Tag Archives: social outcasts

Finding Complete Healing in a Broken World

Posted on March 23, 2022 by expressyourself4him

As a person who was born with a severe speech impediment, I can relate to the ten lepers in today’s passage who were hoping to be healed. Due to the contagiousness of this disease, lepers were forced to become social outcasts, living outside the city limits. As these men waited for a miracle, doubt began to set in, crushing any thoughts of resuming a normal life. Yet, when Jesus arrived to cure them physically, emotional and internal scars don’t immediately vanish.

As He went on His way to Jerusalem, it occurred that [Jesus] was passing [along the border] between Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as He was going into one village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance, Luke 17:11-12.

According to Jewish law, Leviticus 13:43-46, these ten lepers were unable to come into any physical contact with family or friends. Meanwhile, if anyone came to visit, each was responsible for proclaiming “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN.” While I can’t say that I can relate to the anguish that these ten men endured for weeks and months, I know that heart ache of not being able to express myself as a former stutterer. Just because these 10 lepers and I were healed, doesn’t make all the pain deep inside go away.

And they raised up their voices and called, Jesus, Master, take pity and have mercy on us! 14 And when He saw them, He said to them, Go [at once] and show yourselves to the priests. And as they went, they were cured and made clean, Luke 17:13-14.

Two of the books that have helped me begin to find complete healing is Restoring the Foundations by Chester and Betsy Kylstra and the Handbook for Spiritual Warfare by Dr, Ed Murphy. Restoring the Foundations is now a ministry that helps Christians investigate generational sins and ungodly beliefs that has led to internal brokenness and despair. Meanwhile, the Handbook for Spiritual Warfare uses a series of case studies and personal testimonies of Christians who are on the road to recovery. If you want to find complete healing in a broken world, I highly recommend these two resources to start your recovery.

by Jay Mankus

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More Than Compassion

Posted on May 3, 2015 by expressyourself4him

Talk is cheap unless you live out what you believe.  If you could emulate one person, Jesus set the bar for humanitarianism.   Displaying more than compassion, Jesus made himself available to those in need.

A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” – Mark 1:40.

Primed by prayer, Jesus lent a helping hand while others were hesitant to act.  Disregarding what other religious leaders thought, Jesus made himself available to social outcasts.  Not afraid of contracting leprosy, Jesus’ touch led to a new lease on life.

Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. – Mark 1:41-42

Today, I usually allow time to be an excuse for my lack of action.  As the church goes on in the safety of its own building, the hungry, hurting and needy are waiting for a modern day Jesus.  May a spirit of empathy inspire souls to reach out, get involved and demonstrate more than compassion.

by Jay Mankus

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A Prayer for the Bullied

Posted on January 15, 2014 by expressyourself4him

Regardless of how big, strong or tall you are, one day you will face your match, being the David against a Goliath bully.  In the Back to the Future movie series, George Mcfly faced a life long battle with Biff, never having the courage to stand his ground until he came face to his with his own son Marty.  Going back to his father’s high school years, Marty played by Michael J. Fox, tries to break his father of this submissive trait.  Finally, George becomes enraged by Biff’s mistreatment of Jennifer Parker, filling his fist with supernatural strength, knocking out this bully with one powerful left hand hook to the face.

Unfortunately, this Hollywood ending is not reality for the countless of Americans daily facing bullies at their school, in the neighborhood or at their place of occupation.  Although bullies are conceived during childhood, they don’t magically disappear when you become an adult.  Power, pride and selfish greed inspires an older, less obvious and wiser type of bully.  Seeking and seizing control of others, individuals usually use their status, title and ego to boss around people low on the totem pole.  Subsequently, year and year goes by without upper management ever noticing or seeing this harsh behavior.

Based upon the words of Psalm 10, David appears to have been bullied prior to his rise to power as King of Israel.  His words describe how anyone who has faced bullying feels: helpless, weak and alone.  The youngest in his family, this scrawny boy was a mere shepherd, an insignificant member of his household.  During these days alone, an outcast in the fields, David began to communicate with God through prayer.  Psalm 10 depicts a long period of unanswered prayers from verse 1-13.  However, in the end, God answered David with a prayer for the bullied, “You hear O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more!” – Psalm 10:16-17

by Jay Mankus

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A Memorial Day Offering

Posted on May 26, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Like a feud between siblings, the origin of the first Memorial Day celebration is clouded by history, with over 25 American cities taking credit.  The initial holiday was coined Decoration Day, based upon a 1867 hymn Kneel Where Our Loves Are Sleeping.  Inspired by the end of the Civil War, ladies of the South decorated the graves of dead confederate soldiers.  Although president Lyndon Johnson officially declared Waterloo, New York as the birthplace of Memorial Day in 1966, the debate continues today as several cities had spontaneous celebrations back in the 1860’s.

Acts 10:4 introduces another memorial day, one with a spiritual background.  Legalism within the Jewish faith had exploded by the first century, creating social barriers between Jews, Gentiles and half-Jews due to inter marriage.  Like a leper, outcast by society, Gentiles were not initially accepted by the 12 apostles, who focused on reaching all the Jews within Jerusalem, Acts 1:8.  However, the persecution led by Saul caused early church leaders to shift directions in Acts 8:1-4 toward believers located in Judea and Samaria.  When the time had arrived, the prayers of a Gentile named Cornelius were answered.

An angel of the Lord came to Cornelius in a vision one afternoon, Acts 10:3.  While silent for years, God brings him great news.  Cornelius’ prayers and gifts to the poor have not been overlooked, brought to light in a memorial offering.  The final touch is communicated to Peter in a vision found in Acts 10:9-16.  This occurred so that legalism of Jewish Christians would be broken, lifted to welcome any Gentile into the kingdom of God.  Since Jesus died once and for all for all sin, 1 Peter 3:18, as a memorial offering for mankind, God’s goal was to eliminate cliches, factions and social barriers within the church, Colossians 2:20-23.  In view of this, don’t let holiday shopping, weather or worldly ways keep you from offering up a Memorial Day prayer!

by Jay Mankus

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