Tag Archives: inspiration

When You Want to Become the Fall Guy

Posted on October 17, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The origin of the expression fall guy comes from the Old Testament in Leviticus 16:1-34. Moses introduces the concept of a scapegoat in this passage. In recent years, scapegoat has been replaced with fall guy, using prison terminology meaning let me take the blame, become the fall guy by receiving the punishment. This is what Judah attempts to do in today’s featured passage.

Now therefore, when I come to your servant my father and the lad is not with us, since his life is bound up in the lad’s life and his soul knit with the lad’s soul, 31 When he sees that the lad is not with us, he will die; and your servants will be responsible for his death and will bring down the gray hairs of your servant our father with sorrow to Sheol, Genesis 44:30-31.

In the second year of the great famine in Egypt, Joseph’s brothers weren’t able to return to buy grain unless they brought their younger brother with him. The governor of Egypt, Joseph in disguise, wanted to physically see his baby brother. Initially, Jacob was not going to let his youngest boy old of his sight. However, Judah realized that the only way to buy grain was for him to become the fall guy if anything happened to Benjamin.

For your servant became security for the lad to my father, saying, If I do not bring him to you, then I will bear the blame to my father forever. 33 Now therefore, I pray you, let your servant remain instead of the youth [to be] a slave to my lord, and let the young man go home with his [half] brothers, Genesis 44:32-33.

When a practical joke played by Joseph goes too far, Judah pleads with the governor of Egypt. Judah asks to speak alone with the governor, revealing the promise and vow made to his father. When Benjamin is set up, framed for a crime he didn’t commit, he was facing a lifetime commitment to become the governor’s slave. This is Judah’s inspiration for wanting to become the fall guy. When you face future dire situations, may you stand tall to do what’s necessary to help those in need.

by Jay Mankus

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Turning Your Attention Toward Love and Service

Posted on July 2, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Every human being experiences peaks and valleys in life. Depending upon your level of inspiration and motivation, you might have your mind set on higher aspirations and goals to achieve. As Jesus prepares his disciples for life on earth following his death, resurrection and ascension into heaven, He turns his attention toward love and service.

When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. 9 I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [[a]continue in His love with Me]. 10 If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love. 11 I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing, John 15:8-11.

Based upon the accounts of four first century historians, Jesus was a master storyteller, painting a vivid picture in the minds of his audience. This was accomplished by using analogies and parables that common folk could understand. As Jesus talks to his disciples in the passage above, his goal is to turn their attention toward loving and serving one another in His absence.

This is My commandment: that you love one another [just] as I have loved you. 13 No one has greater love [no one has shown stronger affection] than to lay down (give up) his own life for his friends, John 15:12-13.

Jesus doesn’t use empty words like modern leaders who follow the motto, “do what I say, not as I do.” Jesus practiced what he preached as He was about to lay down His own life for His friends on Good Friday. Jesus gave many hints to His fate such as John 14:1-4. Nonetheless, 3 days later Jesus conquered death on Easter Sunday, leaving His disciples with one final plea: turn your attention toward love and service, 1 John 4:18-21.

by Jay Mankus

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The Crossover Connection Week 15: What Could Have Been the Christian Version of the Cars

Posted on May 13, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Just before I graduated from the University of Delaware, I was plugged into the Christian music industry. During this five-year period, I even subscribed to CCM Magazine to stay informed about potential breakout artists. Based upon outspoken musicians like Wes King, many bands were being given bad advice like the group Plankeye. Whether this was their agents, producers or record companies, some lead singers were led astray and did not stay true to who they were and wanted to become. Or song writers fly under the radar, created the most amazing album nobody ever heard of and when forced to write a new one quickly without any inspiration from the Holy Spirit, their second project miserably failed, dropping out of sight and fading from our memories.

Do not judge and criticize and condemn others, so that you may not be judged and criticized and condemned yourselves. 2 For just as you judge and criticize and condemn others, you will be judged and criticized and condemned, and in accordance with the measure you [use to] deal out to others, it will be dealt out again to you. 3 Why do you [a]stare from without at the [b]very small particle that is in your brother’s eye but do not become aware of and consider the beam [c]of timber that is in your own eye? 4 Or how can you say to your brother, Let me get the tiny particle out of your eye, when there is the beam [d]of timber in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first get the beam of timber out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the tiny particle out of your brother’s eye, Matthew 7:1-5.

