Tag Archives: soul

Here We Go Again

Posted on July 30, 2013 by expressyourself4him

In a recent blog, I referenced Abram as the mastermind behind the first indecent proposal.  Genesis 12:15 suggests Sarai was taken to be the wife of Pharaoh.  This was such a bad idea that just 4 chapters later in Genesis 16:1-2, Sarai requests a role reversal.  Whenever individuals rely on their own logic instead of God’s guidance, they start sliding down the slippery slope of sin.  So here we go again, committing the same act as before.

One of the things I have learned from being married nearly 20 years is sometimes woman want to verbalize their feelings.  Upon hearing their spouse, men on the other hand, want to fix or problem solve.  Therefore, when Sarai shares her idea with Abram, you can make an assumption that she is simply clearing the air about how she felt when forced to wed Pharaoh.  Instead of further discussing this matter, Abram appears too willing to volunteer, jumping into action.  Like modern premarital arrangements, couples often take the plunge without contemplating how compromise affects the human soul.  God said, “let the two become one” Genesis 2:24, not uniting three with one.  The apostle Paul addresses this in 1 Corinthians 6:12-20 in case anyone forgot about Hagar.

God initially made life on earth easy with only one rule to adhere to, Genesis 2:16-17.  However, Eve got curious, Adam fell asleep on the job and neither took responsibility for their decision.  Here we go again as mankind continues to relive the same mistakes of the past.  In the game of life, all God truly desires is obedience, but Satan in Genesis 3:1 plants a seed of doubt within the human mind, “did God really say that?”  Each time you fall short of God’s glory, Romans 3:23, it’s like Adam or Eve in the garden all over again.  Don’t pull a Hagar by quickly giving into temptation.  Rather, watch out for any harmful cycle or sinful pattern that may currently exist.  If you’re not careful, you might be the next one to say, “here we go again!”

by Jay Mankus

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Go Back To The Mountain

Posted on July 29, 2013 by expressyourself4him

The imagery of the Old Testament uses mountains as the place where God resides.  The book of Exodus refers to Moses’ skin as sunburned and windburned after exiting God’s presence in the mountains.  However, there is something unique about mountains, often glanced over by those who read the Bible for the first time.  According to Genesis 12:6-8, Abram builds the first altars, one in the place where God first revealed himself and the other up in the hill country between Bethel and Ai.  It was on this mountain, where Abram called on the name of the Lord for the first time.

Unfortunately, this mountain top experience didn’t last long as Abram quickly turns to his old self, lying to save his own life.  Since Moses wrote down the accounts of Abram well after his death, there isn’t any details like Jesus’ prayer with his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane, Matthew 26:36-46.  One can only speculate what Abram said to God as he returned in Genesis 13:3-4.  Confession is a given, acknowledging his wrong thinking and asking God to provide daily bread for the remainder of the famine is likely as well.  Nonetheless, this mountain held sentimental value.  This was the place where Abram first began his personal relationship with God.

From a modern sense, Christian’s have a certain church, retreat center, city or place where they first met Jesus.  Whenever believers lose their way, its vital to return to this place so that one can reconnect with God.  Despite all of our shortcomings, God longs to spend time with his children.  Therefore, before the summer comes to an end, go back to the mountain, to the place where you first met Jesus.  May this journey bring peace to your soul!

by Jay Mankus

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Dignity with Poverty

Posted on July 28, 2013 by expressyourself4him

According to the Oxford Dictionary, the term principle means a rule or belief governing one’s personal behavior.  When an individual clearly defines, expresses and holds to these values, they are able to look at themselves in the mirror, knowing they did the right thing.  Even if their decision leads to poverty, its better to suffer with dignity than die in shame.

In the corporate world, financial scandals have left the masses wondering if there anyone who is trustworthy.  Bernie Madoff, Enron executives and recent IRS mishandling of funds have left a trail of corruption behind for others to clean up.  Maybe this is why Agur professes a sensible truth in Psalm 30:8.  “Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.”

