Tag Archives: Michael W. Smith

Upside Down

Imagery is used in books, movies and real life to communicate a deeper or hidden meaning. In the Bible, light and darkness is used as a metaphor to illustrate right from wrong. When the circumstances of life comes crashing down upon you, turning everything you thought you knew upside down, it’s time to return to the book of life for answers, Revelation 13:8.

Matthew 16:24-28 is a passage difficult to comprehend from a worldly point of view. The moment a child enters this world, they cry out for to their mother and then to whoever will change or feed them. This urging or desire is what the Bible calls our sinful nature, passed on from Adam, down to each and every generation, Romans 5:12. Nonetheless, Jesus turns everything you have learned about life around in Matthew 16:25. Life is not about taking control, holding onto it for dear life; real life is found by giving it away.

I guess you can say people are in desperate need of a mind transplant, transforming their thoughts from their self to others, Romans 12:1-2. Like the old Michael W. Smith song proclaims in its lyrics, “love isn’t love until you give it away!”. Therefore, as shoopers try to recover from the carnage that is Black Friday, let these words of Jesus soak in to help you catch the Christmas spirit; not for a season, for the rest of your earthly life. If you want to turn the world upside down, it’s begins deep inside your heart, John 3:5-8.

by Jay Mankus

Relentless Determination

In the movie Shawshank Redemption Tim Robbins plays Andy Dufresne, an accountant falsely accused of killing his wife.  After fighting for survival while on laundry duty in prison, the warden begins to show favor toward Andy, moving him to Library duty.  Eventually, Andy is put in charge of the library, getting permission to write the state for funds.  For 3 years, Andy shows relentless determination, not stopping until he receives his goal, money and donated material to update the library.

The Lord convicted me today that I often give up before I reach my goal or desired destination.  Sometimes people read too much into closed doors, failure or lost opportunities.  Trying something once, twice or a few times and abandoning it isn’t honoring to God, especially if you are going in a direction you are passionate about.  As C.S. Lewis declares in Mere Christianity, success is the process of arriving, not actually arriving.

As I continue to search for my place in the world, a song by Michael W. Smith, I need to dig down deep.  Like a 3rd stringer trying to make an NFL team, the person who demonstrates relentless determination often opens the coaches eyes and sometimes wins a spot on the team.  Desperation can bring out the best in someone, especially if they are fighting for their livelihood.  If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!  Faith in a cause leads to relentless determination, James 2:18.

by Jay Mankus