Rhyme and Reason

A praise and worship leader should follow THE Leader Maybe you already know this. But contemporary music, in church, started in the charismatic movement. And now it can be found in just about every kind of modern church in the world. More and more churches, regardless of their theology, seem to prefer praise and worship music that sounds like music of today. So that’s what a typical praise a...

Day in day out…here we go again Looney Tunes. I don’t have to say any more than that. And baby boomers all over America can immediately see their favorite cartoon characters. One of my Dad’s favorites was Wile E. Coyote and the Roadrunner. It was easy to watch that cartoon and imagine a coyote clocking in to work each morning. And his whole job was to chase the roadrunner. Day in...

Music is for the soul Now, this doesn’t apply to stuff trying to pass itself off as music. Like that heavy beat stuff played inside vehicles and rattles the windows of other vehicles and houses on the street. And that screaming stuff that sounds like spoiled brats throwing temper tantrums. No, only real music is for the soul.   And I’m not trying to be the dictator of which music is fo...

So, things happen for a reason, eh? Why? Seriously. If things happen for a reason, why is that? Why in the world would that always be true? And I ask because I hear or read that sort of nonsense all the time. But why do I say it’s nonsense?   Yeah, if things happen for a reason, why do I oppose that idea? I mean, c’mon, there must be a reason why I’d say it’s nonsense. So,...

Are you wishing your life away and you don’t even know it? Maybe it wasn’t today. But maybe it was yesterday. And you got up still feeling sleepy. And before you even finished your first cup of sunshine you said “Boy, I’ll be glad when this day is over.” Sound familiar? Because if it does, it’s a form of wishing your life away. And I’m guessing you don&#82...

Ah, it’s a brand new day After all my fun talk about how awesome it is to have a balloon sinuplasty surgery, I figured it’s a good time to change the pace. Because it’s a brand new day. And with each new sunrise comes new hope. New horizons. And a fresh new outlook. Right? [powerpress} Every brand new day represents opportunity. Back when I was a full time live performing musicia...

So, Tony…was the balloon sinuplasty fun? Oh yeah. If you’re looking for something to do on your next vacation, let me suggest taking a nice balloon sinuplasty ride. Because it’ll be a vacation you’ll never forget.   Balloon sinuplasty has a fun ring to it, right? Yeah, about as fun as kissing your mother-in-law on the lips. But seriously, considering the surgery involves a...

This is the day Well, I’ve mentioned this on the The Power of God’s Love Podcast. And I’ve talked about it a little, here on the website. And this is the day it happens. When I have steel instruments and a balloon shoved into my face. What?!   Yeah, this is the day I have a balloon sinuplasty procedure performed on me. And I’m hopeful and confident this will help me get ove...

Monday is here. Did you notice? It seems like, in this day and age, there wouldn’t be as much dread about it. But when I was searching for something this morning, I noticed the phrase, Monday is here, was a popular search term on Google. So, I clicked it to see why.   It seems like people still don’t like when Monday is here. About three fourths of the posts and images I saw for that s...

It’s a new day So what! Big deal. A new day comes around every twenty-four hours. So, what makes this one any more special than all the others? And why do so many people try to pump you up with all this rise-and-shine nonsense?   A new day means you’re alive. And you’re able to do something about your life. Even if it’s not much. You’re able to do something. Because y...

Rhymes without reason in church Have you noticed how many rhymes without reason there are in church songs these day? And I say church songs because so many of them aren’t worship songs. And they don’t even rhyme all that well. Am I biased about this? Of course. But I’m also right. Rhymes without reason are almost like treason. Not treason against “the state.” But trea...

Guess who needs a manly Bible study Men. Guys. And every person who was born a male. I think that covers it. And why do I say men need a manly Bible study? Because most men, at least most of them in typical churches in America, are getting that.   Wanna know a great source for a quick manly Bible study? Try Psalm 18 . It’s not gonna give you an in-depth look at theology. Or epistemology. Or...