One of the things I’ve never been good at is “playing the game” at work.  Instead of kissing up to others in higher positions, using flattery to gain a favorable status or putting on a happy face, I have always been myself.  Sure, I work hard, try my best and want to succeed, but I refuse to fake how I really feel.  I’d rather embrace dignity with poverty than allow riches to corrupt my soul.  Whatever my future holds, I am going to stay true to my principles, letting the chips fall where they may.  When you seek God first, Matthew 6:33, all of your provisions are provided.  Stay true to the one who created you!

by Jay Mankus

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What’s Missing From this Picture?

Posted on July 14, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Regardless of how intelligent or talented you are, everyone goes through periods of slumps, where you are not as productive as usual.  The baseball player can’t get buy a hit.  The running back can’t seem to hold on to the ball anymore.  The jump shooter turns into a brick layer and the goalie treats each opponent like its Christmas.  Likewise, the doctor struggles to diagnose a cold, the engineer wrestles to find a quick solution and the teacher babbles away period after period.  When these circumstances find you, what’s the missing answer, ingredient or piece to your dilemma?

Deep within the pages of the Bible, I think I have unearthed a principle that might just be the missing link.  In Acts 16:22-24, Paul, Silas and Luke find themselves in an awkward predicament, imprisoned for freeing a slave girl.  Instead of arguing, bickering and complaining, somehow they are led to fulfill the words of Psalm 150.  Embracing their situation, Paul and Silas begin a worship service in prison.  This spirit of praise moves God to unleash a violent earthquake, likely 6.0 or higher on the Richter scale.  This natural disaster opens a door for ministry, setting the scene for a spiritual breakthrough.

From a personal perspective, I think I have become too worldly to experience a Pauline like miracle.  However, if I dedicated myself to fasting, prayer and worship, opportunities to share my faith would be plentiful.  Like losing weight, the only remaining question is, do you have the discipline and will power to change.  The apostle Paul went to extreme measures to insure a Christ-like behavior in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27.  Therefore, if a slump resides in your soul, struggling to find meaning and purpose in life, why not apply Psalm 150:6.  Maybe this is the only thing preventing you from getting over the hump.  May this be the last piece you are searching for.

by Jay Mankus

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Tattoos of the Heart

Posted on July 13, 2013 by expressyourself4him

I grew up in a genre where roughly 5-10 % of my peers had a tattoo.  According to a recent Pew Research Poll, 45 million Americans now have at least one tattoo, spending $1.65 billion annually.  Anyone who visits one of the 21,000 parlors across the country should expect to pay a minimum of $45 for a small tattoo or $150 for a large one on average.  If you are noticing those around, tattoos appear almost any where from an arm, leg, neck, shoulder or face.  Sometimes I wonder, why don’t I have one.  Yet, a still small voice revealed I have an internal tattoo on my heart.

When the days of my youth wore off in college, I took the words of Joshua 1:8 to heart.  Something deep inside my soul could not run from God any longer.  Thus, I began to examine passages like Proverbs 4:23 and Deuteronomy 6:5-9.  What I found initially was painful, a crooked and deceitful heart, Jeremiah 17:9.  Despite this grave reality, there is a remedy, a spiritual ointment to cleanse your heart, Psalm 119:9-11.  Therefore, I have discovered a lighted trail, Psalm 119:105, illuminated by the Word of God.  As I read, ponder its meaning and meditate on the truth within each passage, a spiritual tattoo is forming on my heart.

