Tag Archives: God

Video of the Day: Clip from the television series “The West Wing”

Bible Verse of the Day:

Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. ² Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you. ³ You saw with your own eyes what the Lord did at Baal Peor. The Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, ⁴ but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today, Deuteronomy 4:1-4.

Biblical Connection:

I try to be entertaining in most of my blogs, but recent current events have persuaded me to address serious issues over this coming week. In the previous season finale, Josh is shot during an assassination attempt and nearly dies. Subsequently, Sam takes offense when the topic of gun control is brought up in this conversation. Yet, politicians who remain in office for decades have become experts in centering campaigns on gun control without ever solving this issue.

Today’s featured passage serves as a subtle reminder to the nation of Israel. Like the words of Moses in Deuteronomy 28:1-3, following and obeying God’s commands result in blessings. This doesn’t mean that bad things don’t happen to good people. Yet, in these moments of unexpected trials, God works according to your purpose in life, Romans 8:28. I once endured a crippling ankle injury, with doctors telling me that I would never run again only to fully recover 10 months later.

Closing Song:

As random public shootings have become a weekly occurrence, politicians continue to blame the weapons for this act of terror rather than the troubled soul. Until American leaders in cities and states start addressing the nationwide mental health crisis, gun control will make daily headlines rather than the individual who pulled the trigger.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2005 movie “The Pacifier”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” – John 21:17-19

Biblical Connection:

Vin Diesel plays a Navy Seal who is forced to change his role from a squadron leader to a babysitter. When the husband of this family is killed, his wife is sent overseas to retrieve an unknown safety deposit box. Meanwhile, Shane is left state side to watch all of their children. Although initially in over his head, Shane uses his special forces training to adapt to his new role as a babysitter.

John records one of the first encounters Jesus has with Peter following his resurrection. Each time Jesus asked if Peter loved Him, his feelings are hurt. Once Peter receives Jesus’ command for the next stage of his life, a foreshadowing is revealed. When Peter is arrested for his faith and was given the death penalty, Peter was crucified upside down, feeling unworthy to be killed like Jesus.

Closing Song:

Life on earth is filled with many stages that individuals endure and go through. Sometimes you may be called to greatness while other moments force you to become humble. As you enter your next phase in life, may you be open to changing roles like Peter and Vin Diesel.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2006 movie “We Are Marshall”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’^[h] 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. ⁴⁰ And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. ⁴¹ If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. ⁴² Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you, Matthew 5:38-42.

Biblical Connection:

Following a plane crash that took the lives of 37 members of the Marshall University football and coaching staff, there were discussions about cancelling the program. After hiring a new coach, Marshall asked the NCAA to make an exemption for Marshall’s program to allow freshman to play. This desperate attempt led staff to visit their main rival to study their unique system.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus explains how the Old Testament law applies to first century life. Jesus’ teaching is revolutionary, likely causing Jewish religious leaders to become dumbfounded. Yet, West Virginia’s decision to help their main football rival is similar to Jesus’ call to turn the other cheek. While not making sense on the surface, the timing was right for a rival to help a team in need.

Closing Song:

In this age of competitive college football, rarely do rival teams help one another. Yet, when coaches and staff apply biblical principles like humility, there will be future opportunities for a rival to help a team in need.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2002 movie “The Rookie”

Bible Verse of the Day:

 After this the Lord appointed seventy-two^[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. ² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. ³ Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. ⁴ Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road. ⁵ “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ ⁶ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you. ⁷ Stay there, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house, Luke 10:1-7.

Biblical Connection:

Science teacher and high school baseball coach Jim Morris challenges his players to reach their full potential. The players in return make a similar offer, “if we win the championship, it’s your turn to try out for a big-league club.” Following his team’s accomplishment, Jim goes to a local tryout to honor the promise he made to his team. The rest of this true story is like a Hollywood ending.

As a former baseball coach, I understand how eager bench players are itching to get into a game. While Jesus called 12 men to become his disciples, another 72 were appointed to spread the Gospel message, John 3:16-17. Although Luke’s account of their accomplishments is limited, it’s not too far to imagine that some of these men would become key leaders within the first century church.

