Resurrection

Posted on November 2, 2018 by billtonnis

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Love has no end…so neither do you.

(Listen to my song “Love Will Always Lead You Home” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Wisdom 3:2-3

They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction and their going forth from us, utter destruction. But they are in peace.

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How sad to think that death is the end.

How wonderful to believe that death is instead a transition…a rebirth to new life.

This was the message Jesus gave us through his death and resurrection.

Death does not have the final say. 

Love does.

Besides the example of Jesus, we have new information today that also gives us hope: the testimony of those who have experienced what is known as the “Near Death Experience.”

There are thousands of known cases of people who have had a medical situation that led to a clinical death and eventual resuscitation.

But these people, while clinically dead, experienced a heavenly realm of great love.

I have met several of these people…and their lives are now changed by the experience.

They are now living with a profound peace.

As the Jesuit priest and scientist Pierre Teilhard de Chardin said, “We are spiritual beings having a human experience.”

So do not fear.

As Jesus stated, “And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it [on] the last day” (John 6:39).

Love wins now…and always.

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Listen to my song “Love Will Always Lead You Home” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Be Free

Posted on November 1, 2018 by billtonnis

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When we drop all our ego-created-delusions…we discover our true selves.

(Listen to my song “God’s Love Is All You Need” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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1 John 3:2

Beloved, we are God’s children now; what we shall be has not yet been revealed. We do know that when it is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

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The bible says that we are made in God’s image…each and every one of us (Genesis 1:27).

It also says that God is love (1 John 4:8).

So…at our very core…we, too, are love.

We find that hard to believe because, if you are like me, we don’t always feel that way.

We struggle.

We do things we aren’t proud of.

But there are those moments when…for no apparent reason…we experience deep compassion for another.

We might also experience deep compassion from someone else.

In those moments, all barriers and boundaries suddenly dissolve…and all there is…is love.

These are the times of True Presence when all there is…is now.

You can’t bottle it or claim it as a commodity.

It just is.

And it’s beautiful.

Why not practice being present to whomever and whatever is around you?

For God, or Love, is present always.

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Listen to the song of the day “God’s Love Is All You Need” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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The Gospel

Posted on October 31, 2018 by billtonnis

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Heaven is available for all who seek it.

(Listen to my song “All Are Welcome” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 13:29-30

“And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

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Jesus seemed to be telling his listeners that you may be surprised at the people you meet in heaven.

All are invited as a free gift.

Does that upset you?

Are you irked that even “those people” will be there?

Jesus instructed his followers, “Stop judging, that you may not be judged” (Matthew 7:1).

Judgement is not for us to do. That’s God’s territory.

And thank God…that God is Love (1 John 4:8).

I’m convinced that the only people who won’t be in the Presence of the fullness of God’s Love…will be those who don’t want to be…as well as those who don’t want to be with “those people.”

Heaven is always an open invitation through God’s grace.

Our status in society will have no clout in the afterlife. All will be equal.

All will be offered complete and total love and forgiveness.

We’re meant to live in this knowledge now and to share the unconditional love of God with others now…so that when it’s time to transition from this life to the next…the transition will be full of peace and joy.

After all, Jesus said that “The kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21).

And as St. Catherine of Siena stated, “The path to heaven lies through heaven, and all the way to heaven is heaven.”

Take some time to ponder those two statements…and rest.

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Listen to the song of the day “All Are Welcome” on the Give Praise and Thanks album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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My First Published Book

Posted on October 27, 2018 by billtonnis

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It’s a culmination of ten years of writing scripture reflections…my first book is now available on Amazon:

Mercy Reigns – A Daily Devotional of Compassion, Comfort and Healing

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Give yourself a daily dose of inspiration and peace!

Check it out on Amazon by clicking HERE.

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Being Christian

Posted on October 26, 2018 by billtonnis

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Are you being an advocate of love, peace and unity?

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

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Ephesians 4:1-3

I, then, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to live in a manner worthy of the call you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.

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St. Paul’s message was not only meant for the congregation in the city of Ephesus, it was meant for all followers of Christ.

And his message remains the same for us today.

Each of us needs to ask ourselves: “Am I living in a manner worthy of the call I have received?”

What is the “call” that you have been given?

If you are a living, breathing human being…then you have been given a call!

Each of us is called to serve in some capacity based on our individual talents, interests and passions.

And we’re meant to do so with humility, gentleness and patience, “bearing with one another through love, striving to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.”

The world is in dire need of more people awaking to their calling and then being servants with Christ’s mission.

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Listen to the song of the day “Mercy Reigns” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Divine Dance

Posted on October 25, 2018 by billtonnis

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Turn over control to the Eternal Love that sustains you and all things.

(Listen to my song “Shall We Sing” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to accomplish far more than all we ask or imagine, by the power at work within us.

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St. Paul’s statement above is a wordy way of saying: “Let go…let God.”

Many times we need a reminder that it’s not up to us to single-handedly change the world.

Leave that up to God.

But we do have to do our part!

Each of us can do a little something…the little something that only each of us can do using our gifts and talents.

We don’t need to see the end result.

There is a Love at work in the universe that will not be defeated.

It is creating out of Love…non-stop.

When we cooperate with this Life-giving Energy…we are part of a Creative Flow of Goodness.

This is how great things happen out of tiny acts of love.

