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When Common Sense and Prayer Unite

Posted on March 11, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Scanning cable news channels on any given night can be entertaining, head scratching, and frightening all at the same time. Left is right, up is down, right is wrong, and science is gender neutral. One of the things I appreciate about attending a public high school and university is that I’ve experienced several cultures, faiths, and people over my 53 years of life on earth. Despite the numerous differences that do exist, I’ve seen common sense and prayer unite a congregation.

Then [Abraham] said to Him, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak [again]. Suppose [only] thirty shall be found there. And He answered, I will not do it if I find thirty there. 31 And [Abraham] said, Behold now, I have taken upon myself to speak [again] to the Lord. Suppose [only] twenty shall be found there. And [the Lord] replied, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake. 32 And he said, Oh, let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak again only this once. Suppose ten [righteous people] shall be found there. And [the Lord] said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake, Genesis 18:30-32.

I recall a special Red Lion elder meeting hosted by the Gilberts. The entire Church Board was gathered in Larry’s office in a circle when Pastor’s Jamie’s words resonated with my good friend Mark. As the board was revisiting our mission statement and vision for Red Lion Evangelical Free Church, Mark was touched by the Holy Spirit, brought to uncontrollable tears. The Board didn’t care if visitors stayed or became members of our church, all we wanted as a group of believers is for our community is to know Jesus by entering into a personal relationship.

Yet because this widow continues to bother me, I will defend and protect and avenge her, lest she give me [b]intolerable annoyance and wear me out by her continual coming or [c]at the last she come and rail on me or [d]assault me or [e]strangle me. 6 Then the Lord said, Listen to what the unjust judge says! 7 And will not [our just] God defend and protect and avenge His elect (His chosen ones), who cry to Him day and night? Will He [f]defer them and [g]delay help on their behalf? 8 I tell you, He will defend and protect and avenge them speedily. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find [[h]persistence in] faith on the earth? – Luke 18:5-8

When God reveals that Sodom, where his nephew Lot now resides, is going to be destroy, Abraham blends common sense into his prayer. Abraham begins his prayer hopeful that the presence of godly individuals will convince God to alter his judgement. Jesus points to a persistent widow who uses a similar strategy as she prays for the justice and ruling she believes is just and right. While God doesn’t grant every request that you long for in prayer, mixing common sense with prayer won’t hurt and can lead to uniting an entire church body.

by Jay Mankus

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Paranormal Activity in the Bible

Posted on October 24, 2022 by expressyourself4him

While Paranormal Activity was a 2007 horror film, there have been several cable television spin offs based upon personal experiences with the spiritual realm, Ephesians 6:12. One of these newer shows is entitled Fact of Fiction where two different teams are sent to research and personally experience specific locations around the globe. While science has proven many to be coincidences or hoaxes, certain paranormal activity has been confirmed.

And when from a distance he saw Jesus, he ran and fell on his knees before Him in homage, 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, What have You to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? [What is there in common between us?] I [f]solemnly implore you by God, do not begin to torment me! 8 For Jesus was commanding, Come out of the man, you unclean spirit! 9 And He asked him, What is your name? He replied, My name is Legion, for we are many. 10 And he kept begging Him urgently not to send them [himself and the other demons] away out of that region. 11 Now a great herd of hogs was grazing there on the hillside. 12 And the demons begged Him, saying, Send us to the hogs, that we may go into them! 13 So He gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out [of the man] and entered into the hogs; and the herd, numbering about 2,000, rushed headlong down the steep slope into the sea and were drowned in the sea, Mark 5:6-13.

The Bible is filled with Paranormal accounts in both the Old and New Testament. One of the most intriguing cases is a man possessed by two thousand different demons. One of these demons caused this man to regularly cut himself, similar to the Self-Injury/Cutting phenomena that I came in contact with as a high school teacher. While psychologists still treat this condition today, do any attribute this to demonic influences?

Soon afterward, [Jesus] went on through towns and villages, preaching and bringing the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God. And the Twelve [apostles] were with Him, 2 And also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had been expelled; Luke 8:1-2.

