Tag Archives: sarcasm

A Sign of Wisdom

Posted on November 30, 2016 by expressyourself4him

When I become frustrated, sarcasm is the first thing to come out of my mouth.  If I’m not careful, these words can become foreplay before I erupt with anger.  The biblical definition of temperance refers to going as far as permissible and no further.  Perhaps, this might explain why the apostle Paul suggests “in your anger, do not sin.”

Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues, Proverbs 17:28.

Meanwhile, Solomon addresses a similar issue with the Israelites.  There are several moments in life when its better to kept silent, refraining from saying something that you might regret.  Maybe this is where parents get their expression, “if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it.”  Either way, this advice provides a sign of wisdom.

So that we would not be outwitted by Satan; for we are not ignorant of his designs, 2 Corinthians 2:11.

One of my college professors use to remind our class, if you don’t learn from history you will simply repeat the mistakes of the past.  The passage above serves as a warning that Satan is on the prowl, looking to pounce on a weak soul.  Thus, you should not be ignorant of his schemes, Ephesians 6:10-12.  In view of this knowledge, put on the shield of faith.  Those who wear the armor of God daily will serve as a sign of wisdom to those living in darkness.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Escaping the Snares of Sarcasm

Posted on October 4, 2016 by expressyourself4him

A snare is most commonly used for catch or trap small game.  Yet, sarcasm is like a playful spirit inside of souls which gives those who indulge a sense of pleasure.  Unfortunately, this high can be addictive, causing many to make sarcasm a way of life.  After being convicted by a sermon last Sunday, I find myself wanting to escape the snares of sarcasm.

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving, Ephesians 5:4.

Those on the other side of this issue will argue, where is your sense of humor?  This logic sounds justifiable until you began to open the Bible.  The apostle Paul doesn’t leave anything to doubt, laying down God’s expectations on wholesome speech in a letter to the church of Ephesus who appears to have compromised their language.

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.

If you find yourself living, going to school or working in a negative environment, its hard to refrain from sarcasm.  Besides this exercise of verbal zingers, an atmosphere can develop as one after another piles on the next comment.  Avoiding this feeding frenzy is tough, especially without the power of the Holy Spirit.  So the next time you have an urge to blurt something out, ask the Lord for a spirit of love, power and self-discipline.  Perhaps, then you will be able to escape the snares of sarcasm.

by Jay Mankus

 

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That Will Solve The Problem…Not

Posted on November 25, 2014 by expressyourself4him

A PSA is short for Public Service Announcement.  Whether organizations are motivated by personal convictions, political correctness or remorse, PSA’s have become a common vehicle to communicate messages.  In view of players involved in domestic violence cases, the National Football League has created a recent commercial using stars to stop this assault on women.

Unfortunately, PSA’s often assume 2 things.  First, listening to this ad will result in stopping this behavior.  Second, if you follow the advice provided, together you can eliminate it from society.  This mindset is flawed, not taking the sinful nature into consideration.  Thus, sarcasm leads me to think to myself, “that will solve the problem, not!”

From my experience as a parent, teacher and worker, no one wants to be told what to do.  Sure, as a leader, you have to set the expectations you want others to adhere to.  Nonetheless, hearts have to change before the culture becomes transformed from violence to good Samaritans.  Unless individuals become born again, John 3:3-5, the world will remain hampered by the stains of sin.

by Jay Mankus

 

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The Sons of Thunder

Posted on July 30, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Nick names provide a window into a person’s soul.  Although some may be based upon an embarrassing moment, humorous personality or sarcasm, nicknames serve as terms of endearment, sobriquet or a tag that sticks.  If you allow yourself to become vulnerable in a social setting, sooner or later you too will receive one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iBcE_l7pWQ

In the first century, two young fisherman were given an unusual nickname in Mark 3:17, known as the sons of thunder.  Growing up on their father’s boat, James and John likely passed on fishing stories to the disciples.  The origin of this label has 3 possible explanations.  First, since fisherman like to go out in the rain, perhaps whenever the boys went along with dad, it began to thunder.  On the other hand, thunder can also represent someone with a bad temper, wearing emotions on your sleeves.  Finally, since voices echo on water, each might have possessed a loud voice, bouncing off the water like thunder.  Whatever the source, people are watching to see who you really are.

Most of the nicknames I accrued over time occurred in either high school or college.  Blue Jay, Mank the Tank and Praying Mantis are just a few of the ones that come to mind.  While reflecting on this topic, I began to wonder, how will people remember me?  Was I a hypocrite, jerk or pain in the butt?  I’m sure some of my former students have strong opinions either way.  Though people will continue to dole out nicknames, make sure the one’s you earn glorify God.

Feel free to share your favorite nick name and the context in which it was coined.

by Jay Mankus

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Don’t Quit Your Day Job

Posted on July 27, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Unfortunately,  no one knows for sure who first coined the phrase, “don’t quit your day job.”   However, we do know how to interpret this figure of speech.  If you are mediocre at best with a favorite hobby, this term is used to sarcastically warn friends or foes to stick with their current occupation.  Although, if you work nights, hobbies become your day job as individuals attempt to maintain balance in life.

When family members aren’t honest, people will either be crushed, devastated or humiliated.  If you don’t believe me, just watch American Idol, America’s Got Talent or the Voice.  Perhaps, some know they suck, but are simply trying to obtain 15 seconds of fame by making it on television or should I say shame?  Either way you put it, only the most skilled can risk quitting their day job if they truly long to follow their dreams.

As for my current situation, I have the best of both worlds, working at night and pursuing my goal of publishing a book/seeing one of my movies on the big screen.  Nonetheless, I won’t be quitting my day job anytime soon since  perfecting my projects is years away.  In the meantime, I am striving to fulfill Ephesians 5:15-16, seizing the hours I have on earth to make my mark.  Therefore, don’t quit your day job until the Lord provides a door for you to walk through.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Forgiven… Not Excused

Posted on November 9, 2013 by expressyourself4him

One of my weakest areas as a high school teacher was consistently disciplining students by the same standards day in and day out.  When I was in a good mood, I tended to be more patient, forgiving or overlooking acts I normally confronted or punished.  Meanwhile, if I was frustrated or irritated by a previous class, the wrath of Mr. Mankus came down in full force, kicking students out of class or sending several willing participants to after school detention.  In a sense, my goal was to communicate the message, “you’re forgiven, yet not excused for your behavior.

 

As a parent, this struggle has become more complicated as my kids have grown up and become too comfortable to their laid back dad.  Whenever I try to corral them toward a desired behavior, I receive sarcasm, creating a chain of laughter at my dinner table.  Discipline is like an art form which requires discernment, firmness and a set of values to abide by.  Bribing my children doesn’t work as well as it once was, spanking only worked when they were younger and yelling is too exhausting.  Although I am imperfect, all I can do is strive to live out Proverbs 22:6, proclaiming, “you’re forgiven by not excused from your actions.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waY7YM34N5U

John 8:1-11 contains a woman whose hand in caught in the cookie jar of sin.  Before the days of judges and juries, the religious leaders were old school, taking action right away.  Interrupting Jesus’ teaching, the Pharisees were eager to apply the law of Moses, seeking the death penalty for the adulterer.  Thinking of his journey to the cross, Jesus turned his attention to perfection, looking for the guiltless to pick up the first stone.  Writing down the sins of the people in the crowd in the sand, the accusers leave one by one, dropping their rocks on their way home.  Although the crowd fled, Jesus didn’t let the woman off easy.  John 8:11 implies once you ask God for forgiveness, an act of contrition is necessary.  Jesus loves you just the way you are, but cares enough to move you beyond sin.  Therefore, the next time you receive forgiveness, God expects genuine repentance, turning 180 degrees toward Him, leaving sinful ways in the rear view mirror.

