Tag Archives: Tim Robbins

Responding to Another Broken Promise

Posted on September 11, 2023 by expressyourself4him

The only prisoner in Shawshank penitentiary that knew Andy Dufresne was innocent, played by Tim Robbins, arrives halfway thru the film. Tommy played by Gil Bellows reveals a confession from a former inmate who has proof that Dufresne did not kill his wife. Unfortunately, Tommy is set up by the Wardon and shot dead, leaving Andy without the key witness for a potential retrial. Whenever you experience the heartache of a broken promise, it’s hard to press on.

When Joseph came to them in the morning and looked at them, he saw that they were sad and depressed. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were in custody with him in his master’s house, Why do you look so dejected and sad today? 8 And they said to him, We have dreamed dreams, and there is no one to interpret them. And Joseph said to them, Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me [your dreams], I pray you, Genesis 39:6-8.

When the Chief Butler of Pharaoh is released from prison, Joseph was waiting in eager anticipation for his own release. In the Old Testament, when an individual gave someone their word, this was regularly carried out and fulfilled. Two years later, Joseph was still in prison as the Chief Butler of Pharaoh forgot to recall Joseph’s good deed. Moses doesn’t mention what Joseph did during this period except grow a long beard. Nonetheless, Joseph was forced to wait and wait and wait.

And on the third day, Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants; and he lifted up the heads of the chief butler and the chief baker [by inviting them also] among his servants. 21 And he restored the chief butler to his butlership, and the butler gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand; 22 But [Pharaoh] hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 But [even after all that] the chief butler gave no thought to Joseph, but forgot [all about] him, Genesis 39:20-23.

Every adult in America knows what it feels like to be on the wrong side of a broken promise. This could be in the form of broken relationships, divorce or being played by someone who calls themselves your friend. Whenever you’re on the unpleasant end of a broken promise, trusting someone again can be difficult. Whatever current situation this blog finds you in, may the Lord give you a spirit of maturity and wisdom to cope with and respond to another broken promise.

by Jay Mankus

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The Andy Dufresne of the Bible

Posted on August 22, 2023 by expressyourself4him

Twenty years ago, I was blessed to be in a good spiritual state. I was using my gifts as a coach and teacher, sensing that I had finally discovered God’s will for my life as a high school Bible teacher and golf coach. One phone call on New Year’s Day in 2012 threw my world upside down as I was informed that I was going to be replaced at the end of the marking period. This one event came as a rude awakening that only God knows what tomorrow will bring.

And when [Joseph’s] master heard the words of his wife, saying to him, This is the way your servant treated me, his wrath was kindled. 20 And Joseph’s master took him and put him in the prison, a place where the state prisoners were confined; so he was there in the prison, Genesis 39:19-20.

Based upon Moses’ words in Genesis 39, Joseph had a similar experience. Joseph went from telling his father and brothers about a dream where they were bowing down to him to a slave overnight. I can’t imagine what Joseph was thinking as a group of merchants purchased him. Either God was trying to humble Joseph from his bragging about a dream or teaching him the lesson that only God knows what tomorrow will bring.

But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and loving-kindness and gave him favor in the sight of the warden of the prison. 22 And the warden of the prison committed to Joseph’s care all the prisoners who were in the prison; and whatsoever was done there, he was in charge of it. 23 The prison warden paid no attention to anything that was in [Joseph’s] charge, for the Lord was with him and made whatever he did to prosper, Genesis 39:21-23.

While spending time in prison will change any human being, Joseph remained positive throughout this ordeal. Perhaps, how Joseph handled this trial caught the warden’s attention. Although Moses isn’t specific about Joseph’s daily responsibilities, it appears that Joseph became like Andy Dufresne, played by Tim Robbins in Shawshank Redemption. Rather than needing to escape, Joseph received a promotion by Pharaoh. If your current state of affairs isn’t going your way, may tomorrow bring blessings like the life of Joseph.

by Jay Mankus

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I Hope So

Posted on April 8, 2020 by expressyourself4him

When it comes to music, timing is everything. Some songs aren’t recognized or uncovered until a band is well past their prime. Each day countless songs are available to listen to or buy on itunes, Pandora or You Tube. Unfortunately, many within this graveyard of songs from the past merely collect dust, forgotten and ignored until the right moment arises.

May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope, Romans 15:13.

Last week I stumbled upon the song God I Hope So. I didn’t think much of this 2012 song from Remedy Drive until I reached the chorus. “Maybe this is just the way it had to be, maybe there’s a beauty in this tragedy I don’t know but I hope so.” These lyrics seem to apply to the Coronavirus pandemic. Despite being released eight years too early, this song challenges people to reflect upon the frailty of life.

Personally I am satisfied about you, my brethren, that you yourselves are rich in goodness, amply filled with all [spiritual] knowledge and competent to admonish and counsel and instruct one another also, Romans 15:14.

In the 1994 film Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman refers to hope as being dangerous during a lunch time conversation with good friend Andy Dufresne played by Tim Robbins. For a prisoner serving a life sentence, hope is the only thing you have to get you through each day. Likewise, as the world fights the invisible disease known as COVID-19, hoping for a cure is leading individuals to pray. Although no one knows the day and time this cure will arrive, I hope it comes quickly so that joy will return to America.

by Jay Mankus

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The Power of Hope

Posted on November 21, 2019 by expressyourself4him

Hope is like a double edged sword. On one side, hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain outcome or thing to happen. Meanwhile, on the other side reality exists, the state of things as they actually are currently. This opposition denounces an idealistic or notional idea of what hope has to offer.