There are other encounters in the Bible when Jesus tried to confront demons. Jesus discovered that some of these demons caused elliptic seizures, a loss of body control, and stuttering. Other spirits were attributed to various diseases, illnesses, and medical conditions. While I have met a Christian author who has devoted his ministry to examining the role demons play in paranormal activity, demonology is still one of those topics most Christians shy away from. May today’s blog open your heart to what’s really behind modern paranormal activity.

by Jay Mankus

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A Lament for Covid 19

Posted on November 27, 2021 by expressyourself4him

A lament is a passionate expression of grief and sorrow. One Old Testament writer developed the nickname of the weeping prophet. Unfortunately, every time Jeremiah seemed to receive a message from the Lord, it made him cry or brought sadness to Israel. Perhaps, this was the inspiration for the Book of Lamentations. Whatever the reason, certain events like Covid-19 bring a similar cry for help today.

And I say, Perished is my strength and my expectation from the Lord. 19 [O Lord] remember [earnestly] my affliction and my misery, my wandering and my outcast state, the wormwood and the gall. 20 My soul has them continually in remembrance and is bowed down within me, Lamentations 3:18-20.

Since the Coronavirus struck the United States in 2020, more than 770,000 lives have been snuffed out by this deadly plague. Despite having access to vaccines in 2021, Covid 19 has now taken more lives in the United States this year than 2020, 386,233 and counting. You would think that as more Americans get vaccinated the death toll would steadily decline, but this is not the case.

But this I recall and therefore have I hope and expectation: 22 It is because of the Lord’s mercy and loving-kindness that we are not consumed, because His [tender] compassions fail not, Lamentations 3:21-22.

When science doesn’t have the answers or a cure, Jesus is the last line of defense. In the passage above, Jeremiah takes a dire situation and changes his perspective. Instead of focusing on what can’t be done, Jeremiah remembers all the past miracles performed by God in the Bible. Despite how bleak your future may be, hold on to Jesus as you lament to the Lord for a real cure for Covid 19.

by Jay Mankus

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A Molecular Miracle

Posted on June 27, 2021 by expressyourself4him

A miracle is defined as an extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers. When science can’t explain what just happened, miracles are ascribed to a supernatural cause. One of nature’s most powerful organic electrolytes is Fulvic Acid. This organic natural electrolyte can balance and energize biological properties it comes into contact. This attribute has led scientists to refer to Fulvic Acid as a molecular miracle.

And when the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, They have no more wine! 4 Jesus said to her, [Dear] woman, what is that to you and to Me? [What do we have in common? Leave it to Me.] My time (hour to act) has not yet come. 5 His mother said to the servants, Whatever He says to you, do it, John 2:3-5.

One of Jesus’ disciples recalls the Bible’s version of a molecular miracle in the passage above. At this time, Jesus has only called 6 of his 12 disciples, still waiting to recruit half of his ministry team. In the meantime, Jesus is invited to wedding, a family friend of Mary’s. When news of the wine running out reached Jesus’ mother, she knew her son had special powers to save the day.

Jesus said to them, Fill the waterpots with water. So they filled them up to the brim. 8 Then He said to them, Draw some out now and take it to the manager of the feast [to the one presiding, the superintendent of the banquet]. So they took him some. 9 And when the manager tasted the water just now turned into wine, not knowing where it came from—though the servants who had drawn the water knew—he called the bridegroom 10 And said to him, Everyone else serves his best wine first, and when people have drunk freely, then he serves that which is not so good; but you have kept back the good wine until now! – John 2:7-10

This molecular miracle began with several pots of water. In a matter of minutes, Jesus turned H2O into fine wine. A typical first century wedding would last somewhere between a weekend up to six days. When guests were drunk, the fine wine was replaced with cheap alcohol. Yet, according to the passage above, not only did Jesus perform a molecular miracle, the quality of this wine was top of the line. This is what is possible when God became flesh, John 1:1.

by Jay Mankus

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You Can’t Quantify Feelings

Posted on June 11, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Science is based upon the collection of data. This information is accumulated through a series of experiments using trial and error to quantify the difference between fact and fiction. Quantify refers to assessing, calculating, evaluating, gauging, sizing up and weighing the results. Theories are developed and formed based upon observing similar outcomes over and over again. One thing that scientists all agree on is that you can’t quantify feelings.

The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]? 10 I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings, Jeremiah 17:9-10.

One Old Testament prophets warns Jews of the dangers of feelings. If human hearts are deceitful, you can’t trust your feelings to be accurate. According to Jeremiah, hearts and minds can play tricks on you, resulting in waves of emotions. Meanwhile, feelings are temporary, often fleeting and fading from one thing to the next. Unless you are in love, feelings tend to change like the weather.

Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses], Hebrews 11:1.

