Tag Archives: Jesus

Is That All I Needed?

After spending 3 seasons as an assistant golf professional and another 10 coaching high school boys and girls, I’ve seen my share of bad golf swings.  While many were beyond help, I did have a few success stories.  The most recent involved a player who had a decent short game, but their swing produced a slice like an out of control boomerang.  Observing from behind the range, I discovered a major glitch.  With one slight adjustment, this senior went from struggling to break 60 consistently for 9 holes to shooting 94 for 18 in his last conference tournament.

The other day, I left my house without my Bible and journal before leaving for work.  My daily routine involves getting to work 30 minutes early, listening to music, read and journal my prayers and thoughts before each shift.  Unprepared, I had to wing it, quietly preparing myself for another 40 hour week.  Since I was running late, I only had a few minutes before exiting my car.  Void of any earth shattering content, I yielded my future over to the Lord, placing it solely in His hands.  Twenty minutes later I was called back to my seasonal management position leading me to ponder, “is that all I needed?  Is this what God was waiting for me to do?”

Whether you’re trying to improve your golf game or follow God, sometimes the slightest adjustment produces amazing results.  Perhaps, this was the message Moses was trying to relay to Israel before his retirement, Deuteronomy 28:1-14.    Either way, the next time you experience periods of inconsistency, invite the Lord to become your Rock during the trying times in life, Psalm 28:1-2.

by Jay Mankus

Silencing Liars

In this age of Blogs, Facebook and Twitter, sooner or later someone will post something untrue about you.  When I taught junior high, a student snuck into my room and used my school computer to open up a My Space account in my own name without permission or support.  Meanwhile, a few years later an educational blog claimed I was a faith healer, charging $25 per healing.  Although the second site was a practical joke to illustrate how gossip spreads, the first was intended to harm my reputation as a teacher.  When facts don’t add up with the truth, its time to silence liars

David was a war hero, skilled musician and chosen by God to become Israel’s second king.  Despite having great intentions, 1 Samuel 16:7, David was young, curious and easy prey for temptation.  Thus, when he decided not to report to work for several months, not going off to war in 2 Samuel 11:1, David committed adultery, tried to cover up his own child and had Bathsheba’s husband murdered.  Unfortunately, David’s reputation is often tied to this rebellious streak, opening the door for future innuendos and rumors.  Psalm 63:11 addresses David’s prayer to cease the mouths of his critics.

When you do fall, especially in public, its hard to repair the trust of others that you have broken.  There will always be those who will point out your blemishes.  However, as you walk in the steps of Jesus, 1 John 2:6, the amount of your enemies will decline as long as your talk matches your walk.  If you’re struggling to silence false statements made against you, claim the words of David in Psalm 63:11 to silence the liars in your life.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

The Sheep Without A Shepherd

If you’ve ever gone to a mall to people watch, it doesn’t take long to see who knows where they are going and who is lost, trying to find their way.  Whether you’re driving a car, searching for something you’ve misplaced or walking on a unmarked trail, everyone from time to time experiences the pain of loss.  In the midst of this crisis, a sense of helplessness paralyzes souls, making it obvious that no matter hard one tries, you can’t save yourself.

While traveling throughout towns and villages, Jesus observed the crowd of individuals following him.  Watching intently, tears began to swell up in his eyes, as Jesus saw this group as sheep without a shepherd, Matthew 9:35-36.  They were looking for something more in life, hoping that Jesus had the answer.  Like sheep aimlessly roaming the countryside, hungry hearts longed for meaning to life.

Today, the silent majority wonders when their Shepherd will return.  As chaos abounds, modern sheep have been led astray by false prophets, hypocritical leaders and the twisting of the Bible.  Exiting the church after high school or during college, pessimistic sheep are searching for alternative means to enter heaven’s gate.  Although some turn back, coming to their senses like the prodigal in Luke 15, a growing number remain sheep without a shepherd.

by Jay Mankus

 

Making A Clear Distinction

In a world of diminishing absolutes, making a clear distinction between right and wrong isn’t what it use to be.  Shades of grey have entered the equation, leaving the truth uncertain.  To erase this confusion, one must shine the light of the Bible on this matter to distinguish the moral from immoral.

History reveals this struggle is nothing new as periods in time are filled with examples of people who blended in like chameleons, hiding their faith from society.  This pattern led Moses to challenge Israel to make a clear distinction between holiness and common citizens in Leviticus 10:10-11.  This lesson from the past should challenge us to examine our own lives to ascertain where do you stand?

When you’re feeling good about yourself, pride will lead you to hold a higher view than your actions actually display.  On the other hand, when your day of humility comes, you might feel like the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 1:15.  Despite the good and bad that you do, Jesus still wants believers to shine their light, Matthew 5:13.  Like the childhood song proclaims, don’t hide your light anymore, make a clear distinction today by imitating God, Ephesians 5:1-4.

by Jay Mankus

Finding Your Why

Author Simon Sinek wrote the book Start with Why, uncovering how great leaders inspire others to take action.  While many modern businesses have a high school mentality, punishing everyone for a few workers transgressions, Sinek highlights what separates great companies and leaders from the rest.  While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Steve Jobs and the Wright Brothers didn’t have much in common, they all started with why.

While listening to an interview yesterday on the Blaze Radio Network, I began to wonder, why do I do what I do?  Subsequently, its important to find your why.  During the exile of Israel in the Old Testament, a prophet unveiled some chilling news.  “People are destroyed from a lack of knowledge,” Hosea 4:6.  This passage suggests if you don’t find your why in life, you will likely come to ruin before you fulfill God’s will on earth, Philippians 1:6.

