Tag Archives: language

Languishing Language

Posted on May 4, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Prior to Genesis 11, Moses suggests that the earth only had one language. Based upon the account of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9, God sent a spirit of confusion upon the people who had gathered to build this great city. Without reading too much into this passage, God essentially created different languages on this one day. Thousands of years later, 7,117 languages exist today based upon the most recent data in 2023.

You shall not add to the word which I command you, neither shall you diminish it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you, Deuteronomy 4:2.

If I didn’t watch cable news or scan the internet for current events, I wouldn’t have known about the current language war going on across the United States. Children in elementary school are being suspended and a few expelled for not addressing their own classmates by their preferred Pronoun. Meanwhile, parents are being kept out of the loop as confused children as receiving sex change operations without their consent.

But the [Holy] Spirit distinctly and expressly declares that in latter times some will turn away from the faith, giving attention to deluding and seducing spirits and doctrines that demons teach, 2 Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized), 1 Timothy 4:1-2.

Unless I’m mistaken, the month of Match was dedicated to Women’s History Month. According to a recent statistic, approximately 52% of the United States are female. Nearly 2% of Americans identify themselves to be trans-gender. Yet, two major companies in the United States honored men who now identify as women in March. Moses warned about not adding to or subtracting from God’s commands. The apostle Paul points to the source of languishing language: spirits of confusion and demons. May God wake up the minds of Americans up with common sense and biblical wisdom before this nation is destroyed like great empires of the past.

by Jay Mankus

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Go Yonder and Worship

Posted on April 16, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Every generation has their own way of expressing themselves. Meanwhile, each high school clique contains their own vocabulary, a secret language which is often unrecognized by other students. Whether this is the lingo of jocks, cheerleaders or valley girls, these expressions don’t mean much unless you identify with a specific group. In Old Testament terms, go yonder and worship appears to refer to going off to follow God’s calling.

On the third day Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. 5 And Abraham said to his servants, Settle down and stay here with the donkey, and I and the young man will go yonder and worship and [a]come again to you, Genesis 22:4-5.

After waiting several decades to receive God’s promise of becoming the father of a great nation, there’s a slight chance in plans. God wants Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac on Mount Moriah at an appointed place that God will choose. Rather than explain God’s decision to Sarah his wife, Abraham gets up well before sunrise to leave for this destination under the cover of darkness. Upon arriving, Abraham tells his two servants, “stay here as my son and I go yonder and worship.”

And Isaac said to Abraham, My father! And he said, Here I am, my son. [Isaac] said, See, here are the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for the burnt sacrifice? 8 Abraham said, My son, [b]God Himself will provide a lamb for the burnt offering. So the two went on together, Genesis 22:7-8.

As Abraham quietly climbed and scaled Mount Moriah, Isaac’s curiosity gets the best of him. Unaware of what is about to happen, Abraham came to the conclusion that God would somehow provide an offering, Matthew 6:33.-34. Without ever meeting Jesus, Abraham trusted fully in God for the first time in his life. Proverbs 3:5-6. Perhaps, when modern Christians are struggling to figure out what to do for the rest of their lives, go yonder and worship the Lord and you’ll be led to exactly where God wants you, Romans 12:1-2.

by Jay Mankus

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Trying to Heal a Defiled Heart

Posted on March 23, 2018 by expressyourself4him

If you maintain a burdensome schedule each week, finding time to take an honest assessment of your life isn’t easy to do.  Most busy people press on. ignoring any signs, symptoms or traces of trouble.  When a state of emergency was issued for Delaware during the fourth snow storm in March, I was forced to slow down, unable to go to work.  After reading the passage below, an overwhelming sense of guilt struck my soul, exposing a defiled heart.

After He called the people to Him again, He began saying to them, “Listen [carefully] to Me, all of you, [hear] and understand [what I am saying]: there is nothing outside a man [such as food] which by going into him can defile him [morally or spiritually]; but the things which come out of [the heart of] a man are what defile and dishonor him. 16 [If anyone has ears to hear, let him he}” Mark 7:15-16.

As a former high school teacher, I gave my students some sort of assessment every 3 weeks.  Homework, papers, quizzes and exams were given during each unit to reveal the degree of comprehension.  Unfortunately, after graduating from high school or college, adults rarely think about assessing their faith like educators.  This lack of reflection often hides glaring issues.  As for me, a lack of candor has brought to light a defiled heart.

For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit. 44 For each tree is known and identified by its own fruit. For figs are not picked from thorn bushes, nor is a cluster of grapes picked from a briar bush. 45 The [intrinsically] good man produces what is good and honorable and moral out of the good treasure [stored] in his heart; and the [intrinsically] evil man produces what is wicked and depraved out of the evil [in his heart]; for his mouth speaks from the overflow of his heart, Luke 6:43-45.

According to Jesus, your choice of language provides immediate feedback to what’s in your heart.  If you find yourself using coarse joking, put downs or sarcasm, this serves as a warning of a heart in grave condition.  In order to take a positive step forward, confession is the best place to start, James 5:16.  If your language does not improve, finding an accountability partner can help turn your life around.  While transformation takes time, meditating on Bible verses, prayer and fasting are all honorable steps toward healing a defiled heart.

by Jay Mankus

 

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When Loose Lips Sink Relationships

Posted on October 20, 2016 by expressyourself4him

One of Billy Joel’s most profound songs Honesty debuted on the airways in 1979.  Part of the 1978 album 52nd Street, the chorus of this ballad suggests honesty is such a lonely word.  Perhaps, Billy Joel was on to something, prophetic, sharing a glimpse of what the future would hold.  Before gun or fist fights, human beings often talked out their differences, no matter how heated a conversation got.  Unfortunately, in this age of Facebook, texting and Twitter, loose lips expressed on social media can sink relationships.

Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! – Psalm 141:3

Depending upon your personality, you will either seek confrontation or run away.  Texting has emboldened some former cowards by avoiding face to face encounters.  Yet, what is posted, typed or shared can create a wedge between friends.  Politics, religion and worldviews are factors that tend to divide neighborhoods.  When opinions are openly expressed on these topics, loose lips sink relationships.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear, Ephesians 4:29.

The apostle Paul provides a solution to those who have fractured relationships due to careless words.  Sure, all human beings are imperfect, prone to moments of weakness where the choice of language is inappropriate.  In view of this, the more positive you remain, the less likely you will offend friends and strangers.  Faking this will prove to be a waste of time so its essentially to be genuine and honest.  While no one will ever be 100% encouraging all the time, this is the goal to restore formerly loose lips to repair relationships.

by Jay Mankus

 

 

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Ahead of His Time

Posted on April 9, 2013 by expressyourself4him

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English has been the primary language in America since the early British settlements of the 1600’s.  Described as the Great American Melting Pot in Saturday Morning advertisements aired while children watched cartoons during the 1980’s, this country has gone through a major cultural transformation.  Instructions enclosed inside new products have multiple languages, with Spanish and English always mentioned.  Electronic telephone directions are played in English first, then Spanish.  In addition, depending upon the airport you travel through, intercom updates can be heard in Japanese, German or French.

Believe it or not, Pontus Pilate was ahead of his time.  After his wife was warned in a dream, likely a nightmare, Matthew 27:19, Pilate tried to pass the buck and responsibility for Jesus onto the religious leaders.  According to John 19:1-16, Pilate tried to persuade them, yet gave into public pressure.  However, in a last ditch effort to wash his hands of Jesus’ death, Pilate does something remarkable in John 19:19-20.  While he had a notice prepared and fastened to Jesus’ cross that read, “King of the Jews,” few recognize the last words of verse 20.  Like modern America, Pilate had ordered 3 separate plaques, in each of the 3 major languages of the day.

Maybe Pilate’s wife was mad at him, twisting his arm to have these 3 signs made.  Possibly a deep sense of remorse filled Pilate’s soul, inspiring him to do something in his power.  Or God, through the whisper of the Holy Spirit urged Pilate to inscribe the truth about Jesus for all to see in Aramaic, Latin and Greek.  Although, no one will know for sure until heaven, I suspect the hand of God played a vital role, helping Pilate be ahead of his time in communicating to all nations the truth about Jesus!

by Jay Mankus

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