I am a father’s child, a mother’s child, yet no one’s son...who am I?
It may only take a moment to solve this riddle. However, in times of loneliness, as a sense of defeat creeps upon us and we feel we are of diminishing value, invisible to others, we need to identify our personhood. We need to examine this question: who am I?
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Happy Feast of the Holy Theophany (aka Epiphany, aka when Jesus was baptized)!
If you're Orthodox you know that we celebrate this great feast with a Liturgical service the evening prior (last night) and because of of that - and also because I just need a day to catch up on some rest - there's no blog post today (NOOOOO!!!!!).
I apologize but I realized that I've been burning the candle at both ends this past week and so I'm giving myself a sleep in day to catch up on some good ole fashioned R&R. But don't worry, I'm not leaving you totally alone today.
I'LL STILL BE DOING MY WEEKLY PERISCOPE TODAY AT 12:30 PM EST.
I'll open today's scope up for another round of Q&A. So once again, YOU get to set the agenda. You can submit questions LIVE during the broadcast or by tweeting me (@FrAnthony) or by leaving a comment on this post. Questions submitted via twitter and the comments section will be given priority and we'll get to the live ones as time allows.
So if there’s anything you’ve always wanted to ask me, this is your chance to do so!
p.s. If you have 10 minutes to spare and want to read more about the feast of Theophany/Epiphany, check out THIS ARTICLE by a famous 4th century Christian father.
Yesterday was Friends & Family Day at The Well and to celebrate, we kicked off a brand new series called CONFRONTING CONFLICT.
Why are we talking about conflict? Because a) life is all about relationships and b) you can't have relationships with conflict. It's inevitable!
How many marriages are broken because of a conflict mishandled? How many parents wish they could "go back" and respond differently? How many friendships end suddenly because of a conflict that arose suddenly and wasn't handled properly?
The goal of this series is to learn how to face conflict head on - in a godly, Christlike manner. Check out Part 1 above and get ready to change your outlook on conflict.
One of the greatest satisfactions in human life is the ability to reason one with another. To know what one is thinking about, what their plans are and by the same token, for you to share your thoughts as well as your plans with them. It’s what defines a successful relationship.
“Our marriage is wonderful because she always tell me what she thinks would us have a healthy married life and I in turn would do the same.”
“It’s the ability to share our thoughts together as a team that has made this organization to flourish.”
“We have been able to raise our children we keep encouraging them to be open with us about the things that go on in their life.”
It’s through sharing our thoughts together that makes us have good relationships.
Read MoreWe wrapped up the Burnt Out: Finding Peace on Earth series this week and the topic was RELATIONAL margin (aka, emotional margin).
Like our finances and our time, there are limits on what we can handle emotionally. We may not think about it often but when we go past those limits, trouble is sure to come. We lose our cool... we snap at our kids... we become unpleasant people. Why? Because relationships require margin to thrive.
So if you struggle to set healthy boundaries, check out the message above and see how you can start building margin into your relationships.
In volunteering with the kids at my local church, I’ve been reading a lot of books on various approaches to Youth Ministry. In one book I read, a man shares his experience growing up in Sunday School and why he will never set foot into another Church. [SeeFour Views of Youth Ministry and the Church].
“Foster kids don’t come to family reunions,” he writes. In his excerpt, I found myself getting teary-eyed as I read an all-too-familiar truth.
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SOLDIER!
Yep, that’s right. Soldier. I’ve never served in the military but I’m a solider nonetheless. I’m a soldier in the army of God.
I am not a civilian or a bystander; I am not called to sit on the sidelines. I am called to fight. I am called to lead. I am called to build. I have been entrusted and equipped to be on the front lines in the service of my commanding officer…the King of kings and Lord of lords…Christ Jesus the Lord.
I am a soldier. That’s my word for 2016.
Read MoreIt's time to get back to work! After a 2 week break, we got back into the swing of things yesterday with Part 3 in the Burnt Out: Finding Peace on Earth series. This week our topic was MARGIN IN OUR FINANCES (aka, our MONEY!).
What's more important: our standard of living? Or quality of life? Are the two the same? Are they correlated? Why does it even matter how I spend my money? Could the way I manage my finances really have that great an impact on my ability to be a disciple of Christ?
All that and more in this week's message - including my 5 step strategy to help you figure out the first steps to building financial margin. Enjoy!
For unto us a Child is born Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder And His name will be calledWonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end. (Isaiah 9:6-7)
As I prepare for Advent this year, I’ve been meditating on this verse. I cannot seem to get away from it; it’s like a meal that I am savouring. I am lingering at the table, inhaling the fragrant scent, the fullness of flavours on my taste buds, enjoying the vivid sights this passage provokes.
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Relationships go through ups and downs. No matter how strong your marriage, there will be moments of tension, disagreements, and hard times. During those rocky times, it’s important children understand they’re not responsible for the conflict between you and your spouse.
In many cases, these little disagreements can smooth over once tempers cool. However, in other situations, the damage to relationship may be difficult to repair. Help your children cope with these moments by making sure they understand what is happening is not their fault and both parents still love them.
