care about your neighbor Archives

Posted on September 4, 2024 by TonySeptember 4, 2024

Sincere care because it's krazee out there

I write, with sincere care, about how much I want you to live in paradise forever. Because your Creator wants me to do that because HE wants you there. But my daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love aren’t seen as care or love by most people.

Because most people don’t even recognize sincere care anymore.

That shouldn’t come as any surprise since most people grow up without sincere care.

As Jim Gaffigan might say,

“He keeps using that ‘sincere care’ thing like it’s a mystery no one understands.”

Well, that’s kinda true. One dictionary defines sincere as: “free from pretense or deceit; proceeding from genuine feelings.” And it defines care as: “the provision of what is necessary for the health, welfare, maintenance, and protection of someone or something.”

OK, let’s say, for the sake of this example, that I’m right about there being an actual forever. An actual passing of time without end. If that’s correct then I only sincerely care about someone if I don’t deceive them into thinking this short life on Earth is all there is. And I let them know that their Creator has provided a place for their eternal health, welfare, maintenance, and protection.

Bingo. Voila. Shazam.

Who wouldn’t be glad for a friend or relative who’d take the time to do that? Um. Everybody.

Here’s something I wrote, ten years ago after I shared some sincerity.

(At times, the effects hit much closer to home than I’d prefer.)

Close personal friends, business acquaintances, and even my earthly brothers have all responded with anger and rejection. They didn’t understand that I was sharing the most vital information they could ever hope to hear. And that I did it because I sincerely care.

Yeah, I’ve been told, commanded, to love my neighbor as I love myself. But “neighbors” would much rather I just shut up about it. Go figure.

But here’s the thing. In these perilous times, death and destruction are at the doorstep of every nation on earth. And no “mother earth” or “god force within you” or so-called “leader of the free world” can save you from the consequences.

You need the living, loving Source of Life. You need Jesus.

And I’m sharing this out of sincere care and…

With Brotherly Love

What would be so wrong
If I didn’t sing my song…with brotherly love?
Would it be unfair
If I didn’t even care…with brotherly love?
No one does these days,
Everyone just stays
In their old, familiar ways.
That’s how it should be.
If we all agree,
It all can be so easy.

What would be so bad
In not sharing what I had…with brotherly love?
Would I be a thug
If I didn’t want to hug…with brotherly love?
Just some silly rules
Taught in Christian schools
By a bunch of simple fools.
That stuff’s not for me.
Can’t you let me be?
Go shake another fruit tree.

Hey there, do you know?
Where did all those people go…with brotherly love?
I can’t find them here.
Did they all just disappear…with brotherly love?
Things don’t seem quite right…
Especially at night
And no one has a bright light.
Hopeless life lines drawn…
Hard to carry on…
Because all the love is gone.

Maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok, then get to know more about me and my worldview. Join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And enjoy my daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…

Posted on January 25, 2022 by TonyJanuary 25, 2022

Tender loving care helps you get from here to there

Almost seven years ago, to the day, I wrote about a disease that popped up in the “happiest place on Earth.” And I shared how important tender loving care is when something like that happens. Then, wouldn’t you know it, another disease popped up, and people still freaked out.

Tender loving care flew out the window.

Back when I wrote about that other article, I mentioned how over 70 people, who visited Disneyland, were infected with measles. And I said, since cases of measles were showing up in other places besides California, it proved that “it’s a small world after all.”

Yeah, I’m a heartless and mean guy. But the spread of a disease does show how we humans are more connected than we’d often care to admit.

When people get sick, those are opportunities to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

But maybe you think it’s better to steer clear of your sick neighbor. Maybe you believe you should put on a face diaper (aka “mask”) and pretend you care about your neighbor.

Hmm…let’s turn that around a sec.

If you were immobilized by a disease, would you prefer your “neighbor” to steer clear? Or do you think you might prefer that someone, anyone, would care enough about a neighbor to nurture you back to health? If you answer “no,” you might be sicker than you realize.

I know when I’m sick, it gives me great joy to have someone bring me soup and juice and a blanket. My wife brings me smoothies, hot tea or coffee, and essential oils for easier breathing and pain relief. What a blessing it is to receive that tender loving care.

When diseases and illnesses break out, people should rise to the occasion. You and I have skills and talents to comfort others. But skills and talents without love mean absolutely nothing.

So, if you truly “love your neighbor as yourself,” or you’re ready to start doing that, take a closer look at what’s going on in the world. Look for Truth. Because Truth is the Way to Life. Focus on that.

I don’t believe
In magic…hocus pocus.
I do believe
My treasure’s where I focus.

Stay tuned,

subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and tell everybody you know.
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

Posted on June 1, 2020 by TonyApril 10, 2026

Normal people aren't cool. What you lookin' at fool?

Remember normal people?

Quite a few years back, I remember hearing my father-in-law mention how he mowed the lawn for “an old lady” down the street. For free. Not as part of business or anything like that. He was already retired. No, he just did it to help her out. Because she didn’t have any children or other family dropping in on her to help. So, my father-in-law just did what “normal people” used to do.

Normal people ain’t cool no mo, bro.

And I know using the term “bro” isn’t even cool anymore. (I never cared for it anyway, but…)

People who just wanna “sit and visit” with neighbors with a glass of lemonade or tea. And people who don’t wanna sit around telling dirty jokes while they “watch the game.” And people who don’t have tattoos from head to toe. Yeah, those all used to be normal people.

But that ain’t cool now.

And there’s only one thing more important than being cool. No wait. There’s nothing more important than being cool. ‘Cause coolness is the ticket to paradise. Right? Coolness gets you in “all the right places.” Seen with “all the right peeps.” So with all your getting, get cool. Nix normal.

Normal is so 20th Century. It’s so silver screen. And it’s only for the boring bourgeois. Oops. Bourgeois is probably too normal. So, I might have just revealed my numbskull normalcy (aka normality). If so, so be it. Give me the old norm over the so-called “new norm” any day, week, month, or year.

Does it make me your enemy if my norm doesn’t match yours?

Probably. Because people are so easily offended these day. And they’re so quick to anger. And so slow to wisdom. But guess what? That’s not new. You might believe you’re part of the cream of the cause du jour. But you’re only doing what human beings have done for thousands of years. Rebelling against God.

And I know the “cool peeps” aren’t gonna listen to a knucklehead from the old norm, like me. But your rebellion against God won’t go well for you. So, I urge you to spend a little less time on tattoos and tough talk and a lot more time working on wisdom.

Hey! What was that? Looked like a tiny bee. Oh wait. No, it was my words going in one ear and out the other.

Normal people used to smile and then say hi
When they saw you on the sidewalk passing by.
But nowadays I guess that kind of stuff’s not cool.
If you do it, they’ll all know that you’re old school.
So, remember when you go somewhere today,
There ain’t nothin’ that you need to do or say
To acknowledge anybody you might see.
Just be cool because it’s all you need to be.

Stay tuned,

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab some Merch

Or how about some music for kids

A Little Understanding Goes A Long Way

Posted on October 12, 2014 by TonyFebruary 24, 2025

A Little Understanding can be a wellspring of life.

Have you ever been in a situation where you just wished you could get a little understanding from someone and you weren’t getting it? If you’re a human being living on planet earth, I’m guessing you have.

You’re certainly not alone in that situation. I know I could use a little understanding more times than I’d like to mention. And many times I didn’t get what I was hoping for.

If you truly care about your neighbor, your fellow human being, you focus on understanding them. You realize they’re in a broken world, too. They need to find faith, hope, and love they can depend on. They need the Spirit of God just as much as you. It isn’t always easy to focus on someone else’s needs, especially when their selfishness brings out the worst in them. But, if you’re to be as God would have you be, you keep working at it.

In Proverbs 16:22 you’ll see that God says “understanding is a wellspring of life to him who has it”. So, you see…a little understanding is just as good for you as it is for the person you’re giving it to. Today I’d like to urge you to show a little more restraint when that other person’s selfishness pushes you to the edge. Before you lash back out at them…see if you can find out what’s hurting them. If they’re willing to open up, you’ll gain a little more understanding and you might just open up your wellspring as you do.

Understanding

It isn’t always easy.
It isn’t always hard.
The choice is yours to play
The winning or losing card.

It isn’t always visible.
It isn’t always hidden.
There is a light so beautiful,
You’ll think that it’s forbidden.

Oh, I believe in understanding
In understanding each other.
Sooner or later we’l find the key
The key to the heart of our brother.

It isn’t always peaceful.
It isn’t always loud.
Sometimes you find yourself alone.
Sometimes you’re in a crowd.

It isn’t always happy.
It isn’t always sad,
And with a little understanding”
It isn’t always bad.

Now…enjoy this song about the One who understands you best…