Since you can’t quantify feelings, the author of Hebrews reveals how faith is the vehicle designed to take the place of feelings. Faith serves as assurance like a spiritual heart beat to keep Christians going. When hope is absent or invisible, faith is the foundation for belief in God’s existence. While feelings often end in disappointment, living by faith and not by sight encourages others to do the same. When faith is lived out daily, blind hope can be quantified.

by Jay Mankus

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The Taxonomy of the Bible

Posted on May 13, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Taxonomy is the branch of science concerned with the classification of organisms in a systematic manner. The origin of taxonomy comes from the Ancient Greek words τάξις and νομία. Taxis is where we get the word arrangement and method is the scientific study of naming. Unfortunately, the founder of taxonomy is often overlooked. According to Moses, Adam was the first human being to classify every wild animal and living creature on earth.

Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him, Genesis 2:18.

Following the creation story in Genesis 1:31, there was one thing missing, a suitable helper. Although modern pet lovers refer to dogs as man’s best friend, Adam became lonely and unfulfilled. Following the completion of Adam’s taxonomy project, the Lord came up with plan B. Like a patient prepped for surgery, Adam doses off before God does His magic. Genesis 2:21-22 tells the story of how Eve was formed.

And out of the ground the Lord God formed every [wild] beast and living creature of the field and every bird of the air and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them; and whatever Adam called every living creature, that was its name. 20 And Adam gave names to all the livestock and to the birds of the air and to every [wild] beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him, Genesis 2:19-20.

In this age of political correctness, Science is kept separate from the Bible. Rather than compliment one another, agnostics and atheists refuse to accept the fact that you can’t have Science without faith. This ignorance is the same stubbornness that Jewish religious displayed during Jesus’ earthly ministry. While the science of taxonomy continues today, no one has done more work in this field than Adam of the Bible.

by Jay Mankus

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Science and Religion

Posted on May 8, 2021 by expressyourself4him

Albert Einstein was born on March 14, 1879 in Ulm. This city in the state of Württemberg, Germany is home to one of the brightest minds of my generation. When you consider the more than 300 scientific theories that Einstein published over the course of his life, his vast knowledge ranks up there with the wisdom of Solomon. The secret behind King’s Solomon wisdom came as an answer to prayer. Since the Lord was pleased by this request, people came from all over the world just to hear the rulings made by Solomon.

Your servant is in the midst of Your people whom You have chosen, a great people who cannot be counted for multitude. 9 So give Your servant an understanding mind and a hearing heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and bad. For who is able to judge and rule this Your great people? 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had asked this, 1 Kings 3:8-10,

One of the most powerful statements made by Einstein comes from an essay published in 1954. In an article entitled Science and Religion, Einstein wrote “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind.” When you read between the lines, this intellectual giant understood the relationship between Science and the Bible. The Creator of Science is the Living Word of God, John 1:1-5. Just as the Bible is designed to reveal truth, Science was created to help human beings understand the laws of nature.

And when I rose to nurse my child, behold, he was dead. But when I had considered him in the morning, behold, it was not the son I had borne. 22 But the other woman said, No! But the living one is my son, and the dead one is your son! And this one said, No! But the dead son is your son, and the living is my son. Thus they spoke before the king. 23 The king said, One says, This is my son that is alive and yours is the dead one. The other woman says, No! But your son is the dead one and mine is the living one. 24 And the king said, Bring me a sword. And they brought a sword to the king. 25 And the king said, Divide the living child in two and give half to the one and half to the other. 26 Then the mother of the living child said to the king, for she yearned over her son, O my lord, give her the living baby, and by no means slay him. But the other said, Let him not be mine or yours, but divide him. 27 Then the king said, Give her [who pleads for his life] the living baby, and by no means slay him. She is the child’s mother, 1 Kings 3:21-27.

In this age of Cancel Culture, Science that doesn’t support the media’s narrative is disregarded, ignored or suppressed. If you go back to the final year of the Trump presidency, the Coronavirus drug Hydroxychloroquine was attacked, demonized and given false negative reviews because Donald Trump came out and supported it. If Einstein was still alive, he’d likely remind American’s that you can’t have Science without faith in God. I don’t know what the future holds, but Science and the Bible will continue to support one another regardless of what liberal talking points proclaim.

by Jay Mankus

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Censoring Science

Posted on August 18, 2020 by expressyourself4him

Dr. Stella Immanuel made a speech in front of the Supreme Court a few weeks ago. In this age of social justice, Immanuel possesses the ideal pedigree as an immigrant and African American, Yet, there is one blemish on this doctor’s resume, she is pro hydroxychloroquine. Unfortunately, if you are for something that President Trump is in favor of, the media has a tendency to demonize you.