God will even use the seemingly bad things to instigate the good.

As I like to say – God is in the mix.

So trust, “do what is right, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8).

You’ll be amazed at the results!

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Listen to my song “Shall We Sing” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Let Go

Posted on October 24, 2018 by billtonnis

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A Great Goodness will lead you to your true self…if you surrender to it.

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

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Ephesians 3:7

Of this I became a minister by the gift of God’s grace that was granted me in accord with the exercise of his power.

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Have you ever looked back something good that happened in your life and wondered how in the world it ever came to pass?

If anyone had told me 20 years ago that I would one day be ministering to the sick, the imprisoned, and the poor…and would have four albums of original music along with a published book of daily devotions, I would have said you were crazy.

At that time, I was quite miserable delivering bad news as a radio news anchor. I felt like I was acting…like I was a phony.

While I was good at the job…I knew deep inside that I was meant to do something else…but had no idea what.

I had to run out of all of my own options to find relief first…before I finally surrendered.

That happened late in the afternoon on the first Friday of March in 1997. That’s the time I “heard” in my heart these words:

“Get you guitar.”

It was a bizarre thought out of left-field. You see…I hadn’t touched my guitar in ten years and had hardly played it since I was a kid.

What followed was a slow process of writing soul-searching songs.

That led me back to college and eventually to becoming a youth minister…a full ten years after the “get your guitar” revelation.

My new job also required overseeing the social justice work for the church that hired me. That led me to working to help the poor as well as jail ministry.

Eventually I was led to chaplaincy training and then into pastoral care of the sick…for the same church that hired me.

Today…I have never felt more inner peace, contentment and joy.

It has all happened by God’s grace and power.

I am very thankful!

What is your calling?

I can tell you that it will be some form of service.

Are you listening to God’s silent voice in your heart?

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

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Practice Presence

Posted on October 23, 2018 by billtonnis

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Stop. Let go. Listen.

(Listen to my song “Slow Me Down” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 12:37

“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival.”

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Jesus says that “blessed” (or happy) are those who are willing to serve and are living in the moment.

This, again, is counter-culture.

Our society glorifies being served…not serving.

But when we let go of our egos…realize that there is a bigger picture…and live for a larger purpose than ourselves…we are able to see the needs of others.

But only if we are present (or as Jesus says, “vigilant.”)

We must practice silencing our minds’ constant thoughts.

When we are not rehashing over and over the past…or fretting over and over about the future…we can actually be present where the Divine Presence always dwells…and is therefore always arriving.

When we are present…we find the Master (God)…our true selves…and happiness as well.

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Listen to the song of the day “Slow Me Down” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Be Free

Posted on October 22, 2018 by billtonnis

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What are the attachments preventing you from being your true self?

(Listen to my song “Turn Off the Noise” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 12:15

Then he said to the crowd, “Take care to guard against all greed, for though one may be rich, one’s life does not consist of possessions.”

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Jesus consistently said things counter to what our culture upholds as the ideal.

Our society basically tells us that greed is good.

Advertising is based on convincing us that we need more.

We need whatever item is being peddled.

Our society idolizes those who are rich and famous.

Yet to “not covet our neighbor’s goods” is one of the Ten Commandments.

Coveting is promoted by our capitalistic and consumerist culture.

While the possessions in and of themselves are not evil…they easily become attachments…keeping us focused on holding on to them while distracting us from our calling in life.

Jesus demonstrated how to both enjoy things and to let them go.

It was not an “either-or” scenario…but a “both-and.”

You can both enjoy the possessions you are presented with and let them go…giving them freely to those in need.

This freedom from attachments is key to being able to go with the flow of the Spirit’s call in your life.

Otherwise, you are imprisoned by your possessions…shackled from acting in love…and distracted from the Divine Presence in each moment.

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Listen to the song of the day “Turn Off the Noise” on the Listen to Your Heart album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Divine Transparency

Posted on October 19, 2018 by billtonnis

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What we do and say has eternal significance.

(Listen to my song “I Stand in the Light” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 12:2

“There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known.”

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This passage reminds me a lot of the stories told by the majority of those who report having a “Near Death Experience.”

There are thousands and thousands of these cases in which people essentially died physically….but experienced life continuing in a spiritual state.

I have personally met several of these people.

They many times report being drawn into a Light of inexpressible Love where they experience total acceptance and peace.

Many also report experiencing a “life review” in the Presence of this Love.

And that’s when they re-live all the good…and not-so-good moments of their lives: all the joys and sorrows…as well as experiencing the feelings of others whom they helped…as well as hurt.

In that sense, Jesus reminds us in today’s scripture that we cannot hide what we do in this life from God.

But, we need not fear.

We are here to learn what it is to be loved and what it is to love.

We will review our lives in the Light of total forgiveness and compassion.

Can you imagine how deeply disappointing it will be to stand in the Light of the Love that created you…Who only wanted you to love others…and see how you failed?

I don’t know about you…but I know there are things to be reviewed that will not be pleasant. But there will also be things I will love to re-live.

And thank goodness that God is Love (1 John 4:8)!

For we will see how the Light is transforming every bit of it into a wondrous masterpiece of Love. 

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Listen to the song of the day “I Stand in the Light” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

Posted in God, inspiration, progressive Christianity, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment