Tag Archives: leadership

When Holiness Faded into Sin

jesus christ on the cross photo: cross jesus_cross.jpg

According to Genesis 10:21, the Hebrews were descendents of Eber whose grandfather was Shem, son of Noah, whom the Lord found favor on, Genesis 6:8-9.  The father of this nation was called out of Ur, as God promised Abraham a great land with countless offspring, Genesis 12:1-3.  The formation of Israel neared completion through Jacob, Genesis 32:22-30, whose 12 sons formed the 12 tribes mentioned in Numbers 1.  Despite God’s attempts, introducing the 10 commandments as a guide for life in Exodus 20:1-17, holiness faded into sin 12 chapters later.

 In the absence of Moses’ leadership, Aaron wilted under peer pressure like Eve in the garden, giving the Israelites just what they wanted, Exodus 32:1-4.  With the words of God out of sight, the hearts and minds of the Jews quickly broke the second commandment, Exodus 32:5-6.  This sinful act enraged the Lord so much that He contemplated wiping out everyone, Exodus 32:9-10.  Just as Abraham had fought for the citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah hundreds of years earlier, Genesis 18:16-33, Moses intervened seeking God’s favor in prayer, Exodus  32:11-14.

Not much has changed today as God is watching daily from the sidelines in heaven, scratching his head at similar selfish acts.  God’s efforts to set Israel apart from the rest of the world through the covenant of  circumcision failed.  Thus, plan 2 was necessary, sending His one and only son to earth, to be sin for mankind so that righteousness could be restored, 2 Corinthians 5:21.  When holiness faded, Jesus stood up, hitting a spiritual home run by offering his life as a living sacrifice for sin, Hebrews 9:26-28.

by Jay Mankus

I Need A Hero

In 1984, Bonnie Tyler was one of the first to sing about wanting a hero,  appearing on the Footloose sound track, then on her Secret Dreams and Forbidden Fire album.  While the context of Holding Out for a Hero focuses on a sexual fantasy within a dream, most women share her sentiment of having a knight in shiny armor, superman or someone beyond this world sweep them off their feet.  This ideal person says one of 2 things about men today.  First, either they aren’t connecting with the average female or they don’t possess strong leadership qualities that woman are longing for in a man.

Nearly 20 years later, Superchick came out with the song Hero on their 2002 album entitled Last One Picked.  However, the similarities stop there.  Superchick uses 2 individuals, a boy contemplating suicide and a girl addicted to drugs.  The chorus defines a hero as someone who doesn’t fold under pressure or give up on the life God has endowed them with.  Thus, being a hero in Superchick’s eyes is based upon the choices you make in life.

In the end, you can stand by and watch your wife be tempted and eventually give in to sin like Adam, Genesis 3:6.  Or you can be a godly leader like Joshua, refusing to allow compromise to enter his nation, pleading with God for answers in Joshua 7:7-9.  Biblical heroes are near extinct, vanishing from the face of the earth, like dinosaurs of the past.  Right here and right now, churches, communities and neighbors need a hero to stand up soon or else children will fall by the wayside.  May God stir the hearts of men and women, heeding this call by being a biblical hero to those in their spheres of influence.

by Jay Mankus

Inquiring Minds Want Answers

One of the most difficult tasks I have ever been assigned was trying to teach Junior High students the Bible for 5 years.  If I wrote down all the questions asked during my lectures, I could have written a thorough sex ed curriculum.  While some of my students were simply trying to waste time, others asked great questions that needed a reply.  When inquiring minds want answers, those in authority or leadership positions must feed these hungry souls.

As I started to read the Old Testament again, memories of these questions reverberated within my mind.  Once deemed foolish, I am beginning to share a similar interest into the mysteries of the Bible.  For example, why is nakedness now equated with shame, Genesis 2:25?  Did Cain marry his sister, Genesis 4:17 or did God created other females beside Eve, Genesis 5:1-2?  Does Genesis 4:10 explain the concept of ghosts, haunted houses and dead spirits which still dwell on certain properties?  Finally, does Genesis 6:1-4 refer to aliens, fallen angels or mixed marriages between giants and normal human beings?

I wish I could answer these questions with a sense of certainty and clarity, but I can’t.  Theologians vary, debating these and other topics for centuries.  All I can do is provide my best guess based upon my years of study and training.

1) Marriage is a sacred covenant that you make to another man or woman.  Once you consecrate this bond, there should be no shame among one another.

2) Based upon the time line of Leviticus 18, it appears God allowed intermarriage initially until the population of Israel was large enough.  Once written and communicated by Moses, this type of act was prohibited.

3) Since Jesus and his disciple use the term ghost throughout all 4 gospels, it appears that ghosts and spirits did exist by the first century.  Therefore, the growing accounts of paranormal activity today suggest what happened to Abel certainty does occur.

4) Before answering this final question, Genesis 6:1-4 is one of the most controversial passages in the Bible.  If you link the great pyramids of Egypt, the great wall of China and other architectural wonders of the world, some credit this advanced knowledge to either aliens or fallen angels.  However, the Tower of Babel is erected due to an one world language, making nothing impossible for mankind according to Genesis 11:3-6.  Thus, like many mysteries, you will have to wait until the after life to know for sure.

As inquiring minds send me more questions, I will try my best to answer each from a biblical perspective.  Continue to following the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, testing everything you hear or read with the Bible.

by Jay Mankus

Living Under A Curse?

Cursed Picture? "The Crying Boy"

Since I first began attending church as a toddler, I was led to believe that I could earn my way into heaven based upon my own works.  As I grew older, attending a different youth group in high school, I become exposed to other theological positions.  As an adult, serving as active member and participant of a church, I have searched the Bible to affirm what I ultimately believe today.  However, this morning while listening to a few sermons on the Trinity Broadcasting Network, I discovered that I might be living under a curse.

According to scripture, curses can occur through words, after experiencing emotional trauma, by making wrongs judgments or vows and acts of disobedience.  When a person one says, “you’ll never do this or you won’t succeed,” a word curse is initiated according to Ephesians 4:29-30 and James 3:9.  Meanwhile, Deuteronomy 28:20-22 suggests accidents, disease or illness can be attributed and linked to curses.  Ecclesiastes 5:6 and Deuteronomy 28:5 each claim poor decisions result in curses.  Finally, Jesus himself reveals that unless you forgive others, God will not forgive you, Matthew 6:14-15.

After contemplating pastor Ron Phillips’ message, the Holy Spirit opened my heart to the possibility my unemployment is curse related.  First, its been difficult to completely let go of all the pain I endured while living in the Red Lion soap opera.  Although, I thought I had forgiven all parties involved, God convicted me of some bitterness I am still holding onto within my heart.  Second, when failure becomes the norm in your life, its difficult to purge your mind of negativity and pessimistic thinking.  Lastly, no matter where you are in your faith journey, there is always room for improvement: areas of compromise, complacency and sinful tendencies.

Whatever your own current situation consists of, I know God wants to break any curse or pattern of failure which exists.  Thus, God longs to create a hedge of protection around you, your family, church and nation.  These hedges consists of 5 major components: prayer, leadership, unity, angels and revival.  Breaking and renouncing any curse always begins and ends with prayer, claiming God’s promises.  Prayer also energizers church leaders as well as gives people the motivation to be the head of their house.  Building upon prayer and leadership, unity is the fulfillment of both these elements.  Angelic protection increases when belief in God’s power in verbalized in prayer.  When a vision of ushering in heaven on earth is grasped by a community, revival often breaks out.  While watching the Super Bowl is nice, I long to see a spiritual super bowl, where curses are broken, saints rejoice and Christians experience victory daily!

by Jay Mankus