Christianity 101

Posted on April 13, 2017 by billtonnis

Jesus_mural

We are all called to serve others.

(Listen to my song “Make Me a Channel” by clicking HERE)

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John 13:14-15

“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

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Jesus repeatedly called those who were with him to follow him.

He then gave us plenty of examples to follow…examples of dying to ourselves, dying to our ego’s selfish desires, so that we could truly live.

Today’s scripture gives us one of those amazing examples.

In John’s gospel there is no mention of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. In its place, Jesus washes his disciples’ feet.

The switch is no accident.

It’s to show us that when we eat the Eucharist (the Body of Christ)…Jesus literally becomes part of us. We are then meant to become Christ to the world…to wash the feet of others…to be servants.

Jesus tells us this quite explicitly in today’s scripture.

Each of us must ask ourselves: How am I following his example?

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Me a Channel” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Have Faith

Posted on April 12, 2017 by billtonnis

sun_rays_trees

Despite the dreadful happenings in the world…Love is still winning.

(Listen to my song “Mercy Reigns” by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 69:21

Insult has broken my heart, and I am weak; I looked for compassion, but there was none, for comforters, but found none.

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I can truly empathize with the psalmist’s words when I look over the atrocities going on in the world. There is so much cruelty and heartless behavior.

Jesus experienced the worst of it.

He became the one spurned…the outcast, the scapegoat…so that we could see just how wrong and ugly it is. He knows what it’s like to be completely rejected and unjustly persecuted.

So you know that Jesus can empathize with us and comfort us when we experience being persecuted and rejected.

Jesus became the most thoroughly rejected one…so that he could show us exactly what unconditional love is by forgiving his persecutors even when they didn’t ask for forgiveness.

Jesus became the outcast so that he could show us once and for all that Love wins.

Death leads to life.

God is Love.

Acts of love are overwhelming the acts of hate all over the world each day.

May the comfort of this awareness rest in your heart…and may you share it with others.

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Listen to my song “Mercy Reigns” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Born to Love

Posted on April 11, 2017 by billtonnis

Trees_sun_tombstones

Each of us has Eternal favor.

(Listen to my song “Listen to Your Heart” by clicking HERE)

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Isaiah 49:1

The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name.

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Each of us is very special in the eyes of our Creator.

The Prophet Isaiah said that God knew us intimately in the womb.

And hundreds of years later, St. Paul wrote that we were all known by God well before that: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved.” (Ephesians 1:3-6)

You might want to read that several times and let it sink in.

It says we were chosen in Christ before the world began!

How many people live in the illusion of separation from God…when God is actually as close to us as our breath.

St. Paul said this in Acts 17:28, “For ‘In him we live and move and have our being.’”

We are all intimately involved with God’s creation in progress.

Listen to the Divine Voice inside you…leading you on a journey of love.

Don’t miss taking part in the epic adventure unfolding in each moment!

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Listen to the song of the day “Listen to Your Heart” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Let Go

Posted on April 10, 2017 by billtonnis

water_flowing

The Love that created you is leading you back to Love.

(Listen to my song “God Is” by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom do I fear? The Lord is my life’s refuge; of whom am I afraid?

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One thing Jesus told his followers over and over was to not be afraid.

Fear is produced by the ego over not wanting to lose power, prestige or possessions which are all masks and illusions that will soon or later disappear.

Fear paralyzes us from moving forward due to the risk of loss.

We willingly must let go of our ego’s fears so that we can grow.

The true you is not your power, prestige or possessions.

The true you is the unique, beloved daughter or son of God that you are.

That’s it.

You are significant and infinitely loved just as you are…warts, blemishes, and weaknesses included.

You do not have to earn or merit God’s love or acceptance. Jesus showed us this quite clearly. If you doubt this…simply read the story of the “Prodigal Son” (Luke 15:11-32).

So now that you know that your Creator loves you unconditionally…what is there to fear?

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Listen to the song of the day “God Is” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Give Praise and Thanks

Posted on April 7, 2017 by billtonnis

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God carries you through the storms of life.

(Listen to my song “Give Praise and Thanks” by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 18:2-3

I love you, Lord, my strength, Lord, my rock, my fortress, my deliverer, my God, my rock of refuge, my shield, my saving horn, my stronghold!

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Whatever you are going through now…know that you will get through it.

You will!

You are an eternal, spiritual being having a human experience.

God is with you.

It is in the process of getting through your struggles that you will be transformed.

You will find new life.

This is your Loving Creator’s desire…to deliver you to a better place…to wholeness.

This is your salvation.

One day you will look back on this struggle and see it differently.

If you want encouragement…just look at Jesus on the cross and see how what appeared to be the ultimate, humiliating defeat…turned into the ultimate, glorious victory!

When you walk the path of self-emptying-love…you will find life everlasting.

Love will always lead you home.

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Listen to the song of the day “Give Praise and Thanks” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Now and Forever

Posted on April 6, 2017 by billtonnis

outerspace_galaxy

Love is in the process of winning.