Moreover [let us also be full of joy now!] let us exult and triumph in our troubles and rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that pressure and affliction and hardship produce patient and unswerving endurance. And endurance (fortitude) develops maturity of character (approved faith and tried integrity). And character [of this sort] produces [the habit of] joyful and confident hope of eternal salvation, Romans 5:3-4.

In the 1994 film Shawshank Redemption, two prisoners argue about hope while talking over a meal. Andy Dufresne played by Tim Robbins reveals his perspective of hope, describing this as a place in your mind that no one can take away from you. Red Redding played by Morgan Freeman disagrees, interrupting Robbins to highlight the dangers of hope.

Such hope never disappoints or deludes or shames us, for God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit Who has been given to us, Romans 5:5.

The apostle Paul writes about the biblical meaning of hope during a first century letter to the church of Rome. Perhaps, even Christians were losing hope and needed a word of encouragement to press on. Paul makes three guarantees about hope. Hope never deludes, disappoints or shames human beings. Why, you may ask? God’s love has been poured out to hearts through the power of the Holy Spirit to those who believe. This is the power of hope.

by Jay Mankus

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I’m Sick of It

Posted on April 18, 2017 by expressyourself4him

Every once in a while a song will speak to me.  The timing is perfect, preparing you for the lyrics about to be sung.  Whether its a coincidence, divine intervention or fate, this message connects with your soul.  Such is the case of Skillet’s song Sick of It.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly, John 10:10.

The opening stanza speaks to people struggling with life.  This appeals to those who keep trying to make there life better without any signs of improvement on the horizon.  Like a boxer on the verge of giving up training for a big fight, progress will determine if you continue.  Anyone who is tired of losing often throws in the towel before letting things play out.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 2 Peter 1:3.
In the film Shawshank Redemption, Andy Dufresne played by Tim Robbins has a I’m sick of it moment.  Frustrated by the injustice he has endured, Dufresne finds himself at a crossroads in life with one of two choices to make.  “Either get busy living or get busy dying.”  This same question must be addressed by anyone sick of their current situation.  May you choose life.

by Jay Mankus

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The Original Shawshank Redemption

Posted on December 8, 2015 by expressyourself4him

The Shawshank Redemption film was inspired by the Stephen King 1982 novel collection Different Seasons.  In the 1994 movie, Tim Robbins plays a banker, Andy Dufresne, falsely accused of killing his wife and a golf professional during an affair which took place at his own home.  The jury had enough motive to convict and sentence Dufresne to two life terms in prision at Shawshank State Penitentiary.  When a new inmate reveals a confessional of this crime from a former cell mate, the warden denies Andy’s request for a re-trial as well as killing the prisoner who could prove Dufresne’s innocence.

When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread, Acts 12:3.

During the first century, a fisherman turned evangelist experiences a similar ordeal.  When the Jesus movement threaten to weaken Judaism, one of its leaders was arrested by King Herod.  Although his life was spared unlike his friend James of Zebedee, Peter is held by armed guards awaiting his trial after the Passover celebration.  To insure he would not escape, Peter was bound with chains on each arm.  Neither predicament seemed plausible until redemption entered the equation.

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists, Acts 12:7.

Andy Dufresne used a rock hammer, a poster of Rita Hayworth and time to escape through the tunnel used as the prison’s sewage pipe.  Switching the accounting book in the vault, Andy sent a letter to a local newspaper exposing the corruption at Shawshank on his first day as a free man.  Meanwhile, an angel wakes up Peter, releases his chains and leads him out of prison without anyone noticing his escape.  Following years of injustice, the warden commits suicide instead of facing law enforcement and Herod dies after failing to praise the Lord.  Although each story has its own twists and turns, the accounts by Luke of Peter in Acts 12 can be described as the original Shawshank Redemption.

by Jay Mankus

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Relentless Determination

Posted on August 24, 2012 by expressyourself4him

In the movie Shawshank Redemption Tim Robbins plays Andy Dufresne, an accountant falsely accused of killing his wife.  After fighting for survival while on laundry duty in prison, the warden begins to show favor toward Andy, moving him to Library duty.  Eventually, Andy is put in charge of the library, getting permission to write the state for funds.  For 3 years, Andy shows relentless determination, not stopping until he receives his goal, money and donated material to update the library.

The Lord convicted me today that I often give up before I reach my goal or desired destination.  Sometimes people read too much into closed doors, failure or lost opportunities.  Trying something once, twice or a few times and abandoning it isn’t honoring to God, especially if you are going in a direction you are passionate about.  As C.S. Lewis declares in Mere Christianity, success is the process of arriving, not actually arriving.

As I continue to search for my place in the world, a song by Michael W. Smith, I need to dig down deep.  Like a 3rd stringer trying to make an NFL team, the person who demonstrates relentless determination often opens the coaches eyes and sometimes wins a spot on the team.  Desperation can bring out the best in someone, especially if they are fighting for their livelihood.  If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again!  Faith in a cause leads to relentless determination, James 2:18.

by Jay Mankus

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