For those of us in the States, the time is here again for our midsummer’s patriotic respite.
Embracing Disappointment: How to Move On and Thrive.
Disappointment is an inevitable part of life. Whether it’s a missed promotion, a failed relationship, or an unexpected event, we all experience letdowns from time to time. But disappointment doesn’t have to define us or keep us stuck.
Totally Consumed: My Identity Crisis. By Meyah Doyle.
Note from Tony: I had the opportunity to meet Meyah at the Mississippi Baptist State Speakers Tournament. The tourney is open to high school students, who are tasked with sharing a speech with judges. Winners of the tournament are awarded literally thousands of dollars in scholarships. Meyah is a 12th grader from Petal, Mississippi. I […]
Overcoming procrastination – 8 strategies.
Procrastination. I’m so good at it I could teach it on the graduate level. I’ve tended to blow procrastination off as just a “thing,” a tendency that isn’t exactly laziness but just a desire to put things off. Never put off anything until tomorrow unless you can put it off till next week, right? Yet, […]
Perseverance – how to hang in there.
Perseverance. Hanging in there. We need to talk about this. I’d contend that a lot of the problems and issues we face are due to simply giving up too soon. We got tired, or distracted, or listened to our inner demons.
7 life rules for 2023
It seems that some “life rules” for this new year might be in order. There’s nothing magical about these, but they seem pretty appropriate. Fact is, they’re good life rules for any year.
Lessons from the little drummer boy.
I’ll start with a confessional. Sometimes, Christmas music gets on my nerves. But before you call the grinch squad on me, I’ll explain. And I will use The Little Drummer Boy as a jumping off place.
I love Christmas carols. Love ‘em. I might listen to them year round. But some of the secular stuff can really wear thin. White Christmas? Good with that. I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day? Check – I like it.
But Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree? Santa Baby? Mariah Carey? The whole Bob Dylan Christmas album, which is like some sort of surreal fever dream? No thanks, ma‘am.
Then there’s The Little Drummer Boy. More carol than secular. And for some reason I’ve done a deep dive with this one recently.
10 resolutions for mental and spiritual flourishing
Sometimes I run across something that is so meaningful, so provocative, and so timely that I simply stand back in awe. This is from a gentleman named Clyde S. Kilby, and it’s sublime.
Thankfulness: A Bible study.
Thankfulness is what Thanksgiving is all about, right? And yet, when thinking about thankfulness, I’m seeing that we have to live with a certain amount of tension, of what are apparently conflicting thoughts. Thankfulness is an attitude we should grasp and hold onto. Countering that, though, is the pervasive presence of evil. How do we […]
Just be real.
The things the Enemy would use to disrupt, derail, and destroy your life are the very things God will use to draw you closer to Himself and use to equip you to help others.
Six thoughts on achieving a better life.
Who wouldn’t want a better life? It can be yours. What was it the old preacher said? “Put the hay where the sheep can get to it.” Maybe today you’re feeling sheepish, and need some good hay. I hope this’ll fit the bill. The context: I’ve spoken before about the gap between where I want […]
Queen Elizabeth and The Gate of the Year.
The Gate of the Year gave comfort to the Queen Mother all her days, and was a real inspiration to Brits in the Second World War. She had its words engraved on stone plaques and mounted on the gates of the King George VI Memorial Chapel at Windsor Castle.