(Listen to my song “Going Over There” by clicking HERE)

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John 8:51

“Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”

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This moment is eternal.

There will never be anything other than this moment…now. 

Jesus wants you to experience the wonders of God’s love right now and says we can…if we keep his word and remain in his word (John 8:31-32).

Christ is the Word…the blueprint of all creation.

As St. Paul said, “Christ is all and in all” (Colossians 3:11). Jesus said that he is “the way, the truth and the life.”

He showed us that no struggle or hardship…even crucifixion…can prevent New Life from happening!

The name “Jesus” literally means, “Yahweh saves.”

Open yourself to that salvation now…in this moment…and follow where Jesus’ word leads you.

New Life is at hand now…and now…and now…as it will be at the moment of physical death.

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Listen to my song “Going Over There” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Be Renewed

Posted on April 5, 2017 by billtonnis

underwater_leaves

Immerse yourself in the Unconditional Love of God.

(Listen to my song “Changed” by clicking HERE)

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John 8:31-32

Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

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The words of Jesus are living words that still impact and transform lives.

When we read his words and allow them to sink deeply into our hearts we will be moved.

That’s what the voice of Unconditional Love does…it transforms you.

And when you are transformed…you are changed.

It will lead to a changed life…one that will be unique since each of us is one-of-a-kind and made in the image of God.

An experience of the living Christ at the heart level will soften the rigid “rules and regulations” experience of childhood religion that remains at the head level only.

This allows our faith to blossom and open to a bigger story…one that includes everything and rejects nothing…that allows you to hold the tension of opposites with a sense of compassion.

This is truly freedom.

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Listen to the song of the day “Changed” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Breathe

Posted on April 4, 2017 by billtonnis

sunset_lake_birdflying

Be still and know that God is with you.

(Listen to my song “Breathe On Me” by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 102:2-3

Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry come to you. Do not hide your face from me now that I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.

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In the Psalms we see every human emotion expressed to God.

It is part of the human experience to call out to God for help in time of need.

Have you ever noticed how that seems instinctual?

And thanks to the teaching of Jesus, we believe that God actually listens and cares!

Jesus called God “Abba” which is translated as an intimate term for father…somewhat like “daddy.” It’s as though our Creator is the best of both father and mother.

The God that Jesus spoke to was not stern, critical or judgmental. God was not far away but readily accessible…and so it is now.

God is as close to you as your breath.

The same Divine Spark that ignited creation is also inside you.

But why does it seem that God does not answer our calls? Could it be because we are impatient? I know I am! 

Let us trust that God is answering us because we are beloved sons and daughters.

In the silence of the void God is answering.

Waiting is part of the process through which we will live into the answer that is best for us.

We will be led to healing, wholeness and a deeper faith and the awakening of our true selves.

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Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On Me” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Restorative Justice

Posted on April 3, 2017 by billtonnis

swan_lake_leaves

Unconditional Love confounds minds…and transforms hearts.

(Listen to my song “Salvation” by clicking HERE)

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John 8:10-11

Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She replied, “No one, sir.” Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you.”

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Sometimes we gloss over the radical words of Jesus because they are so difficult. We don’t allow them to sink in because they make no sense to our logical, either-or minds.

It would seem that either the woman is guilty and therefore should be punished…or she is not guilty and should be released.

So how is it that this woman (described as “caught in adultery”) is guilty…and yet Jesus does not condemn her?

The religious leaders wanted to stone her. That was the law.

But Jesus headed off their vengeance by saying, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Then Jesus made the radical move of telling the woman who was caught breaking a Commandment…that he did not condemn her.

The woman had not even asked to be forgiven!

In Jesus’ eyes…the woman could both be guilty…and be freed and made whole through forgiveness.

This is what happens when vengeance and sin are met head on by radical, unconditional Love. 

I suggest that many hearts were transformed that day…because everyone saw their own need of forgiveness.

How might we be God’s instruments in transforming others by offering love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion?

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Listen to the song of the day “Salvation” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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Live to Love

Posted on March 31, 2017 by billtonnis

butterfly_flower

God never rejects…but always redeems.

(Listen to my song “Come to Jesus” by clicking HERE)

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Psalm 34:19

The Lord is close to the broken-hearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.

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We hate to fail.

We are taught from childhood that the objective is to win, win, win…at all costs.

We must defeat the opposition.

But Jesus says the objective is to love, love, love…at all costs.

He says the top priority is to love God and your neighbor as yourself.

He takes it a step further: We must love our enemies!

Jesus says that instead of winning…your life’s mission should be to extend love, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. 

When we actually join the so-called loser, the outcast, the one who is suffering…we know that Christ is near to us because those are the people that he spent his time with.

It is also when we are at the end of our ropes…that God is there waiting to embrace us.

This is the place where we let go of our agendas so that we might allow God to begin transforming us and taking us to greater heights than we could ever imagine.

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Listen to the song of the day “Come to Jesus” by clicking HERE.

Sample and/or purchase my songs on iTunes by clicking HERE.

CD’s available for purchase at BillTonnisMusic.com by clicking HERE.

Remember…God loves you!

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