Every band which plays together for more than a decade tends to evolve with time. Yet, Plankeye wasn’t sure who they wanted to become, touching 4 genres with their first 4 projects: metal, hard rock, pop rock and pop. While Plankeye was raw as a metal band, Spill, their hard rock project Commonwealth revealed their potential. The attached album, the One and Only, possesses that Cars flair which attracted me to Plankeye. Anyone can play armchair quarterback, but if Plankeye was searching for a specific genre to meet a broad audience, the songs on the One and Only album is that crossover sound. Since I’m not privy to what went on behind closed doors, I can only speculate. Nonetheless, if you like the music of the Cars, you’ll enjoy my favorite Plankeye album.

by Jay Mankus

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When God Hears the Voice of the Youth

Posted on April 27, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Children have always gotten a bad rap over the years. Whether it’s parents who look down to these future leaders today or Jesus’ disciples who paid more attention to adults in the New Testament, God hears the voice of the youth. Mark 10:13-16 highlights the type of person Jesus is, welcoming little children with open arms. Rather than someone who doesn’t want to be bothered, Jesus wanted to hear what these kids had to say.

When the water in the bottle was all gone, Hagar caused the youth to lie down under one of the shrubs.16 Then she went and sat down opposite him a good way off, about a bowshot, for she said, Let me not see the death of the lad. And as she sat down opposite him, [d]he lifted up his voice and wept and she raised her voice and wept, Genesis 21:15-16.

The inspiration behind this blog came from the featured passage above. Hagar was no longer welcome in Abraham’s house after Ishmael began taunting Isaac. As the heat of the desert took their toll on Hagar and Ishmael, his mom began to give up hope on life. At this moment of desperation, God steps in to rescue this single mom. Upon hearing the cries of Hagar’s weeping, Ishmael’s life is saved.

And God heard the voice of the youth, and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven and said to her, What troubles you, Hagar? Fear not, for God has heard the voice of the youth where he is. 18 Arise, raise up the youth and support him with your hand, for I intend to make him a great nation, Genesis 21:17-18.

Hagar’s cry for help is like God’s promise in Psalm 34:18 to heal the broken hearted and saved those crushed and depressed. Matthew 18:1-6 illustrates how special children are to God. Jesus warns any adult who sets a bad example or causes a child to sin. The fate of this motley crew isn’t pretty. The point of today’s blog is to remind readers that young people are precious in God’s eyes, hearing their voices when they cry out, praying for help.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 331: A Thousand Songs

Posted on December 29, 2022 by expressyourself4him

There are hundreds of talented worship groups across the country and throughout the world. When I stumbled upon the Christ Fellowship Worship team, I enjoyed their montage of Christmas music. This is similar to spontaneous worship montages that I like to listen to before going to sleep, A Thousand Songs is like a series of condensed snippets of almost every Christmas song that I am familiar with to keep the theme of Christmas within your hearts and mind.

The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him, Psalm 28:7.

The passage above is a Psalm of David. As a skilled harpist, David had a special connection with music. Perhaps this is the inspiration behind David’s words about music. It’s unclear when David wrote this Psalm, but his close relationship with the Lord is unveiled. This commitment led the prophet Samuel to refer to David as a man after God’s own heart. May this Christmas season inspire you to sing songs in your heart to the Lord this holdiay season.

by Jay Mankus

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Walking in Habitual Fellowship with God

Posted on December 22, 2022 by expressyourself4him

When you read the four gospels in the New Testament of the Bible, the majority of the travel over land occurs while walking. These trips throughout the eastern Mediterranean region of the Middle East often occur in groups. Jesus sent the other seventy disciples in Luke 10 in pairs of two. Meanwhile, the twelve disciples walked together from place to place, observing and watching their spiritual leader. As Matthew, Mark, Luke and John reflect upon Jesus’ life on earth, He walked in habitual fellowship with God.

Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God after the birth of Methuselah 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23 So all the days of Enoch were 365 years. 24 And Enoch walked [in habitual fellowship] with God; and he was not, for God took him [home with Him], Genesis 5:22-24.

After the first six generations of descendants of Adam were mediocre at best, a shining star is born to Jared and his wife not mentioned by Moses. While the first boy in the Bible called Enoch is Cain’s first son who he built a city in his honor, Moses does not reveal Jared’s inspiration for naming his first son Enoch. The key point to remember about this second Enoch of the Bible is that he habitually walked with God daily. Enoch made the Lord his best friend on earth, praying to Him without ceasing.

And in the morning, long before daylight, He got up and went out to a [u]deserted place, and there He prayed. 36 And Simon [Peter] and those who were with him followed Him [[v]pursuing Him eagerly and hunting Him out], 37 And they found Him and said to Him, Everybody is looking for You. 38 And He said to them, Let us be going on into the neighboring country towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out. 39 [So] He went throughout the whole of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons, Mark 1:35-39.