One of Israel’s founding fathers advised God’s people to read, ponder and meditate on the Torah, Joshua 1:8.  The son of God called His followers to action, putting into practice the words He, Jesus shared, Matthew 7:24.  Meanwhile, the apostle Paul encouraged seekers to devote their lives to holiness, worship and renewing minds to conform with Scripture, Romans 12:1-2.

As you set out to find your own why for what you do, let us know how your journey is going.

by Jay Mankus

More Than A Dirty Bird

While the undrafted Jamal Anderson, former NFL running back of the Atlanta Falcons introduced the dirty bird in 1998 to celebrate scoring a touchdown, this is not the inspiration for today’s blog.  After reading the words of Leviticus 11:13 I was surprised to see that the eagle made God’s detestable list for birds.  Sorting through which animals are considered clean and unclean to eat for Israel, the eagle is categorized as unclean.  Despite this classification, I believe the eagle is more than a dirty bird.

On June 20th, 1782, the eagle became the national emblem of the United States of America.  To honor this dirty bird, the great seal featuring the eagle was adopted, portrayed on the backs of gold coins, the silver dollar, half dollar and quarter.  The rationale for this decision was based upon the eagle’s long life expectancy, mighty strength and effortless guiding through the sky.  In addition, the eagle is a symbol of freedom, roaming over the vast spaces above mountain tops and hovering over the valleys below.

If you want to be accurate, the dirtiest birds are chickens and sea gulls based upon their hygiene habits.  However, prior to modern technologies, individuals could not determine whether or not an animal was thoroughly cooked.  Therefore, the book of Leviticus was written to warn Jews to forgo eating forbidden animals to prevent the contraction of aggressive bacteria and disease.  Although the eagle is no longer on the endangered species list, the sight of one in nature often illicit a sense of pride.  In God’s eyes, the eagle is more than a dirty bird, they are an image of hope, able to soar above the trials in life, Isaiah 40:30-31.

by Jay Mankus

 

Starving for Conversation

Everyone has their own warts, imperfections that prevent people from achieving peace and prosperity.  For me, my greatest weakness is the inability to slow down to enjoy, indulge or relax by conversing with co-workers, family and neighbors.  Thus, by the end of the day or week, I often find myself starving for conversation.

While a youth pastor in Indiana, I spent 50 hours a week minimum interacting with youth, parents and church staff.  Since my job description involved investing in relationships, I spent countless hours reclining, sharing and walking with a wide range of personalities.  Whether I was tubing in a lake, attending a sporting event or sitting on a dock having an impromptu Bible Study, these were my best years, bringing out my God given talents.

Now twenty years later, its time to reinvent myself as I hunger and thirst for meaningful conversations.  Starting with the beatitudes appears to be a logical starting place, Matthew 5:3-12, encouraging individuals to be listeners first.  From here, the apostle Paul provides good advice in Colossians 4:2-5, adding flavor to the conversations you encounter.  Perhaps, by applying these biblical principles, I will be content, satisfied by future conversations.

What advice do you have for others searching for fulfilling conversations?

by Jay Mankus

Before God’s Presence Appears

Most Americans have become spoiled, expecting a response at the snap of their fingers.  Subsequently, when people go out to eat, go to a show or make a significant purchase, they want perfection.  When disappointed by a product or service, heads will roll and reputations will be harmed if these individuals don’t get their way.  If this is how a growing number of citizens are responding, its no wonder God is waiting to appear until faith and actions coexist.

The book of Leviticus consists of a conversation God had with Moses while on Mount Sinai in Exodus.  As I recently read through Leviticus, a pattern forms throughout the first 8 chapters, “God said to Moses.”  Following these instructions, Aaron and his sons did everything the Lord told Moses.  However, it wasn’t until Leviticus 9:4 before God’s presence appears before Israel.  Thus, this passage suggests God is waiting for his children to carefully follow the Bible’s commands prior to being accompanied by blessings, Deuteronomy 28:2.

While some may say, “what are you waiting for,” others are trying to twist the Bible to conform to their own beliefs.  As for me, a lack of results makes the obvious seem clear once again, “be doers of the word, not just hearers,” Matthew 7:24-27.  Once I realign my priorities to Matthew 6:33, God promises to provide for my daily needs.  Therefore, if you are hungry and thirsty to experience God’s presence, listen to words of Jesus like Aaron followed Moses.

Let us know when you’ve encountered God’s presence.

by Jay Mankus

 

Elijah’s Blueprint

Engineer’s rely on designs, diagrams and models to implement plans on construction projects.  Multi-level business schemes use similar blueprints to influence individuals to buy into their concept.  When someone follows the directions step by step, there is an inherit expectation of riches, success or both.  As for Elijah the prophet, he looked into the past, believing God could repeat a similar feat in his life time.

According to Leviticus 9:24, as soon as Aaron followed the directions given to him from Moses via God, the Lord sent fire from heaven consuming the offering on the altar.  Sound familiar?  Perhaps, this is Elijah’s blueprint, the place where he read and believed God would repeat this historic act.  I often wondered where his confidence came from and this passage suggests Elijah prepared his sacrifice just as Aaron and his sons followed Moses’ commands.

Understanding the past, makes the miracle in 1 Kings 18:38 that much more believable today.  If you carefully follow and obey God’s commands, blessings will follow, Deuteronomy 28:1-2.  Its as if Elijah, followed a playbook in 1 Kings 18:30-37, grasping Jesus’ promise in Matthew 21:21-22, fully expecting God to repeat this previous miracle after his prayer.  Sometime between Elijah’s Blueprint and Jesus’ promise, modern believers will find a living, loving God ready to unveil the next miracle on earth.

Has God done any miracles in your life?

by Jay Mankus

Be Careful What You Long For

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.

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