Read More“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
It's Part 2 in the Burnt Out: Finding Peace on Earth series and our topic this week is margin in our SCHEDULES.
How do we do that when life is so hectic and busy? It's less about a technique and more about a principle - a principle that gives us the proper context for every decision when it comes to scheduling our time.
What is that principle? You're gonna have to check out the video above and see for yourself.
Spoiler alert: about 2/3 of the way through this message, there is some real wisdom that every person needs to hear concerning the top regrets people have before dying. Trust me - that part alone is worth watching this video. Trust me.
Roses are red, I have a phone, nobody texts me, forever alone.
Loneliness is familiar to us all. The loneliness of those estranged from loved ones, those who work or study in isolation, or those who are socially outcast. The loneliness of a man sitting across the dinner table from his wife unable to convey his feelings, the loneliness of a family sitting in front of the television incapable of sharing their dreams, or the loneliness of a commuter on the subway surrounded by the silence of other commuters staring at each other’s shoes.
Loneliness is a universal human experience.
Read MoreWe kicked off a new series in The Well yesterday and I think you'll agree that it is EXACTLY what the doctor ordered - especially as we approach the happy holiday season. The series is titled Burnt Out: Finding Peace on Earth.
We'd all agree that our lives are busier and more fast-paced than ever. We're running at full speed, operating at maximum capacity and living without any margin or breathing room. This inevitably leads to struggles in all areas of life - specifically in our time, our finances, and most of all our relationships.
This goal of this series is to look at ways to create and/or restore margin and breathing room in our overloaded lives.
I am not an artist - at least not in the typical sense of the word. No one will ever confuse me with Michelangelo.
Does it count that I've always wanted to draw? I've wanted to grab a pencil, or some paint, and change a blank canvas into a masterpiece. Even with the help of those group painting sessions on Groupon, I'll likely never know the feeling.
But this makes me want to be an artist:
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Thanksgiving week is here and that means it’s time for my annual Thanksgiving week unplug. This is where I unplug from everything and just focus on getting some much R&R – recharging and refocusing – for my body, my mind and my spirit. So you won’t be hearing much from me this week - both on my blog and on twitter.
I will however still be doing my marriage book club scope with Marianne on Tuesday night at 8:45 pm EST. Other than that, I'm off for the week.
Wishing you all a happy and blessed Thanksgiving!
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:13-14
All good things must come to an end. Yesterday was the 5th and final message in one of the most eye-opening and life-transforming series' we've ever done at The Well - IDENTITY CRISIS: The Search for Me.
The subject? THE GREAT MASTERPIECE (ie, YOU!). YOU were formed and fashioned by the hand of God - the same hand that is holding the universe together as we speak. You were not just created by God as part of some assembly line output; you were "knit together" in your mother's womb - ALL of you, warts and all.
Why? Because YOU are not an ordinary creation. YOU are a masterpiece...and you always will be!
I’m trying something new and I’m starting tonight. Yesterday I picked up this book, A Lifelong Love: How to Have Lasting Intimacy, Friendship, and Purpose in Your Marriage and I couldn’t put it down. Best book I’ve read about marriage in a long time. And I think the message is exactly what so many married couples need to hear today!
So I’ve decided to share what I’m learning by starting an online book club on Periscope – beginning TONIGHT! And the best news is that I won’t be alone on the scope…MARIANNE WILL BE ON WITH ME AS WELL!
Read More"We are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through Him who loved us."Romans 8:37
It's the one desire that is universal among us all - the desire to CHANGE. We all have some area of our lives that we feel powerless to change. It could be a bad habit, or an addiction, or a relationship that just won't seem to get back on track. Whatever it may be, we often look at that circumstance and feel defeated.
But in the face of that, the Bible says we are "MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH HIM." How can that be? What does that mean? My eyes see failure all around; how can Jesus look at me and see a conqueror?
That's the topic of Part 4 in IDENTITY CRISIS: The Search for Meas we discover a) the authority that God has given to us as His children, and b) how to exercise that authority in our daily life.
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa
Jesus sat with the sinners.
He ate with and loved them.
He was surrounded by them.
As we grow in our churches and in our services, we started focusing our efforts on building the next generation. So the church of Zambia can be strong. But along the way, I started noticing something different. Our church became different.
Read More“But you are a chosen generation, a ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, a HOLY NATION, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)
How many people would identify themselves as a saint? Or how about as a priest? It doesn't sound like something we hear very often, but according to the teaching of the Scriptures, as a child of God, you are both! As a believer, we are all CALLED TO SAINTHOOD and ORDAINED FOR PRIESTHOOD.
What does that mean? Check out Part 3 in IDENTITY CRISIS: The Search for Meand see for yourself. You'll discover that not only does God want to adopt us as children into His family (see Part 2), but He then desires a certain output from us as well. He desires something for us to BECOME (a saint) and something for us to DO (royal priest).
Congratulations... you've now been ordained. Welcome to the priesthood!
