Be the Gospel

Posted on October 4, 2018 by billtonnis

Mountains_two_hikers

Each of us is called to be a channel of God’s love.

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

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Luke 10:1-2

After this the Lord appointed seventy[-two] others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”

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Jesus wanted his followers to spread the Good News of God’s unconditional love for all people.

So he sent them forth…but not alone.

He sent them in pairs.

Of course, at the time it was likely much safer to travel with a companion.

But I also think this speaks of the need to not be a lone ranger.

We all need support!

As followers of Jesus today, we are all called to share the Good News with others and to find support in others who also want to share that mission.

You and I are being sent as missionaries of God’s love.

In this regard, actions speak much louder than words.

Look to the example of St. Francis of Assisi.

Legend has it that he told one of his friars, “Preach the gospel always and when necessary use words.”

Whether he said it or not…it fits how Francis lived his life.

The question for each of us to answer is: Would others know who Jesus is…by witnessing our words and actions?

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Listen to the song of the day “Make Me a Channel” 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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Be Present

Posted on October 3, 2018 by billtonnis

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The now is the portal to peace and an abundant life.

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

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Luke 9:61-62

Another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but first let me say farewell to my family at home.” [To him] Jesus said, “No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

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Jesus is again making it clear that the only way to the kingdom of God…is the now.

When you are living in the present moment…the reign of God is experienced.

God is always present…it is we who often are not.

Our minds are mulling over the past or fretting about the future while the only time that is real…right now…is missed!

Jesus used the metaphor of someone who is plowing the land but is looking behind to see what has already happened. Jesus says to do the proper job…you must be focused on what is happening now.

The kingdom of God is really an experience.

It is available now…inside you and around you.

“Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus said in reply, “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20-21).”

And “among you” is sometimes translated as “within you.”

So allow Jesus to lead you to the abundant life of the kingdom of God.

Follow his example of how to live.

The time to follow him is this moment…and this moment…and this moment, etc.

Breathe.

When you are present…the love of God will live in you…and lead your actions.

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Listen to the song of the day “Breathe On Me” 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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Love Never Fails

Posted on October 2, 2018 by billtonnis

flare_light_darkness

In darkest times…trust that a Light will appear.

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

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Psalm 88:2-3

LORD, the God of my salvation, I call out by day; at night I cry aloud in your presence. Let my prayer come before you; incline your ear to my cry.

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We can all relate to crying out to God in desperation.

Each of us has experienced times when the proverbial rug was pulled out from under us.

If you haven’t had this experience yet…you will.

It’s part of the human experience.

The world of “form” naturally changes. Sometimes the changes will not be easy.

You will not know what to do.

You will not be able to fix whatever is wrong.

You may feel as though God is far, far away…but feelings are deceptive.

First of all…you must accept what is.

That doesn’t mean you have to like it…but you have to accept it.

If you don’t accept what is…you will cause yourself great suffering.

But if you accept what is…then you will be able go with the flow of the change that is required.

Then you will find an inner peace even amidst the storm.

God…or Love itself…will lead you and guide you to new life.

God is in the resurrection and redemption business.

Love will always lead you home.

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Listen to the song of the day “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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Let Go

Posted on October 1, 2018 by billtonnis

seagull_flying_bluesky_sun_ocean

What attachments are keeping us from being our true selves?

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

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Job 1:21

Job said, “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!”

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We come into this world with no possessions…and we’ll leave it with no possessions.

We come in with no prestige…and whatever we have will stay here when we leave.

We enter this life with no power…and whatever power we attain here…stays here when we exit.

Yet many people spend their lives as though possessions, prestige and power are all that matters.

What a delusion!

Sometimes it takes a traumatic loss, a major suffering…to wake us up from that delusion.

For me…it was a growing discontent with my radio news profession and a traumatic ruptured appendix episode.

Our egos must be forced to let go of control…so that our true selves can begin to emerge…so that we can start going-with-the-flow of God’s will.

And what is God’s will?

It’s the path of love and goodness.

It’s channeling that Love and Goodness through each of us.

As Jesus said when asked to specify what the most important commandment was: “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 the first commandment. The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

To love…is all that matters.

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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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Carpe Diem

Posted on September 28, 2018 by billtonnis

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Life is a Mystery with Love at the core.

(Listen to my song “How Magnificent, Wondrous and Glorious” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Ecclesiastes 3:1-2,4

There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens. A time to be born, a time to die; a time to plant, a time to uproot the plant. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

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What a rich experience to be human!

Life is a magnificent gift with a broad spectrum of deep experiences that will all lead us to wholeness (also known as salvation)…if we allow ourselves to be present to each experience.

For when we are present to each moment…we are present to the Divine Presence.

Be open to how God is at work in these experiences.

As author and retreat leader Paula D’Arcy said, “God comes to you disguised as your life.”

Life is a journey of ups and downs.

You can’t have the mountaintops without the valleys.

What is the main struggle that you are dealing with now?

If it is death or hardship…bring it to the foot of the cross where Jesus is waiting to comfort you in your suffering.

If it is a time of joy…bring it to the Resurrected Christ to celebrate.

Jesus will gladly accompany us on our journeys.

Pray with him in the Garden of Gethsemane and be consoled. Dance with him at the wedding at Cana and be lifted.

Jesus said he is “the way and the truth and the life” (John 14:6).

He will lead you to the fullness of life here and now…and for all eternity.

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Listen to the song of the day “How Magnificent, Wondrous and Glorious” on the Mercy Reigns album by clicking HERE.

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

Remember…God loves you!

