Tag Archives: imagination

Erecting a Place for the Lord

Posted on July 23, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Erector Sets was one of the first commercial products made for children to learn how to build things. Legos and Lincoln Logs were later introduced to enhance a child’s creativity and imagination. Based upon the number of items available today, Legos continues to be a popular toy. Throughout the book of Genesis, Israel’s forefathers erected a place for the Lord, often in the form of an altar, monument or well.

When Jacob came from Padan-aram, he arrived safely and in peace at the town of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, and pitched his tents before the [enclosed] town. 19 Then he bought the piece of land on which he had encamped from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel [God, the God of Israel], Genesis 33:18-20.

When my parents moved to Ohio during my sophomore year of college, I had to start over from scratch. While I met new friends at work, my dad was still envisioning what this new property could become. After damming up a small stream into a pond just beyond our back deck, I began to erect my own place for the Lord. Since my concentration in college was Plant Science, I began to grow a fern garden along the banks of this small pond. While I didn’t erect a physical monument, I called this secluded portion of our yard, Rehobeth, a place of rest.

For as I passed along and carefully observed your objects of worship, I came also upon an altar with this inscription, To the unknown god. Now what you are already worshiping as unknown, this I set forth to you, Acts 17:23.

Couples tend to come with up their own song to commemorate a special date, moment or time in their relationship. If human beings do this for their own significant others, why can’t Christians do something similar to remember their personal relationship with Jesus. The Old Testament is filled with symbols designed to keep Israel meditating upon the Lord day and night, Joshua 1:8. Although you should avoid erecting an image to replace the Lord, do something for God’s honor and glory.

by Jay Mankus

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Finding Spiritual Spotters

Posted on June 30, 2022 by expressyourself4him

I was a novice weightlifter as I entered college. While I went with friends to local gyms, I didn’t really know what I was doing. When I moved off campus my junior year, one of my roommates was a former high school all-American linebacker. Mike turned our attic into a hardcore gym. Mike introduced me to the concept of spotting someone. When you lose the ability to finish a lift, the spotter comes to your rescue by pushing with you to place the bar into the barbell holder.

When Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; and when he lowered his hand, Amalek prevailed. 12 But Moses’ hands were heavy and grew weary. So [the other men] took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Then Aaron and Hur held up his hands, one on one side and one on the other side; so his hands were steady until the going down of the sun, Exodus 17:11-12.

Depending upon your age, strength, and the weight you are lifting, you may need one or two spotters. Anytime you’re lifting over 250 pounds, its safer to have 2 spotters, one on either side of the barbell. Yet, if you’re working out with someone like Mike whose body resembled a chiseled rock, one spotter is all you need. One of the roles of a spotter parallels a modern day life coach. Mike weekly challenged, encouraged, and pushed me to become stronger every day.

And Joshua mowed down and disabled Amalek and his people with the sword, Exodus 17:13.

One of the immediate benefits of having a spiritual spotter occurred during the Intramural Ultimate Frisbee title game. The guy who was guarding me was 6 foot 3, just under 200 pounds. While in the end zone, I was practically tackled as my elbow violently hit the ground. Yet, I held on, our team tied the game on the final play and won the championship in overtime. As you find and surround yourself with spiritual spotters, you’ll reach new heights, often well beyond your imagination and dream.

by Jay Mankus

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Maybe It’s Make Believe?

Posted on December 29, 2017 by expressyourself4him

According to systematic research within the field of child psychology, there are benefits for children engaging in pretend games.  Based upon an article in Psychology Today, Jerome and Dorothy Singer suggest this type of behavior is acceptable up to age seven.  Recent studies have found cognitive benefits to pretending as participants increase their language usage while role playing adults.  Meanwhile, the concept “theory of the mind” is developed and enhanced by children who exercise their imaginations by pretending.

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction, 2 Peter 2:1.

