Tag Archives: tennis

An Extra Cautious Parent

Posted on September 22, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Shortly before I began serving as the Youth Director for First United Methodist Church in Columbus, Indiana, one of my future junior high students was accidentally run over by her father. Apparently, she was one of the top female tennis players in town and was stretching in her family driveway. In a rush to get to work, her father backed his car up running over her knee. This careless mistake caused her father to become extra cautious in the future, struggling to forgive himself.

Then they took Joseph’s [distinctive] long garment, killed a young goat, and dipped the garment in the blood; 32 And they sent the garment to their father, saying, We have found this! Examine and decide whether it is your son’s tunic or not. 33 He said, My son’s long garment! An evil [wild] beast has devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. 34 And Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned many days for his son. 35 And all his sons and daughters attempted to console him, but he refused to be comforted and said, I will go down to Sheol (the place of the dead) to my son mourning. And his father wept for him, Genesis 37:31-35.

According to Moses, Jacob experienced similar emotions after receiving the news that his favorite son Joseph had been mauled by an animal, ( fictional account). Subsequently, when ten of his sons tell Jacob that he must send his youngest son Benjamin to Egypt, he refuses to do so. Moses describes Jacob as a parent thinking about the worst-case scenarios if he were to allow Benjamin to travel to Egypt. Jacob became extremely protective of Benjamin, wanting to keep him safe from any harm.

Now when Jacob learned that there was grain in Egypt, he said to his sons, Why do you look at one another? 2 For, he said, I have heard that there is grain in Egypt; get down there and buy [grain] for us, that we may live and not die. 3 So ten of Joseph’s brethren went to buy grain in Egypt. 4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s [full] brother, Jacob did not send with his brothers; for he said, Lest perhaps some harm or injury should befall him, Genesis 42:1-4.

When I was a young parent raising three kids with my wife Leanne, I was consumed with my new teaching position at Red Lion. However, after I became aware of an issue with one of James’ baseball coaches, I was prompted to become more active in my children’s lives. This one incident led me to become an extra cautious parent. The following year I became an assistant coach for James’ team and coached Daniel’s team four years in a row. While it’s natural to become an extra cautious parent, at some point you have to let go and allow the Lord to be in control, Proverbs 19:21.

by Jay Mankus

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The Evidence

Posted on May 18, 2022 by expressyourself4him

After finishing my final exam in college, I was on my way to see a friend play in a tennis tournament. As the light that I was stuck at turned green, I proceeded to enter this intersection when the front on my car was hit by a vehicle running a red light. After getting out of our cars, this man immediately apologized. When the cops didn’t arrive for a while, I told a student eyewitness to go home. As soon as a police officer arrived, this man changed his entire story. The evidence of the skid marks was clearly in my favor, but to the judge I was a college student and the man who hit me was an outstanding citizen.

He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be and represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son. 11 And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son, 1 John 5:10-11.

On earth, every day someone gets away with a crime, lie, or sinful act. You may be able to fool friends, family, or your peers for a period of time before the evidence is revealed. When light exposes your actions, behavior and choices, you may become like the man who hit me in college, changing his story when the police show up. This painful experience of injustice served as a wake up call to me as a naive Christian. While right doesn’t always prevail initially, the evidence of an afterlife are written with conviction in the Bible.

In the former account [which I prepared], O Theophilus, I made [a continuous report] dealing with all the things which Jesus began to do and to teach 2 Until the day when He ascended, after He through the Holy Spirit had instructed and commanded the apostles (special messengers) whom He had chosen. 3 To them also He showed Himself alive after His passion (His suffering in the garden and on the cross) by [a series of] many convincing demonstrations [unquestionable evidences and infallible proofs], appearing to them during forty days and talking [to them] about the things of the kingdom of God, Acts 1:1-3.

Luke spoke to individuals who witnessed Jesus’ ascension into heaven. Meanwhile, one of Jesus’ former disciples tells his audience that you can know for sure about your eternal destiny, 1 John 5:12-13. John isn’t wishy washy like a skeptical individual watching an infomercial that sounds too good to be true. Rather John writes as if he just listened to a Tony Robbins motivational podcast, eager to tell others about securing a room in heaven. The Bible is full of evidence, nuggets of truth that will help you find your way home like the bread crumbs Hansel and Gretel left behind to follow when they needed it.

by Jay Mankus

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A New Appreciation for Justice

Posted on October 9, 2014 by expressyourself4him

If you have ever been taken advantage of, wronged or violated, a part of you cries out for justice.  As for me I recall one of my final days in college.  While driving to see a friend play in a tennis match, a car went through a red light, side swiped my front end and took off my license plate.  Immediately, the driver apologized and told me it was his fault as a crowd of students gathered around the intersection.  Trusting this individual, I told the witnesses to go home.  Unfortunately, when the cops arrived, this man’s demeanor changed and so did his story.

Although there wasn’t significant damage to my car, the evidence suggested to the police that the man in the other car was to blame.  However, since I sent the eyewitnesses home before talking to the police, it was my word against his.  Could a college student be more honest than an adult with a flawless driving record?  This stalemate led to a trip to traffic court to see whether or not justice would be served.  Despite spewing out the biggest pile of manure during his testimony, aggravating the 2 officers I sat next to, the judge acquitted this postal worker of any wrong doing.

The frustration I felt was similar to some of the Psalms of David, questioning God when the wicked prospered.  Calming my emotions was difficult, wondering why this event had to occur to me.  Until you have something like this happen to you, justice is just another word.  Despite this setback, passages such as Psalm 9:1-7 provide a glimmer of hope, a day when the wrong will be made right.  A few years ago, I was the eyewitness who hung around so when the driver at fault tried to lie, I was there to inform the cops of what really happened.  Therefore, the next time you endure, feel or see injustice, ask the Lord to fill you with a new appreciation for justice.

by Jay Mankus

 

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