Closing Song:

Today’s featured passage is one of the best to illustrate the concept of keeping in step with the Holy Spirit, Galatians 5:25. Whether you’re young like Coach Morris’ players or getting up there in age, let Jesus take the wheel as it’s your turn to take a leap of faith.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2017 movie “Cars 3”

Bible Verse of the Day:

When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. ²⁷ But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus. ²⁸ So Saul stayed with them and moved about freely in Jerusalem, speaking boldly in the name of the Lord. ²⁹ He talked and debated with the Hellenistic Jews,^[a] but they tried to kill him. ³⁰ When the believers learned of this, they took him down to Caesarea and sent him off to Tarsus, Acts 9:26-30.

Biblical Connection:

Lightning McQueen’s character in the Cars movies is similar to many self-centered Americans who are caught up in their own personal drive for success. In Cars 1, Lightning was only concerned with winning, forcing his 18-wheeler to drive through the night. Yet, when McQueen was stranded in Radiator Springs, Doc Hudson eventually became his mentor. Doc poured his heart and soul into McQueen, helping him avoid the same mistakes that Doc made as a famous race car.

As a zealous Pharisee who gave the order to have the apostle Stephen killed, none of Jesus’ disciples trusted Saul following his conversion in Acts 9. After changing his name to Paul, this newly ordained apostle went on to write 14 epistles and helped plant numerous churches in the first century. Yet, none of this would have occurred if Barnabas didn’t mentor Saul. Barnabas saw Saul’s full potential, defended him and discipled him until his first missionary journey in Acts 13.

Closing Song:

Today’s scene from Cars 3 illustrates how Doc Hudson gave himself away to become a mentor to Lightning McQueen. When mature Christians make the lyrics of today’s song their daily prayer, lives will be changed when you take the time to invest in the lives of others.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1989 movie “Dead Poets Society”

Bible Verse of the Day:

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. ² We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. ³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. ⁴ On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-4.

Biblical Connection:

As a former educator, I’m a big proponent of Benjamin Bloom, the creator of Bloom’s Taxonomy. As John Keating begins his poetry, class .students are introduced to Bloom’s framework for educational thinking. Students shouldn’t just write down and memorize the words of a PhD. Rather, Keating wants each student to develop their own theory on how to evaluate poetry.

Following a supernatural encounter with Jesus on the Road to Damascus in Acts 9, Saul would change his name to Paul. As a Jewish child trained to become a Pharisee, Saul was a stickler for Old Testament law. However, the Holy Spirit taught the apostle Paul to trust God and not religious leaders. Like Mr. Keating’s students ripping out pages of poetry, Paul was forced to re-evaluate his own life by getting rid of man-made beliefs that stood opposed to God.

Closing Song:

While I’ve never experienced a teacher telling me to rip out the pages of a textbook on the first week of class, I did have a college class where my professor handed out a fake syllabus. At the beginning of the second class, the real syllabus was passed out, making sure only those students who wanted to take this higher-level class remained. Although going against the grain will leave many people unhappy, the goal of a Christian is to try to please the Lord daily.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1986 movie “Back to School”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if you lay the foundation and are not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule you, ³⁰ saying, ‘This person began to build and wasn’t able to finish,’ Luke 14:28-30.

Biblical Connection:

There is a big difference between book knowledge and street knowledge, being part of a specific business or industry. One of the college classes I took was Economic Geography. Rather than rush into building a business, each student began with acres of land to farm with each subsequent task increasing in complexity. The professor in today’s clip was so focused on his own curriculum that he failed to consider modern day changes in business theory.

Earlier on in the Gospel of Luke, chapters 9 and 10, Jesus mentions an additional 72 disciples that were sent out to assist in His earthly ministry. Meanwhile, Jesus provides examples of individuals who are not fit to serve as disciples based upon common excuses each made. Whether you are a professor or part of a business, dealing with criticism is part of life. As a new manager, every day is a learning process, taking in new information. As long as you consider the costs, you’ll learn through trial and error to handle future criticism.

