principle passed onto King Solomon, mentioned in Proverbs 22:6.  Thus, confidence is taught, trained by godly mentors so that a biblical foundation is established.

Today, imperfect people make it hard to trust anyone.  The danger of placing someone in high regards takes your eyes off of the Creator, gazing your eyes toward a flawed creation.  Don’t allow yourself to fall into this trap.  When your life begins to fall apart, lean on the Lord, Philippians 4:13, to be your source of strength to regain confidence.

by Jay Mankus

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Traffic Jam

Posted on May 27, 2014 by expressyourself4him

In August of 2010, one of the worst traffic jams on earth took place.  According to Forbes Magazine, the Beijing-Tibet Expressway came to a standstill as traffic backed up for 62 miles.  This nightmare scenario lasted 12 days until the gridlock ended.  As summer vacationers crammed onto this highway, too many cars entered without any place to exit, resulting in an epic battle of patience.

Whether its Memorial Day, Labor Day or Thanksgiving Weekend, traffic is one of those things you can’t avoid.  Sure you can plan ahead, using GPS to find alternate routes, but when roads are packed there is usually no where to go.  As a former resident of Chicago, traffic jams are a daily occurrence extending your commute by 1-2 hours regularly.  When I worked at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, I left home 2 hours prior to my shift.  I took a book to read in case I was early, yet nearly every morning I arrived just in a nick of time.

From a spiritual perspective, traffic jams occur for multiple reasons.  Sometimes, individuals need to slow down, take a deep breathe and embrace God’s creation, Psalm 46:10.  On other occasions, God wants to divert people in a different direction, away from harm and temptation, Galatians 5:16-18.  Meanwhile, dead ends and roadblocks serve as supernatural vehicles to bring about God’s will, Proverbs 19:21.  Therefore, the next time you find yourself in a traffic jam, ask the Lord to provide faith, perseverance and maturity until the roadway is clear, James 1:2-4.

Feel free to share the worst traffic jam you’ve been stuck in.

by Jay Mankus

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Making A Clear Distinction

Posted on May 10, 2014 by expressyourself4him

In a world of diminishing absolutes, making a clear distinction between right and wrong isn’t what it use to be.  Shades of grey have entered the equation, leaving the truth uncertain.  To erase this confusion, one must shine the light of the Bible on this matter to distinguish the moral from immoral.

History reveals this struggle is nothing new as periods in time are filled with examples of people who blended in like chameleons, hiding their faith from society.  This pattern led Moses to challenge Israel to make a clear distinction between holiness and common citizens in Leviticus 10:10-11.  This lesson from the past should challenge us to examine our own lives to ascertain where do you stand?

When you’re feeling good about yourself, pride will lead you to hold a higher view than your actions actually display.  On the other hand, when your day of humility comes, you might feel like the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15.  Despite the good and bad that you do, Jesus still wants believers to shine their light, Matthew 5:13.  Like the childhood song proclaims, don’t hide your light anymore, make a clear distinction today by imitating God, Ephesians 5:1-4.

by Jay Mankus

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The Anguish of Disobedience

Posted on May 5, 2014 by expressyourself4him

One of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do was to consul a shaken mother the day after her son died in a car accident.  According to friends in attendance at a party, he only had one beer before leaving.  Impaired slightly, this young man couldn’t negotiate the bend on a countryside road, striking a tree head on, dead on arrival to the nearest hospital.  My sense is this woman wanted me to assure her that her son was doing well in heaven.  Since this boy was missing in action from youth group without any apparent faith, the anguish of her son’s disobedience on earth stirred in her soul.

According to Leviticus 10:1-3, Aaron endured similar trauma, sitting in stunned silence after his 2 oldest sons died suddenly.  Not the greatest role model, Aaron’s greatest claim to fame or should I say shame was creating a golden calf, Exodus 32:2-4.  Perhaps their father’s hypocrisy encouraged Nadab and Abihu to turn a deaf ear to his instructions.  Instead of carefully obeying the words God relayed to Moses, Aaron’s 2 sons began to experiment like 2 curious boys in a chemistry lab.  Subsequently, the pain of disobedience cost Nadab and Abihu their life.

Whether its a suicide note left behind for a family, the dairies of a troubled school shooter or victims of drunk driving, the anguish of disobedience is on display daily.  The free will of one individual’s action has been felt by several members of society.  People are left to wonder what might have been if one out of control human being didn’t cut short the life of their loved one.  May the words of Psalm 34:18 provide some comfort this day for anyone still coping with the anguish of disobedience.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Before God’s Presence Appears

Posted on May 4, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Most Americans have become spoiled, expecting a response at the snap of their fingers.  Subsequently, when people go out to eat, go to a show or make a significant purchase, they want perfection.  When disappointed by a product or service, heads will roll and reputations will be harmed if these individuals don’t get their way.  If this is how a growing number of citizens are responding, its no wonder God is waiting to appear until faith and actions coexist.