The best example of what habitually walking with God resembles comes from the passage above. John Mark recalls an account from one of the disciples who went searching for Jesus early one morning. As the twelve disciples became stressed out, Jesus was receiving instructions from the Holy Spirit on where to go and what to do, Galatians 5:25. Jesus modeled how to keep in step with the Holy Spirit by his spiritual discipline of an early morning walk and time of prayer. As 2023 approaches, may you be inspired to devote next year to habitually walking in fellowship with God.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 312: Revelation Song/O Come Let Us Adore Him

Posted on December 10, 2022 by expressyourself4him

As a child, I was a natural musician. While a member of the Elementary Band at Harlan Elementary, I was one of the top saxophone players in the school. During one of our Christmas concerts, I remember playing O Come Let Us Adore Him. Back then, if you weren’t any good, you were told to act like you were playing during concerts. I had earned the trust of our band director to play every song, especially one of my favorites: O Come Let Us Adore Him.

When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing ([f]saying) that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us, Luke 2:15.

Jenn Johnson provides a classic example of a worship montage. Jenn begins with the Revelation Song before blending into O Come Let Us Adore Him. When three Magi, experts in the stars followed this new star hanging over a barn where Mary gave birth to Jesus, you don’t think of an adoring place. Yet, it’s the miracle of Jesus’ conception by the power of the Holy Spirit that is the inspiration behind the lyrics of O Come Let Us Adore Him. I hope you enjoy today’s song.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 304: He Understands

Posted on December 2, 2022 by expressyourself4him

If you’re like me, you probably wrestle with the whys in life. Whenever circumstances, hardship and trials surface in your life, it’s natura; to wonder why God is allowing you or your family to endure this or that. Perhaps, this was the inspiration behind Chandler Moore’s song He Understands. While God understands the pain you may be currently enduring, daily events serve as a proving ground to test your faith.

And Peter answered them, Repent (change your views and purpose to accept the will of God in your inner selves instead of rejecting it) and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of and release from your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, Acts 2:38.

According to one of Jesus’ former disciples, repentance plays a crucial role. As human beings see the error of their thinking, confessing this to God in prayer plays a valuable role in spiritual maturity. Like an addict who recognizes that they have a problem, repentance is the first step to accepting God’s will for your life. However, you must yield control over to God by making Jesus the Lord of your life, Romans 10:9-11. As you listen to today’s song, may the Holy Spirit begin to guide and direct you.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 291: God Who Moves the Mountains

Posted on November 19, 2022 by expressyourself4him

I recently moved from one of the flattest states in the country, Delaware, to the Midlands of western South Carolina. My commute to work is up and down steep hills, over and over again for an hour. When I first heard the lyrics of today’s song, God Who Moves the Mountains, I’m reminded of why many prayers lifted up by Christians that go unanswered. Mountains serve as a mental block, causing doubt to replace faith as described by Jesus in the passage below.

And Jesus answered them, Truly I say to you, if you have faith (a [n]firm relying trust) and do not doubt, you will not only do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, it will be done. 22 And whatever you ask for in prayer, having faith and [really] believing, you will receive, Matthew 21:21-22.

Despite the unknown of the future, Jesus taught his disciples to trust in the One who can move mountains. This in the inspiration behind Corey Voss’ song God Who Moves the Mountains. Jesus presents twelve men with the ideal scenario: the could be/should be result for any prayer spoken as long as you believe in the God who moves mountains. As you listen to the lyrics, may you be inspired to intensify your prayer life with a faith that moves mountains.

by Jay Mankus

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S.A.N.S. Episode 283: Sparrows

Posted on November 11, 2022 by expressyourself4him

Worry is one of the topics Jesus addressed in his Sermon on the Mount. Jesus points to the birds of the air who wait to see what food mothers will be able to bring back to their nest. If God prepares food for these small creatures, how much more will the Lord provide for human beings. This is the context and inspiration behind Cory Asbury’s new song Sparrows. This worship pastor at Radiant Church in Kalamazoo, Michigan is best known for songs “Let Me See Your Eyes” and “Reckless Love”.

Therefore I tell you, stop being [v]perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they? 27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the [w]span of his life? – Matthew 6:25-27

Despite Jesus’ famous speech, millions of people wrestle with anxiety, concerns, and worry daily. Perhaps, the desire to be in control is what fuels anxiety and worry. When things are going well in life, anxiety and worry is low on my list. When situations and trials enter my life, it’s easy to allow worry to fester. May the lyrics of Sparrows by Cory Asbury speak to your heart and calm any concerns eating away at you.

by Jay Mankus

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