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?

Irrational Love

Posted on July 26, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 36:6 Lord, your love reaches to heaven; your fidelity, to the clouds. Laws and rules are needed…but when it comes to Jesus…love always had the final say. God’s extreme, extravagant love is so immense…so amazing…so beyond what we can … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged beloved, forgiveness, how wonderful to me, irrational, Jesus, laws, legalistic, love, rules, transform, unconditional | 1 Comment

Life Through Death

Posted on July 25, 2012 by billtonnis

2 Corinthians 4:11 For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. Jesus showed us that the way to life…is … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged Christ, death, desires, dying, egocentric, flesh, God, God Is the Goal, letting go, possessions, power, prestige | Leave a comment

God Is On Your Side

Posted on July 24, 2012 by billtonnis

Micah 7:19 You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins. God has a goal for each of us and will never give up on achieving it. The goal is for each of us to become whole. … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged compassion, father forgive them, flaw, forgiveness, God, imperfect, Jesus, love, mercy, Richard Rohr, salvation, sins, transformation, whole, wholeness | Leave a comment

Words To Live By

Posted on July 23, 2012 by billtonnis

Micah 6:8 You have been told, O mortal, what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: Only to do justice and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. What if we kept these words with … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged do justice, I want to follow you, Jesus, kingdom of God, walk humbly | Leave a comment

More Mercy Needed

Posted on July 20, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 12:7 “If you knew what this meant, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned these innocent men.” A legalistic mind has a hard time with ‘mercy.’ The religious leaders (Pharisees) had just criticized Jesus’ disciples for … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged come to Jesus, forgiveness, law, legalistic, love, mercy, rule, sacrifice | Leave a comment

Relax

Posted on July 19, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” When you come to the end of your rope…God is waiting there to catch you. What if we stopped the merit game…the … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged acceptance, burden, Christ, earn, forgiveness, good news, I will give you rest, labor, merit | Leave a comment

Sacred Wound

Posted on July 18, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 94:14 You, Lord, will not forsake your people, nor abandon your very own. Perhaps you are struggling with something. Perhaps it’s a health issue or relationship issue. Perhaps it’s that proverbial thorn in your side that you can’t seem … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged accepting, comforting, heal, health, I will give you rest, relationship, struggling, thorn, trust, wholeness | Leave a comment

Turn Around

Posted on July 17, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 11:20 Then he began to reproach the towns where most of his mighty deeds had been done, since they had not repented. To repent is to change the direction in which you are seeking happiness or fulfillment. Jesus went … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged celebrity, fulfillment, happiness, miracles, repent, wholeness, yearning | Leave a comment

Lose to Find

Posted on July 16, 2012 by billtonnis

Matthew 10:39 “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Many people embark on a path in life to accomplish certain things. These things might be in the realm of … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged compassionate, ego, find, forgiving, kingdom of God, lose, loving, merciful, possessions, power, prestige, road less traveled, true self | Leave a comment

Renewal

Posted on July 13, 2012 by billtonnis

Psalm 51:12 A clean heart create for me, God; renew in me a steadfast spirit. No matter how many times we screw up…no matter how many times we come up short…God is always embracing us in love. Our Loving Source … Continue reading →

Posted in Today's Contemplation | Tagged forgive, heal, heart, Ira Byock, love, new life, pain, renew, restore, resurrection, spirit, spring, suffering, thank, The Four Things That Matter Most, winter | Leave a comment