A star is born – no, not that one I believe I’ve seen three out of four versions of the movie, A Star Is Born. I know I’ve seen first one from 1937 starring Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. And I’m pretty sure I saw the second one with Judy Garland and James Mason. And I know I saw the third one, in 1976 starring Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson (didn’t like tha...

Life got you down? Count your blessings. I’d like to encourage you, today, to count your blessings. But I don’t want you to spend the whole day on it. And you certainly could. Because you have way more than you might first think. Yeah…even you.   When you count your blessings, something cool happens. You start to see how your whole life is a blessing. And, if you’re honest...

Here’s why running is bad for you. And good. Just read a couple of articles from a couple of different sources on why running is bad for you. Mostly it’s because of things like an improved cardiovascular system, stronger heart, greater blood volume, and improved resistance to infection. Oh wait…I think I got that wrong.   OK, now I’ve got it. Here’s why running is bad...

Life flows like a river Unless you’re a fictitious superhero, you’ll never be able to travel back and forth through time. Because life flows like a river. Always in the direction of the gravitational pull. Time isn’t a fabric to be folded and manipulated and traveled through. It’s a byproduct of Life. Since life flows like a river, I’m glad I have a great boat. I reme...

Everybody has selfish desires Yeah, it’s a fact. An unflattering fact. But a fact nevertheless. You have selfish desires. And I do, too. But they don’t have to rule over you. Trouble is…most people in the world allow that to happen. In fact, they prefer it that way. So, what’s a “good person” to do? First, acknowledge that you’re not a “good person&#...

Have you noticed how bad news travels fast? How does that happen? Short answer, of course, is…people. Because people tend to have itching ears. And dark hearts. And bad news travels fast from hearts to ears and back to hearts. It’s a vicious cycle. Fortunately it’s far from a hopeless situation. At least for some people.   Good news is even gooder when bad news travels fast. And,...

Speaking into the air doesn’t work. Here’s a childhood memory to illustrate why speaking into the air is an exercise in futility. And I hope I remember this correctly. But when I was around 6 years old, I remember going to a school playground with a couple of my stepsisters. And this was on a Saturday. Because we just wanted to play on the swings, slides, and the monkey bars. So, anywa...

You’re running out of time I’ve mentioned, before, how my Dad was a runner. And he was a health nut before being a health nut was cool. He bought a juicer over 50 years ago. And I remember being the only kid in our house who enjoyed the juices he and my step-mom would make. Plus, Dad would buy produce and baked goods from a “health food store.” That was way before places li...

“Why is love so hard?” Wow. I’ve heard that question so many times. In real life. And in movies, tv shows, and talk shows. But most people who ask, why is love so hard, actually don’t have a clue what love is. So, it’s only an empty concept. And they never reap the benefits of true love. Maybe you do amazing things and still ask, “Why is love so hard?” May...

Life makes sense Nuh-uh. Uh-huh. Does not. Does, too. You’re dense. No, you’re dense. Ha! I’m rubber. And you’re glue. Bounces off me. And sticks to you. Oh yeah! Well, you’re stupid to infinity. Too late. That bounces off me and sticks to you. Oh yeah! Yeah! Well, you don’t even remember what I said. Yes, I do. You said life makes sense. And I said nuh-uh. And...

Time fills the space so there’s no space “But that doesn’t make any sense, Tony. Of course there’s no space if time fills the space. But how can time fill a space?” It’s all so confusing isn’t it?   When I say time fills the space, I don’t mean that “final frontier” up yonder. But, in a way, you could say time fills that space, too. &#822...

Wanna read a great confidence building Bible verse? Anyone who’s focused on the regular news regurgitation might be feeling a little worse right now. After all, a lot of reports are saying there’s an alarming rise in virus cases. And there’s all these protests. And riots…and destruction. So, what’s a God-fearing, peace-loving person to do? Well, may I suggest reading...

One thing I do… Social media is so anti-social. Because many (if not most) people spending a lot of time there are clueless about how conversation works. Interaction. Exchanges of ideas. So, one thing I do, when I’m on social media, is keep my mind focused on truth. And yes, there IS truth. Even universal truth. But only for those who don’t hate the truth.   Here’s another...