Author Archives: billtonnis

About billtonnis

Child of God, Pastoral Minister, Chaplain, Music Minister, Jail Minister, singer-songwriter, author, activist, former radio news anchor, imperfect follower of Jesus inspired by God's unconditional love, proud uncle... what else is there?

Way of the Cross

Posted on August 30, 2013 by billtonnis

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with the wisdom of human eloquence, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its meaning. The message of … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged 1 Corinthians, Christ, compassion, cross, ego, forgiveness, Give Praise and Thanks, God, gratification, Jesus, let go, love, mercy, possession, Pour Me Out, power, prestige, resurrection, true self, Way of the Cross | Leave a comment

Be Present

Posted on August 29, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 24:42 Stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. God is present in all of creation. God is present in this moment. Are you? Are you fully alive and experiencing this moment of … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged awake, Be Present, creation, God, holy Spirit, Jesus, Listen to Your Heart, Matthew 24, mind, moment, present, real you, Richard Rohr, turn off the noise | 1 Comment

God Is With You

Posted on August 27, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 139:1-2 LORD, you have probed me, you know me: you know when I sit and stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. There is no fooling God. Our Creator knows everything about each of us…our thoughts…our desires…our struggles…our failings…our … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged being, changed, Creator, failure, Give Praise and Thanks, God, God is with you, Lord, love, Psalm 139, struggle | Leave a comment

No Strings Attached

Posted on August 26, 2013 by billtonnis

Listen to Bill’s song, “God Is”, on the album Give Praise and Thanks before or after reading this reflection. You can hear a clip of the song by clicking on the link “Bill Tonnis’ Music on iTunes” under “Blogroll” below … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged achieve, compassion, control, ego, fault, forgiveness, Give Praise and Thanks, God, God Is, grace, Jesus, kingdom, mask, Matthew 23, mercy, No strings attached, perfect, Pharisees, scribes, struggle, weakness | Leave a comment

Love Is the Answer

Posted on August 23, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 22:36-39 “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged commandment, contemplative, false self, happiness, happy, heart, Jesus, Listen to Your Heart, love, Love Is the Answer, Matthew 22, mind, neighbor, peace, prayer, soul, true self | 1 Comment

God Redeems

Posted on August 22, 2013 by billtonnis

Ezekiel 36:25-26 I will sprinkle clean water upon you to cleanse you from all your impurities, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged cleanse, Ezekiel 36, Give Praise and Thanks, idol, impurities, Let the Joy Rise, life-giving, new heart, repent | Leave a comment

Gratuitous Love

Posted on August 21, 2013 by billtonnis

Psalm 23:2 The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack. If we are truly following Jesus and are in the care of the “Good Shepherd”…what more do we need? Is there anything else needed above God’s love and … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged envious, generous, God, Gratuitous Love, how wonderful to me, Jesus, live to love, Lord, love, Matthew 20, Psalm 23, shepherd | Leave a comment

Enter the Kingdom

Posted on August 20, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 19:23-24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged camel, compassion, forgiveness, Jesus, kingdom of God, kingdom of heaven, Listen to Your Heart, love, Make Me a Channel, Matthew 19, mercy, present moment, rich, servant | 1 Comment

Attachments

Posted on August 19, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 19:20-22 The young man said to him, “All of these (the Ten Commandments) I have observed. What do I still lack?” Jesus said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged attachments, detach, eternal, God, heaven, I surrender, idol, Jesus, lack, live to love, love, Matthew 19, possessions, Ten Commandments | Leave a comment

Forgiveness Frees You

Posted on August 16, 2013 by billtonnis

Matthew 18:21-22 Then Peter approaching asked him, “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive him? As many as seven times?” Jesus answered, “I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times. By telling Peter … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged cross, father forgive them, forgiveness, free, God, harmony, Jesus, live to love, Matthew 18, peace, Peter, salvation | Leave a comment