In his sermon on the mount, Jesus eludes to tattoos of the heart in Matthew 6:19-24.  Although, there is a catch, the things you treasure influence your heart.  If you are not careful, tattoos of the heart can be replaced by a world full of greed, materialism and ruin.  Regardless of your external appearance or any tattoo that you display, the condition of your heart will sway you toward evil or good, Luke 6:45.  This is what Stephen saw in religious leaders during the first century, Acts 7:51-52.  Therefore, if you want a tattoo of the heart, strive to fulfill Galatians 5:7, proving yourself to be a disciple of Jesus, John 15:7-8.  Come to God’s tattoo parlor by spending time reading the Bible daily!

by Jay Mankus

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Compro… Not so wise!

Posted on July 8, 2013 by expressyourself4him

This morning a whisper was passing by, catching me off guard.  “Read your Bible later, you’re too tired right now!”  Like a demon assigned by the evil one to cause me to stumble, compromise was trying to implant a not so wise thought.

Nearly 5 months ago, 147 days to be exact, I began a 150 day journey, attempting to read every Psalm, one per day.  Since prayer doesn’t come natural for me, I have been trying to improve my prayer life by learning from King David.  Yet, even David found himself caught by a momentary lapse of judgment in 2 Samuel 11:1-3.  Instead of fighting this whisper of idleness, David gave into this desire, thereby fulfilling the words of James 1:13-15.

When morning comes, the consequences of compromise remain, permanently etched within one’s mind.  As a result, the stains of sin contaminate your soul.  Attached by guilt, individual’s often drift further away, now separated from God.  What started as a whisper has led to a not so wise reality.  If you are feeling defeated today, forgiveness is available every morning, Lamentations 3:22-23.  However, the longer you wait, your condition will worsen, numbing you into an eternal sleep.  Snap out of it before its too late, Hebrews 10:26-27.

by Jay Mankus

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Get Over It!

Posted on June 13, 2013 by expressyourself4him

For 30 plus years, the national media has killed Philadelphia sports fans for booing and throwing snow balls at Santa Claus during an Eagle’s football game in the 1970’s.  With the eyes of the golfing world now on Merion Golf Club, just outside of center city, for this week’s 2013 U.S. Open, another story continues to drag on.  After a disappointing career up to this point, Sergio Garcia recently made an off colored remark toward Tiger Woods, trying to be funny at an news conference in Europe.  Like beating a dead horse, golf and sports analysts continue to bring this up over and over again, trying to stir up bad blood.  For now, can  everyone please move on and get over it?

In life, each individual has endured heartache, frustration and pain at least once.  Bitterness is often a natural response, left behind by someone or something from your past.  Although its true time does heal all things, scar tissue remains, brought to the surface by people, places or things.  If you fail to let go of these emotions, barriers will rise up out of the ground in the form of spiritual roots, Hebrews 12:16.  This obstacle will eat away at your soul, leaving behind division, friction and hatred toward others.  For your own good, I urge you to get over these events, Matthew 6:15.

At the conclusion of Scrooged starring Bill Murray, he confesses his sins to a live audience.  After evaluating his own life, Murray realizes that he has been a jerk, selfish and damaged by a poor relationship with his own father.  When you practice this kind of behavior, James 5:16, individuals can reclaim a sense of freedom.  Reaching this point is no easy task as thoughts of certain co-workers, neighbors or relatives may bring out the worst in you.  However, its time to bury the hatchet, to seek forgiveness or forgive anyone you haven’t been able to up to this point in life.  Whether its a former boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse or relative, please for the love of God, get over it!

by Jay Mankus

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Tasting Victory

Posted on June 3, 2013 by expressyourself4him

From a sports psychology perspective, individuals or teams can quickly recover from a single loss. However, when consecutive losses accumulate, its easy to forget how to win as losing develops into a mindset which is tough to snap out of. Since confidence is directly linked to success, if you don’t taste victory for an extended period of time, finding ways to lose friends, games or respect can become the norm.

As a coach of youth, middle and high school team sports for nearly 15 years, I’ve experienced the thrill of victory and agony of defeat. I’ve witnessed teams one win away from the state tournament collapse, falling apart moments before obtaining victory. Meanwhile, I’ve seen one of my teams develop a winning attitude which ultimately led to a perfect season like the Titans. Belief is often the missing ingredient that prevents individuals from reaching the champion’s podium.