Behold, I will bring to it health and healing, and I will heal them and reveal to them abundance of prosperity and security, Jeremiah 33:6.

After having success using hydroxychloroquine with zinc, Dr. Immanuel believes that this combination of medicine is the cure for COVID-19. When a video of Dr. Immanuel’s speech went viral on social media, Facebook and Twitter each removed this video claiming the content violated their policies on misinformation. When members of the media discovered that Dr. Stella was also serving as a Christian pastor at a church in Houston, a smear campaign was unleashed against her.

When men began to multiply on the face of the land and daughters were born to them, 2 The sons of God saw that the daughters of men were fair, and they took wives of all they desired and chose, Genesis 6:1-2.

Instead of using evidence to refute Dr. Immanuel’s claims that using hydroxychloroquine with zinc isn’t the cure for COVID-19, science is being censored. Meanwhile, several quotes from previous sermons were immediately leaked to portray Stella as a crazy doctor who has lost her mind. One message used the passage above, attempting to explain how giants came into existence on earth. This passage has 3 different interpretations with one suggesting fallen angels conceived with the women of earth. Perhaps, it’s time to stop censoring science by entering into a healthy debate, by putting facts on the table and let the people decide.

by Jay Mankus

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Am I Too Old for Pleasure?

Posted on May 9, 2020 by expressyourself4him

While age is a number, aging is a state of mind. If you believe in science, reaching a specific age has limitations. For a woman who wants to get married and have children before turning forty, their biological clock is ticking. Although anything is possible with God, the odds go down each year you wait to walk in faith.

Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in years; it had ceased to be with Sarah as with [young] women. [She was past the age of childbearing]. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed to herself, saying, After I have become aged shall I have pleasure and delight, my lord (husband), being old also? – Genesis 18:11-12

When Sarah was well beyond the age of bearing children, she gave up hope. Upon overhearing news that Abraham would have a son, Sarah laughed. One translation suggests that Sarah doubted the ability to still have pleasure with her husband. Nonetheless, this promise sets the stage for an epic miracle. The name Isaac is a masculine name from the Hebrew term Yitzchak meaning “he laughs.”

You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy, at Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore, Psalm 16:11.

The Psalmist adds another dimension to pleasure. When individuals are shown and revealed the path of life, God’s will, a fullness of joy is unleashed. Jesus eludes to a similar experience during the first century. John 10:10 discloses God’s purpose on earth, to live an abundant life. Thus, as individuals find their place in this world, walking with God brings pleasure, no matter how young or old that you may be.

by Jay Mankus

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When Liars Deceive the Masses

Posted on October 4, 2019 by expressyourself4him

The definition of corruption is dishonest or fraudulent conduct by those in power, typically involving bribery. Other signs that something fishy is going on includes deceit, lawbreaking and misconduct. Another identifying indicator involves bending the rules or stretching the truth in one’s favor. This is accomplished by deemphasizing the context of a regulation while overemphasizing a key component of this same statute.

While they were on their way, some of the [Roman] guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. 12 And when the chief priests had gathered with the elders and had consulted together [to develop a plan of deception], they gave a sufficient sum of money [as a bribe] to the soldiers, Matthew 28:11-12.

When Jesus rose from the dead in Jerusalem, sometime between year 28-33, the Roman guards in charge of overseeing his tomb faced the punishment of death. Fearful of losing their lives when the truth about Jesus’ resurrection got out, these guards made a pack with local religious leaders. This plan of deception was so successful that following Jesus’ ascension into heaven 40 days later, these liars deceived the masses. Today, agnostics, atheists and scientists all accept this rumor as fact.

And said, “You say this, ‘His disciples came at night and stole Him while we were sleeping.’ 14 And if the governor (Pilate) hears about it, we will calm him down and keep you out of trouble.” 15 So they took the money [they were paid for lying] and did as they were instructed; and this [fabricated] story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to the present day, Matthew 28:13-15.

Unfortunately, this war against Christianity continues today. As secular humanism prospers in this progressive age, science has replaced faith as a guide through life. This climate has allowed the power of the press to attack America’s spiritual heritage daily. As revisit historians have taken control of public education and higher institutions of learning, the cards have been stacked for liars to deceive the masses. If lies continue to spread throughout social media without being exposed, truth will be replaced by deception.

by Jay Mankus

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