Closing Song:

Instead of acting like you’ve arrived like this college professor, remain teachable and open to the ideas of others. While some ideas have been tried and failed in the past, if the timing is right you’ll win the respect of others while properly dealing with criticism.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1995 movie “Mr. Holland’s Opus”

Bible Verse of the Day:

The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. ³⁶ When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” ³⁷ When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” ³⁹ “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.⁴⁰ Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. ⁴¹ The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). ⁴² And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter^[g]), John 1:35-42.

Biblical Connection:

Back when I was in high school, Music Theory was known as a blowoff class. Checking with your guidance counselor before the previous year ended, Music Theory was a popular option for students who wanted an easy A without doing much at all in class. Subsequently, when Mr. Holland greets and begins teaching his first class of the year, students are caught off guard by Mr. Holland’s intensity and passion for music.

As John the Baptist begins to wrap up his earthly ministry on repentance, John introduces his disciples to Jesus. Like the students sitting in Mr. Holland’s Music Theory class, some of John’s disciples were likely surprised, expecting to remain with John the Baptist. For any teacher, part of passing on knowledge involves getting to know your students. On the first day of class, unless there is an instant connection, teaching is much harder than it looks.

Closing Song:

Twelve first century Jews were called by Jesus because they were eagerly waiting for the promised Messiah of the Old Testament to arrive. This anticipation is missing from most classrooms in America. When students develop a hunger and thirst for learning, they become like sponges. Yet, for now, teaching remains more harder than it appears.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 2004 movie “The Notebook” (language warning)

Bible Verse of the Day:

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life^[d] because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of^[e] his Spirit who lives in you, Romans 8:9-11.

Biblical Connection:

Hollywood isn’t about doing what’s right. Rather, it’s about creating conflict, seeing how characters react and displaying what lengths an individual will pursue until they receive what they desire. In today’s see, a man is trying to buy the woman he loves, spoiling her with riches. Yet, this pursuit will only lead to emptiness in the end.

The apostle Paul writes about the invisible war between what a man wants and what God desires to several first century churches. From a Christian point of view, Paul speaks of the obligation that followers of God have to live according to the Holy Spirit. Unfortunately, kryptonite in the form of sinful addictions, bad habits and sensual cravings divide and separate human beings from God.

Closing Song:

The shifts in the tone of the lead singer of the Almost serve as a release of frustration, crying out to God in prayer. If you find yourself fighting a losing battle to your human flesh, may the lyrics of Amazing Because It Is give you hope to healing and restoration is in your near future.

by Jay Mankus

Video of the Day: Clip from the 1994 movie “Forrest Gump”

Bible Verse of the Day:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. ²⁹ Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ³⁰ For my yoke is easy and my burden is light,” Matthew 11:28-30.

Biblical Connection:

As another school year begins, most teachers can’t even imagine what’s really going on in the lives of their students at home. Subsequently, walls are built up to ease the pain of the childhood that they have endured. The character who plays Jenny in Forrest Gump often escapes to Forrest’s house seeking a sense of normalcy provided by Forrest and Mrs. Gump.

Jesus’ words in today’s passage speaks to Jenny’s cry for help as she ran away from her father. Instead of flying away like a bird, Jesus invites all children to come to Him to ease their anxieties and burdens in life. After rebuking unrepentant towns for their lack of faith, Jesus turns to the lonely and lost, urging anyone with heavy hearts to pour out their soul’s burdens to God.

Song of the Day:

While sitting in the teachers’ lounge, I discovered that the oldest of 3 children was forced to take on the role of parent since her mom and dad had become alcoholics. Each morning, she woke up, cooked breakfast and took her two younger sisters. The next time someone doesn’t turn in their homework, there are other situations in life beyond their control hindering their ability to learn. This is just one of the walls that children build to protect their family members.

by Jay Mankus