From a personal point of view, winning or losing is in the eye of the beholder. Did you meet your set goals for the day? How you fulfilled the requirements of your job or position? Are you putting out 100 % effort, meeting the tasks facing you with all your heart, soul and mind? Whether you win or lose daily, the Bible talks about how you play the game called life, Colossians 3:17. Therefore, follow the commands set out in Colossians 3 so that sooner or later you will savor the taste of victory.

by Jay Mankus

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Free Falling

Posted on May 15, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Tom Petty’s 1989 song Free Fallin’ refers to a boy who broke up with a decent girl, breaking her heart.  As a result, a sense of guilt leads Petty toward a downward spiral, free falling into a state of depression.   On the surface, many are great at hiding their pain, trying to stay cool or avoid unwanted attention.  Yet, deep inside the average soul, hurt is accumulating day by day, searching for someone or something to elevate this weight.

In Acts 11:1-3, a similar burden was lifted from the church, opening the heavens for a spiritual free fall.  Up until this point, Jewish law prohibited anyone in this faith to associate with Gentiles, especially partaking in unclean food according to Leviticus 11.  However, angelic intervention, 2 visions and a message from God redefined a Jews perspective of impurity, Acts 11:8-10.  Everything changed in Acts 11:15 as the Holy Spirit, fell upon the Gentiles in Caesarea.

According to the apostle Paul, God allows this to happen periodically, as He determines, 1 Corinthians 12:11.  This spiritual free fall is for the common good of the church, 1 Corinthians 12:6, occurring throughout the book of Acts 2:4, 4:31, 10:44-46 and so on.  Unfortunately, seminary’s, the school which trains future pastor’s, disagree with the book of Acts, claiming this was a momentary, supernatural out pouring of the Spirit, no longer active, ceasing to exist.  This notion has caused many in the church to free fall, questioning the existence of God.

While I don’t have the answer or power to end this thousand year old debate, I do want to prevent future believers from free falling from the faith.  If God can part a sea in the Old Testament and cause a dead man to rise from the grave after 3 days in the New Testament, why can’t the Holy Spirit free fall today to commence another spiritual awakening?  Although, prayers shouldn’t treat God like someone going to a check out counter, Matthew 21:21-22 promises great things to those who believe.  If you follow in the footsteps of George Whitfield, you might just experience another spiritual free fall.

by Jay Mankus

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A Sign of Goodness

Posted on May 8, 2013 by expressyourself4him

Hindsight can change your perspective on the past, giving you a thorough understanding of the events in your life.  On the other hand, obstacles, setbacks and unforeseen trials can blur your vision for the future, resulting in bleak expectations.  When optimism is replaced by a spirit of doubt, its time to seek divine intervention.

Known for many things, King David had become empowered by his own prayer life.  This man of God was not afraid to express his concerns to the Living God.  Fed up by the prosperity of the wicked, David turned his attention to God’s miracles of the past.  Thus, within Psalm 86:17, he pleads with God to receive a sign of goodness.

The better you know someone, the more risks you begin to take, asking deeper and more personal questions.  Whether it was his years in the wilderness as a shepherd or a close relationship with a spiritual mentor not mentioned in the Bible, David knew the true nature of God.  His prayers within the book of Psalms are powerful outlines, a wealth of knowledge for anyone looking to find answers in life.

Therefore, don’t accept mediocrity in your spiritual life.  Though you won’t be able to fully discern the mind of God as Job tried to do, signs of goodness are awaiting.  The apostle Paul speaks of these things in a passage to the church in Ephesus, Ephesians 2:10.  Instead of turning into Oscar the Grouch, release your burdens upward, pouring your heart and soul in prayer to the giver of life, James 1:17.

by Jay Mankus

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