Tag Archives: fighting addictions

Release Me

After Washington DC, New York and Los Angeles are destroyed by alien space craft in the 1996 movie Independence Day, the president, a few close advisers and another family escape on Air Force One.  Like president Bush on 9/11/01, this president, played by Bill Pullman, search for a safe destination to land.  When Judd Hirsch inadvertently interrupts a staff meeting, his beliefs uncover the truth about Area 51, resulting in a visit to this previously unknown bunker under the desert.  Once Will Smith arrives with an alien whose plane crash landed, the president has his first close encounter shown in the clip above.

The term release means to allow or enable someone to escape.  When an individual or something is imprisoned like this alien, their end goal is to be set free from confinement.  However, when you reason with an alien, demon or evil person, you are unleashing supernatural powers.  Whenever a nation makes a peace treaty with a terrorist or the justice system lets a serial criminal out on parole, the same sinful pattern often continues, returning to the scene of the crime.  This is why Jesus modeled praying to his disciples during his 3 year ministry, displaying how prayer can release souls from the schemes of the devil, Matthew 21:21-22.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUk-CNc3s3Q

Time is an enemy for most citizens of the earth.  Sometimes I feel as if I am always behind, trying to catch up on life, leaving little or no time for prayer.  Instead of concentrating on God the Father like Jesus does in the youtube above, I am distracted by my surroundings.  Thus, I spend more time worrying than I do asking God to release me from the burdens on my heart, Matthew 11:28-30.  Its no wonder than many Christian and seekers of God spend so much of their lives in bondage, addicted and paralyzed by sinful habits.  If you tried everything else without any progress, cry out to God today, relying on His power to release you from the temptations holding you down.

by Jay Mankus

Escaping the Ghosts of Christmas Past

Scrooged Poster

Movies like Elf, Home Alone, A Wonderful Life and Miracle of 34th Street have become an annual Christmas tradition for many American families.  While some people have become dependent on these movies to get them into the Christmas spirit, there is another classic which reveals a painful truth.  While fiction, Billy Murray’s version of Scrooged illuminates the fact that everyone has skeletons, ghosts of Christmas past.

Prior to 2012, I spent the previous 10 years in a bubble as a Christian school teacher, insulated from most of the temptations of this world.  Although not perfect, cursing was minimal, most of my interactions with parents were civil and I shared similar values with my co-workers.  Like the apostle Paul on his visit to Athens in Acts 17:16, 2012 has opened my eyes to the idols in our culture.  These images bring me back to my life prior to knowing Jesus, attractive to things like Music Television, R-rated movies and anything sports related.  These skeletons can haunt you, brought up by Satan just as ghosts haunted Billy Murray in Scrooged.

When attacked by these old desires, you have to flee or else ruin will follow, James 4:7.  This escape is not complete until God cleanses your heart and mind, James 4:8.  As you wrestle with your past, things like bad habits, past addictions, ungodly beliefs and soul spirit hurts, read passages like Galatians 2:20 and Philippians 1:21 to keep you on track.  These biblical truths should refresh minds of your new identity in Christ.  I can’t guarantee victory 100 % of the time, but I do hold fast to the promise of Romans 8:38-39 to insure success in the end.  If you run with a Hebrews 12:1-3 attitude, you should be able to escape the ghosts of your past!

by Jay Mankus