If you had to summarize 2017 in American History, some might suggest this is the year of “fake news.”  After a series of anonymous sources, articles and media reports were proven to be false, president Donald Trump took a phrase previously used and made fake news his trademark term.  As a former journalist, I know that there is a degree of truth in every statement.  However, when a bias exists within the mainstream media, exaggerations, opinions and theories are often shaped in such a way to be conceived as fact or the truth.  Perhaps, some individuals have never grown up, still pretending as if a six or seven year old.  This behavior has tainted current journalists and reporters, causing the average American to wonder, “maybe this story is make believe?”

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world, 1 John 4:1.

As you grow older, you will meet adults who want to hear themselves speak.  Maybe, these individuals were ignored as children growing up.  On some occasions I have met co-workers who pretend to living an amazing life.  Upon further review, digging deeper through a series of questions, I discovered these adults were simply living a lie.  According to the apostle Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, the first century was full of people who twisted the truth.  Thus, unless you test what you hear against the Bible, history and reality, you become vulnerable to believing a distortion of the truth.  May the lessons of 2017 make you wiser in 2018, practicing the advice of the Bible by dong your homework before believing that which is reported.

by Jay Mankus

 

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When Guardian Angels are Ushered into Action

Posted on August 23, 2014 by expressyourself4him

To some, angels are a myth, a figment of your imagination.  For others, the concept of angelic beings is something you grow out of, like a childhood phase.  Yet, those who place their trust in the Bible, hold a belief, clinging to the promise of Psalm 91:11, hoping and waiting for the day for this verse to come true.

There appears to be 3 prerequisites before guardian angels are assigned to your side.

1) Individuals need to reach a point of desperation, recognizing that the only safe place on earth is resting in the shadow of God’s wings, Psalm 91:1.

2) In additional, priorities must be reorganized until a trust level develops, leading people to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness. Matthew 6:33-34.

3) Finally, to complete the setting for angels to enter the scene, souls must be willing to give up  complete control, yielding the reigns of their life to Jesus, Matthew 16:24.

Unfortunately, most Christians want results without the effort on their part.  As those who bypass the sweat and tears part of this equation, a lack of results leads to bickering as disenfranchised customers complain to God.  Despite these cries, their treatment is no different than that of Israel in Isaiah 1:15.  The missing ingredient is perking God’s attention.

Right now, angels are looking down from heaven, waiting to get into the game.  However, until the prayers of the saints ask for a hedge of protection, angels will continue to sit on the bench.  The words of Jesus is Matthew 7:7-12 are just begging leaders to make specific requests now.  “You don’t have because you haven’t asked!”  May this blog inspire you to proclaim bold prayers so that guardian angels will be ushered into action today.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

 

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Imagination in Captivity

Posted on August 13, 2013 by expressyourself4him

As a child, everyone has moments where one day dreams of an ideal career, goal or vision of a bright future.  Something about the energy of youth, inspires one to climb the ladder of success, striving to be the best you can be.  Unfortunately, somewhere between adolescence and adulthood, a Debbie downer, glass half empty person or realist brings you back to earth by reminding you of all the obstacles standing in your way.  It is here, where imagination becomes imprisoned, held captive by fear.

On the corner of Average and Great, at the crossroads in life, choices dictate the path you follow.  Will failure lead you to turn around toward the Lane of Shame?  Does money inhabit your chances to reach for the stars?  Or do you suffer from paralysis by analysis, standing on the curb, still trying to decide?  My imagination has designed 2 dozen golf courses, composed nearly 20 songs, several games, a complete movie script and a novel in the works.  However, currently, my imagination is in captivity, with a few disks, documents and notebooks full of potential, yet void of success.

At these moments in life, one must call on the wisdom of Solomon, 1 Kings 3:4-9.  If I am to rescued from these chains, I need God to send me wise men or women to show me how to display the potential I possess.  When patience is tested like Abraham, waiting 18 years for God to give his wife a child, the true heart of man is exposed.  If Thomas Edison can attempt 9,999 ways how not to make a light bulb, I guess I can endure a few more days, weeks, months or years in captivity.  May God grant me a spirit of perseverance so that one glimmer of hope will lead to a spiritual light within me for the world to see.  In my mind, I can see freedom, faith and a finished product.  Until then, “this little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!”

by Jay Mankus

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