Tag Archives: While You Were Sleeping

While You Worship

Sandra Bullock starred in the 1995 love story While You Were Sleeping.  After saving a man’s life from an on coming train, Peter played by Peter Gallagher falls into a coma where rumors alter and hide the truth.  In the real world, many people fall into spiritual comas, sleeping through most of life on earth.  Some individuals are revived, others perish and those remaining often become comfortably numb.  One of the solutions to snap of these mental states occur while you worship God.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them,” Acts 13:2.

In the 1992 film School Ties, Brendan Fraser plays a star quarterback recruited by a prestigious private boarding school.  The only problem is Brendan is Jewish and the school is Catholic.  Thus, this high school senior is encouraged to keep this a secret, pressured to adhere to foreign beliefs.  Whenever people are forced into doing something, its not naturally and can lead to future grudges.  The same can be said about children who feel forced to worship a God in whom they do not a relationship with.  Adults who grew up in this kind of atmosphere often stray far from the Lord, trying to figure life out on their own.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them, Acts 16:25.

The Bible is filled with numerous examples and unlikely ways in which people can to faith.  However, without action, these emotions can die.  Thus, as seekers enter into God’s presence in the form of worship, spiritual awakenings commence.  There is something to be said of a house of worshipers in one accord and spirit.  Although this doesn’t come natural, energy in a building, a song or state of desperation can unleash a movement of God.  I can’t explain it, but when you find yourself on your knees, shouting at the top of your voice and raising your hands toward heaven, God can unveil wisdom about your past, present and future.  Don’t delay any further by joining a local congregation this weekend while you worship.

by Jay Mankus

While We Were Sleeping

Still of Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping

Sandra Bullock starred in the 1995 comedy romance playing a toll booth collector who falls in love with a man in coma.  Exaggerations lead to gossip, gossip to rumors and eventually everyone believes Sandra is engaged to this man who doesn’t even know she exists.  While he was unconscious, she falls in love with his brother.  While many churches in America have been spiritually sleeping, many of our citizens have fallen in love with sinful desires, lusts of the flesh and the ways of the world, 1 John 2:15-17.

The motto in “In God we trust” was inspired by the Civil War, cultivated from a letter sent in 1861 to Secretary Chase from Reverend Watkinson, a pastor in Ridleyville, Pennsylvania.  Secretary Chase wrote a letter to James Pollock, the Director of the Philadephia Mint  in December 0f 1863 with designs for a one, two and three cent coin with 2 options:  OUR COUNTRY or GOD, OUR TRUST.  On April 22nd, 1864, Congress passed this Act into law by placing In God We Trust on the back of a two cent coin.  The Reverend’s letter came full circle when congress and the president approved a joint resolution on July 30th, 1956 to declare “In God We Trust” as America’s national motto, inscribing this on the back of all one dollar bills.

When the church as a whole took a decade long nap, the Bible was removed from public education in the early 1960’s, even though the Bible was the initial inspiration for education based upon the New England Primer.  Prayer quickly followed as atheists, the minority religion at this time, convinced public officials to separate the church from state based education by banning prayer from schools.  It’s no wonder that a 1962 high school diploma is now equivalent to a college bachelor’s degree, when knowledge was taught, not ideology, political correctness and secular worldviews.  Yes, the church slept through the 60’s, responding to the sex, drugs and rock and roll era with weekly fire and brimstone sermons in the 1970’s.

As church attenders felt they were going to hell after each sermon, government officials began to fundamentally change America forever.  Roe vs. Wade in 1974 made killing unborn babies legal, resulting in 55 million abortions since the 1970’s.  Prior to this decade, married spouses who considered divorce were excommunicated from churches.  Today, many pastor’s embrace marrying the same people 2 or 3 times, creating extra money for their family.  At a time when communities needed churches the most, to hold and support their families together, once again the church was asleep at the wheel.

Though President Obama has indeed fulfilled his 2008 promise to fundamentally change America, there were forces in play, behind the scenes preparing the way for his socialist agenda.  Labor unions, government officials and Marxists have enabled president Obama to create a nanny state where God doesn’t have a seat or home.  Though our currency still has His name on it for now, how long will it be until this too will be erased.

If Washington state and Colorado can vote overwhelming to legalize marijuana, this is an obvious sign the end is drawing near to our once great nation, Romans 1:18-20.  Arise O church, awake from your slumber.  A third great awakening is necessary to change the course of America before we become like the great fallen empires of the past.  Stop hitting the snooze button while there is still time to get up, be involved and make a difference in your neighborhood.  The body of Christ needs you immediately!

by Jay Mankus