The book of Leviticus consists of a conversation God had with Moses while on Mount Sinai in Exodus.  As I recently read through Leviticus, a pattern forms throughout the first 8 chapters, “God said to Moses.”  Following these instructions, Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord told Moses.  However, it wasn’t until Leviticus 9:4 before God’s presence appears before Israel.  Thus, this passage suggests God is waiting for his children to carefully follow the Bible’s commands prior to being accompanied by blessings, Deuteronomy 28:2.

While some may say, “what are you waiting for,” others are trying to twist the Bible to conform to their own beliefs.  As for me, a lack of results makes the obvious seem clear once again, “be doers of the word, not just hearers,” Matthew 7:24-27.  Once I realign my priorities to Matthew 6:33, God promises to provide for my daily needs.  Therefore, if you are hungry and thirsty to experience God’s presence, listen to words of Jesus like Aaron followed Moses.

Let us know when you’ve encountered God’s presence.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Elijah’s Blueprint

Posted on May 3, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Engineer’s rely on designs, diagrams and models to implement plans on construction projects.  Multi-level business schemes use similar blueprints to influence individuals to buy into their concept.  When someone follows the directions step by step, there is an inherit expectation of riches, success or both.  As for Elijah the prophet, he looked into the past, believing God could repeat a similar feat in his life time.

According to Leviticus 9:24, as soon as Aaron followed the directions given to him from Moses via God, the Lord sent fire from heaven consuming the offering on the altar.  Sound familiar?  Perhaps, this is Elijah’s blueprint, the place where he read and believed God would repeat this historic act.  I often wondered where his confidence came from and this passage suggests Elijah prepared his sacrifice just as Aaron and his sons followed Moses’ commands.

Understanding the past, makes the miracle in 1 Kings 18:38 that much more believable today.  If you carefully follow and obey God’s commands, blessings will follow, Deuteronomy 28:1-2.  Its as if Elijah, followed a playbook in 1 Kings 18:30-37, grasping Jesus’ promise in Matthew 21:21-22, fully expecting God to repeat this previous miracle after his prayer.  Sometime between Elijah’s Blueprint and Jesus’ promise, modern believers will find a living, loving God ready to unveil the next miracle on earth.

Has God done any miracles in your life?

by Jay Mankus

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Be Careful What You Long For

Posted on May 2, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Based upon recent jaw dropping news from Florida, I guess you can say Van Halen’s 1984 song Hot for Teacher was ahead of its time.  According to a report from Lakeland Police, a 29 year old English teacher has been fired for having sex with 3 boys who were all 17 at the time.  While David Lee Roth initially sang this song as a dream, this fantasy has become reality in too many communities across the country.

The Bible warns readers about the dangers of temptation in James 1:13-15.  When an individual begins to long for something outside of God’s will, your mind loses its ability to think rationally.  Once enticed, humans become like fish unable to turn down Satan’s bait.  Subsequently, lust prompts people to engage in sin like the April 14, 2014 piece in the Lakeland Ledger.

No one is immune to this desire.  If you place yourself into a precarious position, sooner or later you are going to fall, indulging in acts that you log for.  Teenagers who think their faith is strong are often overwhelmed by college, succumbing to alcohol, drugs and rejecting God until its convenient to come back to church.  Perhaps, the apostle Paul’s words in 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 are a firm warning to anyone on the fence.  Be careful what you long for because bad company corrupts good character, no matter what your intentions may be.

What do you think about the current moral decay across the country?

by Jay Mankus

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The Fortification of Faith

Posted on April 21, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Peace has always been temporary throughout the course of history.  Subsequently, cities created ramparts, defensive walls to protect their citizens from potential enemies.  Thus, the only way to enter certain regions was through gates, strategically located around city walls.  Although this fortification system was not perfect, gate keepers could warn city officials if aggressors were approaching on the horizon.

During the Roman Empire, soldiers were responsible for defending a 6 feet by 6 feet area, to prevent attackers from breaking the line of defense.  At their disposal, these men possessed a large shield coated with a non-flammable liquid which extinguished flaming arrows shot by enemy troops.  The apostle Paul compared this weapon to a shield of faith, Ephesians 6:16.  When overwhelmed by incoming fire, a solider could entrench themselves under this shield until help arrived.

Unfortunately, faith can be a mystery, especially if your prayers aren’t answered or help never comes.  According to 1 Peter 5:8, the devil uses discouragement to lure depressed souls away from church.  If depression leads to disenchantment, doubting the existence of God,  the fortification of faith can be destroyed, Hebrews 10:26-27.  In this age of suffering, its important to arm yourself with the right weapons, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.  Despite where you are on the spectrum of faith, its time to fortify yourself with the armor of God, Ephesians 6:10-18.

What advice can you share to help anyone currently struggling with their faith.  People are waiting for your suggestions.

by Jay Mankus

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