Tag Archives: Harvard

Living Good and Honest Lives

If you watch cable news, a minute doesn’t go by without at least one exaggeration, lie or mis-truth. Apparently, just reporting the news is too boring. In this age of click bait, providing one daily soundbite for social media is too tempting for commentators to abstain. According to one of Jesus’ disciples, this is not how human beings should live their lives. God has a different plan and will for your life.

For it is God’s will and intention that by doing right [your good and honest lives] should silence (muzzle, gag) the ignorant charges and ill-informed criticisms of foolish persons, 1 Peter 2:15.

I started this week by reading Aaron Sorkin’s screenplay the Social Network. The opening scene consists of Mark Zuckerberg sitting at a bar with his date. The dialog is designed to illustrate Zuckerberg’s desire to become part of the most elite club on the Harvard campus. This one-way conversation bores Ericka Albright, Mark’s date, who appears to want to live and good and decent life.

No [actual] evil, misfortune, or calamity shall come upon the righteous, but the wicked shall be filled with evil, misfortune, and calamity. 22 Lying lips are extremely disgusting and hateful to the Lord, but they who deal faithfully are His delight, Proverbs 12:21-22.

Unfortunately, in this age of Cancel Culture and Wokeness, most people are afraid to share what they really believe and think in a social setting. Rather than risk offending someone, honest opinions are held back. Instead, a growing number of people sugar coat their replies to avoid conflict and criticism. While agreeing to disagree is a good option, God wants his followers to live good and honest lives as you learn to love your neighbors as yourself.

by Jay Mankus

When America Lost their Spiritual War

As I student, I learned great details about World War 1 and World War 2 in History class. Between reading books and listening to lectures, I was forced to memorize important battles, dates and leaders to pass unit tests. While I am grateful of the public education that I received, one topic was never touched. I had to attend seminary to ascertain the true history of America minus the politics and politically correct textbooks,

Now the serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden? – Genesis 3:1

Institutions up and down the East Coast like Harvard and Duke were established by churches. These schools for higher education were initially Christian based designed to spread and fulfill the Magna Carta and Great Commission. Yet, just as the Judges in the Old Testament began to do what was right in their own eyes, America has forgotten it’s spiritual heritage. Although Great Awakenings revived faith in this country, America lost their spiritual war in the middle of the 20th Century.

In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides]. 11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. 12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. 13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place], Ephesians 6:10-13.

on June 18, 1963, Atheists won their case before the Supreme Court. This victory for the left was the beginning of the end of Christianity as the dominant worldview in America. When this highest court in the land made it illegal for the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:1-15) to be said and the Bible to be read in public schools, God was officially removed from education. While Christian Academies still exist today, traces of God continue to be removed from public squares across the country. America’s current spiritual conditional is merely the consequences of losing this spiritual war. Perhaps, the prayers of the saints is the only thing left to save America from becoming the latest fallen empire.

by Jay Mankus

Hunting for God’s Will

In the 1997 movie Good Will Hunting, Robin Williams plays a psychology professor struggling to accept his wife’s death.  When a colleague stumbles across a raw specimen, an orphan played by Matt Damon who is gifted in advanced Mathematics, Williams is called in as a last resort.  Williams reluctantly accepts this challenge, searching for the good within Will, beyond the layers of evil, heart break and frustration stuck inside this young man.

Despite being a juvenile, with a long rap sheet in and out of prison, Will recognizes his God given gift.  Thus, he becomes a janitor at Harvard, cleaning the hallways just outside of an Advanced Mathematics classroom.  Will even goes as far as completing a problem, left by a professor in the hallway, seeing if any one could solve it.  During a lunch with his girl friend played by Minnie Driver, Will comes to a ground breaking conclusion.  Curious about Will’s unusual love for Organic Chemistry, Matt Damon responds to Minnie’s question.  Comparing himself to Beethoven, he confesses, “I don’t know anything about music, but when I see math’s equations, I can just play.”

A few years ago, I assumed that I would remain a Bible teacher until my youngest daughter graduated high school.  Since being laid off, I have been hunting for God’s will the past 2 years.   Currently, I have several hours to think to myself at work, forcing me to reflect upon where I am.  In response to my search, I heard the whisper of the Holy Spirit, in a clear and direct reply this week, “you are a writing prophet.”  While I am not exactly sure what this means, I do feel a sense of peace knowing for the past 17 months I have been faithful to God’s calling.  Like Will in Good Will Hunting, I’m not exactly sure how or why I write what I do.  However, when I sit down in front of my computer, the power of the Holy Spirit takes over, leading me toward God’s will.  May this movie and my testimony inspire you to hunt for God’s will in your own life, Romans 12:2.

by Jay Mankus