Tag Archives: Florida

A Begrudging Host

Posted on January 5, 2017 by expressyourself4him

As a son of an immigrant, I learned to be frugal.  My grandmother kept all of her beds and couches in their original plastic to preserve these pieces of furniture as long as possible.  Eating out was not a regular option, only done on special occasions a few times each year.  The notion of wasting money was a foreign concept to me.

Do not eat the food of a begrudging host, do not crave his delicacies; Proverbs 23:6.

Now as I parent, I have softened some of my childhood beliefs.  Yet, one of my biggest struggles occurs while on vacation.  After working hard to save enough money for Spring Break, a week in Florida can break the bank quickly.  Whether its taking the family to a Phillies game in Clearwater, going out to a nice restaurant or visiting an amusement park, it doesn’t take much to blow a quick $500.  When I do, I become a begrudging host.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding, Proverbs 3:5.

For the needy, poor and unemployed, knowing where the money will come from for your next bill, meal or mortgage is scary.  Any kind of uncertainty can move the unstable into a state of panic.  In view of this, its essential to remember the words of Solomon by placing your trust in a firm foundation.  Though not everyone will be blessed with riches, when you do have the opportunity to give, do so with a cheerful heart.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Clinging to an Invisible God

Posted on February 14, 2015 by expressyourself4him

Last week, a high school teacher in Florida gave an assignment to students, attempting to sway their worldview.  Using the newly developed Common Core curriculum, students had to explain why conservatives would believe giving to the poor is a waste of time.  This ploy to indoctrinate the minds of the next generation, outraged one parent who stood her ground.  However, as liberal ideology continues to highjack public education, parents who hold fast to Judeo-Christian values must cling to an invisible God.

I lift up my eyes to you, to you who sit enthroned in heaven, Psalm 123:1.

Sometimes, the practice of prayer can become mundane, stale for those who run out of words to say.  However, David reminds those who cling to an invisible God that prayer is a serious matter.  When you cry out to the heavens, you aren’t just talking to yourself.  Rather, you are entering the presence of a divine being, waiting for those whose hearts are right and appeal is filled with specific details.

When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures, James 4:3.

In recent world history, church leaders in Scotland developed the concept called a “Concert of Prayer” in 1744.  Presbyterian Pastor John Erskine, a Scot, published a Memorial, pleading with other denominations to join him in a prayer for revival.  When this plea reached Jonathon Edwards in New England, he responded with a book entitled A Humble Attempt to Promote Explicit Agreement and Visible Union of All God’s People in Extraordinary Prayer for the Revival of Religion and the Advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on earth pursuant to Scripture Promises and Prophecies concerning the Last Time.  While modern English teachers would consider this a run on sentence, this piece laid the foundation for America’s first revival.  Instead of watching a nation stray from God, stand up like this courageous mother in Florida by clinging to an invisible God with a heart expecting miracles to revive a dead and dying land.

by Jay Mankus

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Chef: Minus the Bleeps… Its a Snapshot of the American Dream

Posted on June 24, 2014 by expressyourself4him

From 1999 to early 2002, I was a golf critic, writing travel reviews for upscale golf facilities from Florida to the Jersey Shore.  During Major League Baseball’s Spring Training in Florida or on vacation with my family, I sought to lead visitors toward golf destinations which matched their income as well as enhance their stay.  Beyond the course, I wanted to help people have a good time without going broke.  In the process, I may have hurt the feelings of owners whose imperfections were exposed in the pieces I wrote.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hsh7zxUtI8

Over the weekend, I had flashbacks to these days while watching the movie Chef with my oldest son James, a high school junior concentrating on Culinary Arts.  Before agreeing to take him, I watched the trailer on you tube to see if it was worth my time and money.  Concerned by the rating, I warned my son going in to expect some bad language.  Instead, I felt like I was in the presence of a few co-workers over lunch, listening to one unedited bleep after the other.  Unfortunately, this has become the norm in many cultures, an accurate depiction of how people think out loud without any filter.