by Jay Mankus

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Where it All Began

Posted on October 22, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Initially, the Bible was a gift I received after partaking in my first Holy Communion as a 2nd grader.  This white leather covered book was filled with pictures, perfect for someone that age.  As I grew older, busyness, distractions and other interests caused me to leave these pages on my shelf, collecting dust for years.  By the time junior high rolled around, the Roman Catholic Church informed me that it was time for confirmation, usually a year long process filled with a detailed checklist.  Despite receiving an adult black leather King James Bible for my hard work, I treated this book like a hotel visit, inside my nightstand.

 

As I entered high school, the priests at my parent’s church claimed that only they could properly interpret the Bible.  Sarcasm inside of me thought; “why did you give me 2 Bible’s if you knew I wouldn’t understand it?”  Turned off by men of the cloth, God placed me into an unique setting.  Although superficial at first, I began running cross country to get my name in the news paper, like our paperboy who always finished in the top 3 of each race.  The Lord used this artificial motivation to bring me into something special, like a small family of strangers who seemingly hit it off from the beginning.  Cross Country was no longer just running, it was eating meals together, spending time dreaming about life and sharing burdens to help each other to get through the day.

 

The Bible became more than just a book before each cross country race.  It all began during chapels, pre-race huddles when a senior would share an inspirational story, our coach would read a verse from the Bible about running and a captain usually closed in a short prayer.  Hearing passages like Hebrews 12:1, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 and Galatians 5:7 transformed my perspective of the Bible.  Prior to high school cross country, the Bible was a book, too holy for me to comprehend.  Yet, when my own peers began to recount the words of the apostle Paul, an avid sports enthusiast, there was an instant connection, Romans 10:17.  By the end of my sophomore running season, I was ready to take the plunge, Romans 10:9-10, a leap of faith.  For me, this is where it all began.

by Jay Mankus

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Whateverism

Posted on October 9, 2013 by expressyourself4him

 

Over the last 30 years, the term whatever has become synonymous with sarcasm, a common phrase used by valley girls, a brief fad during the 1980’s.  From an English teacher’s perspective, whatever can be used as a pronoun, adjective or informal interjection, designating a thing, number or slang comment.  On the other hand, whateverism refers to an unyielding attempt by a forceful mind to convert simple moral truth into limitless shades of grey according to the Urban Dictionary.

Whateverism is the polar opposite of fundamentalism which is founded upon absolute truth, where right and wrong is clearly defined with moral constructs.  In a culture of increased sensitivity, whateverism is most commonly used when an individual politely agrees to disagree with a person from another faith, saying something like, “that’s nice for you, but I’m content with where I am.”  Since the Bible and prayer has been banned from public education in America in the 1960’s, Hollywood has interjected examples of whateverism within classic movies like City Slickers and Grand Canyon.

In City Slickers, Billy Crystal is undergoing a mid-life crisis, convinced by his wife to spend a few weeks with the guys to go find himself.  During his vacation as a cattle wrangler, he meets Curly, a cowboy who teaches Crystal about the meaning of life using whateverism.  Meanwhile, Kevin Kline, Danny Glover and Steve Martin paths cross unexpectedly in the film Grand Canyon.  As each cast member struggles with various trials, the answer to life can be found by experiencing the Grand Canyon.  Although each of these answers to life’s problems sound somewhat appealing, I’d rather be 100 % confident in Acts 4:12 than find out afterwards I was wrong.  May the promise of Isaiah 55:6 come true for you!.

by Jay Mankus

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Blowing Off Steam

Posted on August 3, 2013 by expressyourself4him

When I hear someone try to reenact an event, joke or story, its hard to capture or relive the moment.  This is where Genesis 22:3 falls between the cracks, often skipped over by those studying one of the most famous chapters of the Bible.  In the wee hours of the morning, doing the work of a servant, Abraham blows off steam, chopping wood, trying to contemplate the task God assigns him.

