Tag Archives: Trials

A Pure Joy

Posted on March 17, 2012 by expressyourself4him

The New Testament’s book of James has become one of my favorite books of the Bible, leading my wife and I to name our first son after James.  One of the Catholic Letters, meaning universal, James is a letter written to Christians scattered throughout the world after Nero’s persecution of believers in Jerusalem.  After introducing himself in his book in chapter 1, verse 1, James immediately turns his attention to trials.

James, a half brother of Jesus, whose father was Joseph, grew up in the shadow of his older brother, whose father was the Holy Spirit.  When your oldest brother is literally perfect, never getting in trouble, except for maybe Luke 2:44-50, James likely became jealous of Jesus’ obedience.  Like the brother’s of Joseph in Genesis, James appears to be resentful of his brother, not believing Jesus was the son of God while He was alive.  According to first century historians, James did not believe in Jesus until after His resurrection.

Therefore, James realizes that without trials, we might not ever enter into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  Thus, James urges all believers to consider it a pure joy whenever you face trials of may kinds.  According to James 1:2-4, trials strengthen your faith, molding and shaping you toward maturity.  In the end, trials lead people to become complete servants of God.  How Jesus responded to His own betrayal, arrest, mockery, public beating and second guessing, opened the eyes of James.  Although, we are not eyewitnesses of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection, we must heed James’ call, by considering our own trials, “A Pure Joy!”

by Jay Mankus

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Blocked Paths

Posted on March 2, 2012 by expressyourself4him

With the recent tornado outbreak in the mid-west, I am reminded that landscapes can be forever changed in a blinking of an eye.  After the storm subsides, mangled debris, trees stripped of their bark and objects lay in ruin.  Streets, homes and parks blend together into one, shutting down entry and exit into a town for days at a time.

For those who have experienced Job-like trials in their lives, its easy to feel trapped.  Some times when we cry out to God for answers, a sin in our life blocks the path, causing our connection with the Holy Spirit to fail.  When Christian’s experience spiritual power outages, they are most vulnerable, opening a door to demons of despair, hopelessness and suicide like Judas in Matthew 27:1-5.

As I stress, day after day, praying and searching for a new position, I am reminded of Ephesians 2:10.  The apostle Paul uses the Greek word poiema, meaning end product.  The English word used in the translation from the Greek is workmanship.  What Paul is trying to say in this passage is God is the Poet and we are His Poems.  Although we may appear to face a blocked path or experience writer’s block, God knows the ending to our poem.  Therefore, if you are feeling discouraged today, read Ephesians 2:10, claim the good works God has prepared in advance for us and trust God to carry you through life’s storms!

by Jay Mankus

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Making Sense of Death

Posted on February 29, 2012 by expressyourself4him

For the third time in my life, I have witnessed 3 young students see their lives cut short by cancer.  The first student was one of my best friends in high school, Maureen, who was diagnosed the day before graduation.  Maureen was one of the most encouraging people I have ever met in life, yet to my knowledge never had a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  After several years of wrestling with God for answers, Maureen’s death served as a catalyst for me to follow a calling into youth ministry.

The second student was one of my high school students at Red Lion who was diagnosed with cancer during the fall of her senior year.  Kaylyn, like Maureen was a wonderful person.  Though quiet in class, Kaylyn was a spiritual warrior, a motivational leader to her classmates.  Most of the student body prayed for a Lazarus like miracle, but God had a different plan.  Thousands of people packed Red Lion’s gymnasium, celebrating Kaylyn’s entrance into heaven.  Through Kaylyn’s testimony displayed during her battle with cancer, by dying she was used by God to lead many to Christ.

This final death is the most difficult one to comprehend.  Joseph Feeley went to be home with the Lord early Monday morning.  Although Joseph is no longer in pain, thousands of people in 19 different nations are beginning the grieving process.  Joseph was an amazing athletic with pro potential in baseball and in golf as a long drive champion.  I played golf with Joseph a week or so before being diagnosed with cancer.  Joseph flew a ball 380 yards in the air, plugging into the fairway.  Joseph also holds the state record for 8th graders, running a 18:30 for 5K.

As great as an athletic Joseph was, he was even a more committed believer.  I had the honor and privilege to see Joseph’s faith blossom in my Biblical Leadership class.  The 17 other students who were blessed by Joseph’s presence will have rich memories to cling to during this tough time.  As for now, all we can do is cry out to God like Habakkuk in 1:2, waiting on the Lord to make sense of yet another death.

by Jay Mankus

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Turning Up The Heat

Posted on February 22, 2012 by expressyourself4him

There are many metaphors to express the point you are trying to make in life.  In 2 Corinthians 4:7-9, the apostle Paul compares human bodies with jars of clay.  Unlike rich soils, clay is gooey, filled with various imperfections.  However, clay is unique in the sense you can mold it and fashion it into a special image.  Although, without fire your new creation will dry out, eventually breaking into bits and pieces.

Kilns were invented so that your new creations could last a lifetime, unless dropped or not taken care of properly.  If you desire a bisque firing, the kiln is set to 1750 degrees Fahrenheit for 18 hours.  If you want something like pottery glazed, the kiln is turned up to2300 degrees for 18 hours as well.  While the fire in a kiln does not eliminate all of clay’s imperfections, it does refine most of the clay particles causing defects to simply disappear.

If Paul is right about our bodies, then God is our Potter and we are the clay.  Each and every day God is slowly shaping and forming us into His very own image.  Once we reach certain stages in our lives, God turns us the heat, in the form of temptations, trials and tribulations.  If we fail, breaking up in the kilns of life, God starts over with a new lump of clay.  If we succeed, we will be ready for the next phase in life, our next assignment from God.  Regardless of where each of us are on our artistic journey, don’t be surprised the next time God turns up the heat.  Fire is necessary to burn off excess baggage, to test our faith and to reveal how genuine we really are, 1 Peter 1:5-7.

by Jay Mankus

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