For those who can withstand the urge to tune out early or cover their ears, the last hour of Chef is a snapshot of the American Dream.  When a popular chef receives 2 stars by the most famous restaurant critic in America, his life is turned upside down.  Feeling suffocated by a controlling owner, Chef Carl Casper (played by Jon Favreau) quits, confronts his critic and humbles himself by becoming a nanny until he gets back on his feet.  If you’re not satisfied by the life you are currently living, watching Chef may prompt you to quit your job, do what you love and hopefully achieve the American Dream.  This film provides a blueprint of how maximizing technology can generate business for future entrepreneurs.  Minus the bleeps and beyond the laughter, Chef challenges individuals to re-examine who they are, where they excel and what job will provide for you the most joy in life, John 10:10.

Please share your thoughts on this film.

by Jay Mankus

 

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A Different Type of Refuge

Posted on May 20, 2014 by expressyourself4him

In 1903, President Teddy Roosevelt designated Florida’s Pelican Island as America’s first National Wildlife Refuge.  More than100 years later, 560 refuges exist nationwide encompassing more than 150 million acres of water and land.  Hollywood embraced this movement with their 1993 film the Pelican Brief starring Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts.  The People for the ethical treatment of animals continue this mission today, putting animals in front of the line, with human beings pushed to the side.

King David introduces a different type of refuge in Psalm 59:16.  Whenever David was having a bad day, he withdrew to a quiet place to seek God’s help through prayer.  Although David may not of seen results after he said Amen, a sense of peace filled his heart.  Despite the chaos surrounding him, the Lord’s presence provided hope to carry on.  Words like Psalm 63:6-8 recount a spiritual refuge, where humans can find rest for their souls.

With America’s economy still sputtering, its hard to forget about rising gas, groceries and living expenses.  While some may be prospering, many are searching for a place of refuge where hope, peace and relaxation are present.  Though manufactured for fish and wildlife, this doesn’t prevent predators from cutting short lives.  Therefore, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, exhausted by life’s trials, flee to a quiet place like Mark 1:35 to find a different type of refuge.

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4GtUfprqHk

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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America’s Dying Small Towns

Posted on April 26, 2014 by expressyourself4him

As I was driving to Florida for Spring Break with my family, I was reminded of a scene from the movie Cars.  Sally was cruisizing the countryside with Lightning McQueen when his eyes were opened to the beauty of Route 66.   Awestruck, Lightning asks Sally why he’s never heard of this place.  Unfortunately, the completion of Interstate 40 bypassed this scenic overlook to save 10 minutes of driving time.  Thus, the same story holds true for many small towns in America, on the verge of extinction.

While searching for a place to eat, fuel and rest for the night, I stumbled upon several vacant towns along I 95.  Hotels were boarded up, gas stations closed and the majority of folks abandoned these once bustling areas.  If vacations don’t stop citizens from slowing down to enjoy God’s creation, Psalm 46:10, several small towns will be forgotten, fading away from our memories.  My wife’s words cut like a knife, “how can a hotel survive with only a few cars in the parking lot?”  She answered her own question; they can’t!

When I return home tomorrow, I will bring a new appreciation for the back roads of America, trying to support mom and pop businesses as much as I can.  By doing so, you are keeping alive someone’s dream as you savor a moment in time.  Life is too precious to be in hurry, rush through traffic or snarf down another meal.  May you and I remember the lesson of  this Disney’s movie, taking each journey one drive at a time.  Perhaps, these efforts might save a dying town in your neck of the woods.

Are there any small towns you like to frequent? If so, let my audience know.

by Jay Mankus

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An Oracle Concerning the Fallen

Posted on March 12, 2014 by expressyourself4him

The term oracle has 2 distinct meanings.  The first refers to a priest or spiritual leader who provides advice to those seeking direction or guidance from God.  Meanwhile, oracle also eludes to an ambiguous or obscure message given by a person speaking on behalf of God.  In Psalm 36, King David provides insight on those in his kingdom who had fallen from God’s grace.

Based upon the words David received, the Holy Spirit blames a lack of fear of God as the root cause.  This created a spiritual blind spot as self conceit eliminated God from the radar screen.  Like a disease slowing attacking the central nervous system, poison filled their mouths, disguised by deceit.  Subsequently, wisdom vanished from the lips of the fallen.  Idleness led to new hobbies of plotting evil as scheming became a favorite pastime.  In the end, the fallen followed a similar course, embracing wrong behavior each and every day.