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Awaken

Posted on September 27, 2018 by billtonnis

dawn_landscape

We are all part of an eternal love story…so don’t miss it.

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

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Psalm 90:3,12,14

But humans you return to dust, saying, “Return, you mortals!” Teach us to count our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart. Fill us at daybreak with your love, that all our days we may sing for joy.

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God is pouring out life-giving Love in all directions.

Just look at all creation.

Look at the expanding universe.

All things are taking part in a dying-and-rising-process…receiving this life-giving Love and then giving it back to the universe in a constant cycle of giving and receiving.

The pattern is shown within the concept of a Trinitarian God.

Our Creator’s very nature is a perpetual giving-and-receiving relationship.

Are we ready to receive what God graciously gives to us and then pass it on…freely giving it for the good of the world?

Or are we grasping and holding onto the gifts we are given?

When we give of ourselves…we join in the Trinitarian, creative process that surrounds us.

When we give generously…we will in turn receive generously.

And when our earthly days are over, our bodies will die but our souls will rise again to eternal life.

This is an amazing adventure to those who are conscious to what’s happening.

Unfortunately, many are unconscious and completely lost in an ego-created delusion.

So when we wake each morning, may we also awaken to God’s Presence and give thanks for another day to take part in this Great Love story that has no end.

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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!

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Let Go

Posted on September 26, 2018 by billtonnis

sunrise_sittingonrock

What are the things that are keeping you from being your true self?

(Listen to my song “Glorify You with Me” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 9:3

Jesus said to them, “Take nothing for the journey, neither walking stick, nor sack, nor food, nor money, and let no one take a second tunic.”

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These instructions from Jesus to his followers are rather extreme.

His point was that there should be no distractions to the mission at hand.

There should be no attachments to get in the way of spreading the gospel message.

That was their top priority.

We are meant to take up that mission as well.

While we aren’t all expected to travel as lightly as the apostles, we are expected to be mindful of the attachments that distract us from being bearers of the Good News.

And what is the Good News?

That God loves all people unconditionally.

Each of us needs to ask ourselves: What is blocking me from being a channel of God’s love?

The more material possessions I have…the harder it is to not be attached to them.

There is nothing innately bad about the things in and of themselves…it’s my attachment to them that separates me from my mission.

Is there anything you would not let go of…if God asked you to?

You can only find wholeness and contentment in the Unconditional Love of God.

When you are present to this Love…nothing is lacking.

“The Lord is my shepherd; nothing shall I want” (Psalm 23).

So may you be open to receiving this Love which is always offered.

You only have to accept it.

It’s also the only way to experience being your true self…and giving glory to God at the same time.

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Listen to the song of the day “Glorify You with Me” 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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Works Required

Posted on September 25, 2018 by billtonnis

hands_on_hands

What good are religious beliefs if you aren’t helping those in need?

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

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Luke 8:20-21  

Jesus was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you. He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

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Jesus certainly loved his family as he loved all people…so this comment should not be construed as disrespecting them.

He’s exaggerating to make a point: You aren’t doing your part in the body of Christ by only hearing the word of God.

That’s not enough.

You must act on it.

The Word of God calls on us to love all people, to serve those who are in need as well as to speak out against oppression.

Simply believing doctrine or going to church without putting your faith into action is virtually meaningless.

“Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:17).

DEAD!

Jesus had specific instructions in regard to taking action: “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me” (Matthew 25:35-36).

The time for action is now.

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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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Shine Your Light

Posted on September 24, 2018 by billtonnis

lighthouse_beaming

Love dispels the darkness of hate and oppression.

(Listen to my song “May I Be Light” on YouTube by clicking HERE)

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Luke 8:16

“No one who lights a lamp conceals it with a vessel or sets it under a bed; rather, he places it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light.”

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There is a Light inside each of us.

It was installed by our Creator who is Light: “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5).

Jesus was the embodiment of this Light bringing life to the world.

He allowed this Light to shine fully and completely through him. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:5).

The Light of Christ brought healing, forgiveness, mercy, comfort and compassion to the world. The Light also dispelled the darkness of oppression and hatred.

As followers of this Light, we, too, are meant to be beacons in the world.

We are called to shine the Light of Christ.

We can’t do this by our own strength…but only by turning over our self-centered control to a Higher Power.

The holders of worldly power will not react well to this Light. They tried to extinguish it by crucifying Jesus.

You will also experience persecution.  As Jesus said, “If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20).

But the Light of Love cannot be defeated!

The resurrection continues through all those who continue to shine the Light.

Allow the Light to shine through you.

Christ is calling you!

It’s the only way to live as your true self.

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Listen to the song of the day “May I Be Light” 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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Peacemaker

Posted on September 21, 2018 by billtonnis

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Between fight and flight there is a third way.

(Listen to my song “All Are One” 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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Paul was so transformed by the risen Christ that he changed from being the most zealous persecutor of Christianity to its most passionate preacher.

Today’s scripture comes from a letter he wrote while in prison…to support to the beleaguered Christian community.

Paul’s message remains foundational for all Christians…although I’m wondering how many are even aware of it. 

You have been called by Christ.

What “call” have you received? Do you know?

Are you living “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”?

Look at the nasty and often untrue political commercials on TV.

Look at the vitriolic public discourse on important issues.

Look at the insulting discourse in social media.

Look at the sorry state of simple civility and common courtesy.

As the old church song states, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love.”

Really? I’m not seeing it.

The one Christians allegedly follow (that would be Jesus) put it this way: “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same” (Luke 6:32-33).

This is a gut check for us all.

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Listen to the song of the day “All Are One” 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, progressive Christianity, spirituality, Today's Contemplation | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment