Tag Archives: Vancouver Island

A Spiritual Passport

Posted on September 24, 2018 by expressyourself4him

Twenty five ago I met the criteria to participate in the Canadian PGA Tour Qualifying School at Morningstar International on Vancouver Island.  Upon receiving my letter of acceptance, I set out to obtain my first passport.  Since I had roughly five months to make my travel plans, I wanted to make sure everything was in place before May.  Fortunately, I picked up my passport a week before I flew out to the west coast.

Now He who has made us and prepared us for this very purpose is God, who gave us the [Holy] Spirit as a pledge [a guarantee, a down payment on the fulfillment of His promise], 2 Corinthians 5:5.

Trying to get a passport today is much more complicated, taking a minimum of six weeks, but usually two to three months.  First, you must gather the proper documentation before you apply in person or online.  Documents include a U.S. birth certificate, Certificate of Naturalization, Certificate of Citizenship or  Consular Report of Birth Abroad.  Before a passport can be processed, you must present a photo ID, usually a drivers license, and go to an approved location for a passport photo to be taken.  The final portion involves your travel plans within a country or multiple countries.

So then, being always filled with good courage and confident hope, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight [living our lives in a manner consistent with our confident belief in God’s promises], 2 Corinthians 5:6-7.

The Bible refers to a spiritual passport.  According to the apostle Paul, the Holy Spirit is received by all those who believe and profess that Jesus is Lord.  This invisible passport is like a seal from God, a promise that one day you will be welcomed into the gates of heaven.  However, while you are here on earth, God wants Christians to walk by faith.  When your sight deceives you, place your hope and trust in the promises within the Bible.  Whatever you are going through, don’t forget to apply for your spiritual passport, 1 John 5:13.

by Jay Mankus

 

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Quitters Focus on the Wrong Things

Posted on January 23, 2016 by expressyourself4him

1. Success is the process of arriving, not victory.

Instant gratification often causes the casual athlete, fan or participant to give up before seeing the fruits of their labor.  Christian apologist Clive Staples Lewis defines success as the process of arriving in his book Mere Christianity.  Unfortunately, a spirit of perfection leads many to fail to comprehend this mindset.  Thus, every year individuals stop pursuing their dreams, end a career prematurely or quit their jobs due to a lack of satisfaction.

Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established, Proverbs 16:3.

2. Failure is a blue print for knowing what does not work.

In 1994, my fiance gave me her blessing to pursue professional golf in 1995.  I spent the first three months playing on the Tommy Armour Tour, a mini-tour based in Florida.  The day before my first tournament, I completely changed my swing.  After three humbling tournaments, I made my way up north to Ohio before participating in Qualifying School on Vancouver Island for the Canadian P.G.A. tour.  After being even par after 4 holes, I fell apart missing the 36 hole cut.  Looking back, if I would have waited one year before turning professional, I would have had a better chance.  Yet, for now, I know what not to do.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever, Psalm 73:26.

3. Humility strips away pride, prompting hearts to trust in God, not self.

One of the hardest things to determine in life is knowing when to say when.  For me, it didn’t take long for me to realize I didn’t belong on the P.G.A. tour.  Facing failure tends to strip away arrogance, especially when you come to the reality “I can’t do this.”  However, today I struggle with determining if I have done everything possible in power to ensure success.  In the past, when I’ve allowed frustration to dictate my decision making, I quit before the timing was right.  Therefore, before you make a rash decision in the future, make sure you trust in the Lord’s understanding instead of yourself.

In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight, Proverbs 3:6.

by Jay Mankus

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Not To Us O Lord

Posted on June 6, 2013 by expressyourself4him

 

The seagulls in Finding Nemo illustrate the problem with most individuals today.  Cries for mine, mine, mine take our eyes off of to whom and for whom this life on earth is meant.  Thus, instead of praying not to us O Lord, each soul appears to be seeking credit, fame and glory due their name.

After spending the last 100 plus days reading one Psalm a day, it is clear from these chapters why God created man and woman.  Words like ordained in Psalm 8:2 suggest human beings were established to praise the Lord.  Psalm 33:1 uses the expression “it is fitting,” confirming mankind’s purpose to acknowledge God as the giver of life.  While I haven’t reached this passage on my current journey, Psalm 150:6 insures believers that they are on the right track by praising the Lord.


On Monday, June 3rd, 2013, the Golf Channel held their second ever Golf’s Longest Day.  Programming included hourly updates of United States Open Sectional Qualifying, held at several different locations throughout the country.  Several hundred amateur and professional golfers were fighting for 57 spots at 10 locations, hoping to earn the right to play at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pennsylvania.  As this 36 hole tournament drew to a close, highlights of play as well as interviews of the qualifiers aired.

 Since I am a former assistant golf professional, played in a few mini-tour player events and tried to qualify for the Canadian P.G.A. Tour at Q-School on Vancouver  Island in British Columbia, this coverage intrigued me.  While rooting for Sam Saunders, Scott Stallings and Ryan Palmer, all losing in sudden death playoffs, a relatively unknown got my attention.  Josh Teater, a member of the PGA tour placed second in the Columbus, Ohio sectional.  Instead of stealing the spotlight, Teater gave God the glory for his success.  Well done Josh, thanks for reminding the world,” Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory,” Psalm 115:1.

by Jay Mankus

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Look to Him, Not to Us

Posted on February 26, 2013 by expressyourself4him

When you are young, its easy to take for granted the places you visit and family vacations you experience.  As an adult, I am learning to appreciate each special opportunity the Lord grants me, one day at a time.  This morning I awoke early, before the crack of dawn, reminiscing about some of the greatest worship moments I have ever encountered.

Singing One Bread, One Body prior to communion at my first Walk to Emmaus weekend still gives me goosebumps.  The Community gatherings at Willow Creek in Chicago I attended every Wednesday night for a year combined immaculate worship with the teaching of John Ortberg.  The rock concert at The Church of the Open Door in Minnesota during my youth ministry trade school in the Twin Cities gave me an idea of the intensity one must bring to fully worship God.  However, this past weekend while visiting Vineyard Christian Fellowship on Appleton Road in Landenburg, Pennsylvania, I felt as if I was in the presence of the most high.

Psalm 100:1 was the inspiration behind the song Shout to the Lord.  The following verse, Psalm 100:2 calls people to make a joyful noise.  However, there is a temptation for worship leaders to think, “look at me, don’t I have a great voice?”  As a karaoke enthusiast, I spent several summer evenings in college hanging out with friends at a local night club, often singing 4 songs prior to leaving.  When you were good, the crowd went crazy following your last line.  If you weren’t, like me, I felt like a professional golfer receiving a subtle clap of applause.  My high point of Karaoke came at the 1995 Canadian P.G.A. Tour Qualifying School on Vancouver Island hosted by Morningstar Golf Club.

After a poor opening round, shooting in the 80’s, I went to a local sports bar in Nanaimo to drown my sorrows.  Since most singers were distracted by the NHL playoffs, plastered on a dozen televisions, volunteers for Karaoke were slim.  Instead of drinking, I used singing as a vehicle for healing.  To my surprise, I nailed Can’t Fight This Feeling by REO Speedwagon, actually hitting every note on cue.  As I handed my microphone off, the place erupted.  Thinking the Canucks, Vancouver’s professional hockey team, had just scored a goal, I turned to the nearest set to see what I just missed, trying to catch a replay.  To my amazement, the audience was cheering for me, praising me for my performance.

The message God placed on my heart over and over this morning is “Look to Him, not to us!”  Since I haven’t had much success singing, the temptation to steal credit from God isn’t there.  However, there are other areas, venues in which I have stolen the limelight from the Lord.  David reminds us in Psalm 16:2 that apart from God we can do nothing.  Therefore, whether you are leading worship for your church, fulfilling the duties of your occupation or fanning into flame your spiritual gift, look to Jesus for strength, 2 Corinthians 12:9.  By demonstrating biblical principle, other  people will start looking to Him, not to us, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12.

by Jay Mankus

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