Beginning in Psalm 36:5, David provides a spiritual prescription for anyone considering a change of heart.  This portion of the chapter serves as a precursor to God’s promise in Psalm 103:11-12, a picture of forgiveness, love and mercy.  Although Ponce de Leon claimed to discover a fountain of youth in Florida, David introduces the lost to the fountain of spiritual life, Psalm 36:9.  Dangling this carrot in front of the fallen, the choice is yours.  May these words of David, inspired by God, provide hope to those of you feel lost, fallen or ready for a change.

by Jay Mankus

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The Final Out

Posted on March 5, 2014 by expressyourself4him

As Spring Training games began last week in Arizona and Florida, it won’t be long before sports enthusiasts celebrate Opening Day baseball in the Major Leagues.  While winter continues to interrupt spring sports, those trapped inside are getting anxious for dryer and greener pastures.  Nicknamed America’s favorite pastime, baseball seasons coincide with the start of warmer weather and conclude as fall descends upon this country.  Before the final out is recorded, individuals will experience the smell of freshly cut grass, longer hours of daylight and blooming flowers that brighten up neighborhood landscapes.

I’ve spent more than 1/3 of my life playing and or coaching ball.  In the days of my youth, I never fully enjoyed this game.  Perfection, success and winning stifled my ability to appreciate 9 years of playing baseball.  However, when I got a second chance through 7 years of highly competitive softball, I savored every moment on the field.  I treated each at bat and play as if it was my last, flying, diving and sprinting around the bases.  Although I still haven’t achieved the promise in John 10:10, I discovered the abundant life on a softball field, considering each obstacle a pure joy, James 1:2-4.

My last game on a baseball and softball diamond were nearly identical, reaching the championship.  Despite playing a different position, a pop fly came my way, giving me an opportunity to secure the final out.  I blew my first chance, getting lazy as the ball glanced off the edge of my glove.  A comfortable margin postponed the inevitable victory, ending my baseball career on a good note.  However, the second time I seized the moment, using 2 hands, squeezing my glove and embracing my teammates as God had chosen me to record the final out.

by Jay Mankus

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How Bad Do You Really Want It?

Posted on February 17, 2014 by expressyourself4him

If I had to take an honest assessment of my goals in life  and compare this with how I actually spend my time, my actions display a lack of hunger to make my American Dream a reality.  While playing on a  Florida mini-tour in 1995, I met several individuals who were willing to risk everything, sacrificing food, shelter and wants to one day make the P.G.A. Tour.  Clearly, they wanted it more than me as some ate peanut butter and jelly 3 times a day, 7 days a week, a few lived in their cars and many more worked the night shift so they could play in golf tournaments during the day.  In essence, I’m the only one to blame for not fulfilling this desire of my heart.

Cover Photo

Nearly 20 years later, I not willing to let another dream slip through my hands.  Back in the late 90’s, I had a 45 minute phone conversation with Max Lucado’s editor, set up by a mutual friend who owned a Christian Bookstore.  At the time, I was a freelance writer trying to break through, asking as many questions as possible without being rude.  Two of his statements serve as a glimmer of hope for this amateur author: “If you want to get noticed, the average professional writes full time for 7 years before getting paid or if you can only afford to do this part time, you must be willing to invest 15 years of your life.”  Over the past 3 years, I am in the process of paying my dues, with over 700 daily articles, 1 complete 90 minute movie script and currently a third of the way through my first book called Behind the Devil’s Door.  Though I could probably devote more time to writing each week, this time around the block I want it more than ever.

In Psalm 27:4, King David asks a similar question, but from a spiritual perspective: “How badly do you want to spend time with God?”  Are you happy with your current relationship or are holding back, not ready to commit fully to the Lord?  Based upon verses 1-3, if you are afraid, faithless or weak, you’re likely missing essential pieces.  What’s holding you back, keeping you from experiencing the presence of the Holy Spirit daily?  Perhaps you don’t want God as bad as He longs to be with you, Luke 15:20.  May the words of Matthew 6:33-34 provide the assurance you need to re-prioritize your life as soon as possible.  While every human feels the pain of unfulfilled dreams, I pray that gazing upon the beauty of the Lord will transform your perspective on life.  Your actions in the days that follow will answer the question, how bad do you really want it?

by Jay Mankus

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