As I meditated on this passage, I am picturing an old man, 100 years old to be precise.  As he barely get’s the heavy axe over his head, Abraham begins to mutter to himself before splitting the logs located on the ground in two.  Using sarcasm, his conversation goes something like this.  “Let me get this straight God; You are telling me to sacrifice the son you promised my wife and I, the same one we waited more than 18 years to conceive, the one who is suppose to be the father of a great nation and now you want me, his father, to kill him?”  Abraham takes his frustration out on each log, fuming and mumbling to himself.

Meanwhile, I see one of the 2 servants awake tries to intervene.  “Master, are you sure you don’t want me to do this?”  Abraham replies with a raised whisper, “just get the camels and donkeys ready for our journey.  We will need enough food and water for 6 days, so do what I ask.”  Shaking his head, the servant makes one more comment before going on his way, “why don’t we just tell your wife?”  “Hush,” Abraham replies, “how can I tell her I am about to sacrifice her one and only son?  No, we leave in one hour, before sunrise.  I am almost finished here.”  Abraham, bends over for a moment, stretching his back, then perseveres using a full moon as light until he has chopped up enough wood for their journey to Mount Moriah.

Jacob wrestled with God, Moses stuttered in God’s presence and Abraham blew off steam by mentally preparing himself for the hardest test man could endure.  If this is bad enough, think about Genesis 22:7 as Isaac asks his father about the sacrifice.  Somewhere along this journey, Abraham came to one of 2 conclusions.  First, either God was going to super naturally intervene like He does in Genesis 22:13 or the concept or resurrection came to Abraham.  At this point, in this weak moment, God took over, similar to Paul’s experience in 2 Corinthians 12:7-12.  Therefore, don’t be afraid to blow off steam, vent your disappointment with God or challenge God’s will for your life.  When you reach the point of total surrender, the Lord will unveil a miracle in your life.  However, at first, you must let go, Matthew 16:25.  God wouldn’t ask man to do something that He wasn’t already considering.

by Jay Mankus

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Hitting the Reset Button

Posted on October 31, 2012 by expressyourself4him

     When the sun arose along the Atlantic Coast this morning, the landscape has been transformed by the wind and waves of Hurricane Sandy.  Piers like the caption above have disappeared into a few mangled pieces of debris scattered across sand dunes, at least what’s left of them.  Meanwhile, home owners, local businesses and nearby residents are left to pick up the pieces of their properties, trying to salvage as many things as possible.  In a sense, these families affected will be hitting the reset button today, forced to start over from scratch.
     Every month or so, my old laptop will freeze.  Sometimes, I will walk away for a few minutes and return to a normal screen.  Unfortunately, most of the time, I am forced to hit ctrl, alt delete.  While I may lose what I was working on, at least I have the option of hitting the reset button, to reboot my computer.  Although not life threatening, for a writer, computer failures are more of an annoyance than anything else.
     In the early first century, Jewish leaders struggled to grasp the message Jesus communicated daily.  One night, one of the Pharisees, secretly met with Jesus, afraid of what his peers might think.  During their conversation, John 3:1-21, Nicodemus asks a few questions to comprehend Jesus’ mindset.  Sarcastic at first, Nicodemus leaves Jesus dumbfounded.  However, the words of John 3:16-17 stuck with Nicodemus.  Based upon the accounts of John 7:50-52 and John 19:38-42, Nicodemus hit the reset button in his mind, becoming born again, John 3:5.
     According to Matthew 6:19-24, despite the material possessions and wealth people accumulate, these things will pass.  Storms will erode our homes, possessions will decay overtime and life will run out.  Therefore, before its too late, don’t miss out on your chance to hit the reset button on your life spiritually, Acts 8:30-38.  The one whom Jesus loved leaves you with the promise of eternal security, 1 John 5:13.  Follow the words of Jesus in Matthew 6:20-21, reboot your mind spiritually and you will off to a good start!
by Jay Mankus

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