Rejoice: “to feel or show great joy.” That’s the dictionary’s definition of the word. Notice how rejoice isn’t just the regular ol’ run-of-the-mill joy…it’s “great joy.” So, I say if you’re gonna show great joy, the very best possible way to do it is to rejoice with singing. Because to rejoice with singing takes more effort and commitment. Now, I might be biased on … The rest of the story…
Category Archives: Tony’s Daily Devotional
Just about everybody makes good and bad decisions. In America, freedom has given us much more expanded boundaries for making our own decisions. For us, life is full of choices. And since we’re human beings in a world full of sin and temptation, we sometimes choose the stupid things. Have you noticed this in your life. I know I have in mine. Some bad … The rest of the story…
Can you imagine a world with no hatred? The problem is…currently it can only be imagined. It doesn’t exist except in the mind of dreamers, visionaries, and those who refuse to see reality. And it appears that mankind will remain on a crash course with destruction until the Light of the World appears. For those of you who’ve been living in a remote cave … The rest of the story…
A Condescending Attitude
Have you ever met or had to deal with someone who had what you might call a “condescending attitude”? Well, if so, I have some good news for you. A condescending attitude from a human being is just that. An attitude. Do you realize no other human being on the planet can actually condescend to you? Or to anyone else for that matter. No … The rest of the story…
Many times, in sports, you’ll hear an announcer say something like, “Man, he really gave his all.” Or you might hear “Wow, she gave all she had to get to this event.” Well, think about it for a second…is there anything in life you truly give your all to? There’s a place in the New Testament where you can find what you need to … The rest of the story…
All That And A Bag of Chips
I remember, sometime back in 1997 I think it was, when I first heard the expression “he thinks he’s all that and a bag of chips”. I nearly pulled a Danny Thomas spit take. I’d never heard it put that way…comparing conceitedness to a complete deli sandwich meal that came with “all that and a bag of chips”. Good one. Do you know anyone … The rest of the story…
Why is there so much violence, destruction, and death in the world? And relatively so little joy and peace? Well, I could tell you I know the reason why, but maybe you wouldn’t believe the answer could be so simple. Maybe you’d rather have a highly complicated solution to this complex mess we earthlings find ourselves having to endure. And maybe you wouldn’t even … The rest of the story…
Fullness of Joy
The fullness of joy most people seek (whether they know it or not) is only found in a relationship with your Creator. And God IS your Creator…even if you don’t believe in Him. David, who was King of Israel, was a songwriter. Many of his lyrics, known as Psalms, are found in the Bible. And he talked all the time about his relationship with … The rest of the story…
Words music pictures…if ever there was a more perfectly matched trio, I certainly don’t know what it would be. I’m no photographer (although I did have a job as a portrait photographer for a short while), but I’ve always been a photo enthusiast. I love to see if I can capture the “feeling” of a moment in a picture. And I wonder if most … The rest of the story…
Do you pursue peace with all people? If so, I’m sure you’ve found out how difficult it is…impossible, in fact. Just because something is impossible doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pursue or attempt it. Remember…you aren’t in this life alone. You have God on your side, and with Him “all things are possible“. You DO have God on your side, don’t you? You have two … The rest of the story…
I just heard some statistics about suicide this past week that were very disturbing. Of course, I’m sure the topic is fresh on minds since Robin Williams decided to take his own life. Suicide is more than three times as likely to be the cause of death as murder by gun. It’s almost twenty times as likely to be the cause of death as … The rest of the story…
I don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone say (usually a parent) something like…”You sure don’t have to teach a kid how to be bad”. Yeah, the do seem to come by it naturally. But I’m not talking about being “bad” today. I’m gonna share with you how to be cruel in 3 easy steps. Ready? Step 1. OK, get ready for this … The rest of the story…
Is there any way you can know you actually have the breath of life from God in you? Well…check out the first few chapters in Genesis that talk about how God created the whole world and everything in it. Maybe you’ve read this account but possibly missed the nuance between humans and every other living thing. It’s a subtle yet huge difference. I’ve been … The rest of the story…
Worldliness
There’s a term not used so much anymore, even in Christian circles, that describes something we all struggle with. You may be facing it today without realizing it. I’m talking about worldliness. Sorry if it sounds old-fashioned or too obscure, but since we all have to deal with it from time to time, I think it’s important to talk about. Worldliness is a subtle … The rest of the story…
Last Word In The Bible
Quick…without looking…do you know what the last word in the Bible is? I’m sure you probably knew it, but I thought it would be an interesting thing to talk about. If you’re a Christian, maybe you also know that sometimes Jesus is called “The Amen”. That’s pretty cool because “amen” is usually defined to mean “so be it” or “it is so”. Or to … The rest of the story…
Worldview Definition
Here’s a worldview definition. See if it’s how you’d describe it. That’s a fair worldview definition. But it makes it seem like a worldview happens to you by your circumstances or surrounding. I prefer to believe you shape your worldview. It doesn’t shape you. What I mean by that is…you choose to believe facts and figures or fantasy. Choose is the operative word. No … The rest of the story…
We Need The Truth
My faith, hope, and love for my fellow human beings inspired me to write a song and sing about how we need THE Truth… …but the world doesn’t care. Have you ever taken an early Sunday morning drive when it felt like the rest of the world was still inside eating breakfast? And didn’t that morning feel peaceful and full of quiet assurance? This … The rest of the story…
When Things Break
When things break…and they always do…what’s the first thing you do? Are you immediately grateful to God when things break? Do you sing songs of praise and worship? Do you gather all your friends and have a feast and deliver up burnt offerings? I’m gonna take a wild guess and say I’ll bet you don’t. And…that’s OK. In fact, you can skip all those things … The rest of the story…
I’ve known some people who’ve gone from faith to faith as though they were trying out another car manufacturer or different pair of jeans. Real faith is unshakeable and everlasting. And it’s found in only one place. The one, true, living, loving God of the universe. And He has a triune nature. In other words, He is distinctly three persons in one being. God … The rest of the story…
Full Of Goodness
The earth is full of goodness. Before you read any further I have to clear up a distinction. I said “the earth is full of goodness”. I didn’t say the world is full of goodness. The difference between the two is as far as the East is from the West. If you’re a Christian (and maybe even if you aren’t), you probably know how … The rest of the story…