I've been getting lots of questions from parents about how to insert "spiritual time" into their family life. So with that in mind, I'm reposting something I wrote 3 years ago about how we do it in our home. This certainly isn't the only way to have family spiritual time; it's just simply our way and I hope it helps you come up with a system that works for your home/family as well.
Read MoreTHE SUPERPOWER OF KINDNESS - The KIND That Breaks, Part 1
Ever thought about what it would feel like to have a superpower? If so, you're gonna love the latest series we kicked off at The Well this week: "The KIND that Breaks".
It's all about a superpower that can change just about any relationship there is - no matter how difficult and hopeless it might seem. It's the superpower of KINDNESS and you're invited to join us for a 30 day challenge as we seek to exercise this superpower in our lives.
And be sure to check out http://stsa.church/kindness for resources and more fun stuff!
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How to Keep What You Gained during Holy Week
The day we’ve been dreading has finally arrived. It’s here and we don’t know what to do with it. Do we run and hide? Or do we succumb to its pressure and surrender? What to do, what to do, what to do... What day is it?
It’s the day when LIFE GOES BACK TO NORMAL AFTER HOLY WEEK!
That’s right. We’re now midway through the week after Easter and life is back in full swing. Back to work... back to meetings... back to traffic... back to posting pictures of your breakfast on Facebook and Twitter... you know, the normal routine.
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Getting Ready for Holy Week
Below is a post I wrote two years ago, just before the start of Holy Week 2016. As we near the start of another Holy Week, I thought this would be the perfect message for today. I hope you enjoy it and I pray that you all have a fruitful and blessed week as we prepare to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Read MoreLITURGICAL PRAYER - Building Blocks, Part 6
Part 6 in our series Building Blocks: A Life of Prayer and we've reached the final room in our house of prayer - the room where true intimacy and oneness take place between man and God: LITURGICAL PRAYER.
Liturgical prayer is what we were made for. It's where we find union/communion with God and therefore, is the ultimate goal when it comes to prayer.
Read MoreINTERCESSORY PRAYER - Building Blocks, Part 5
"If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead us to prayer: Intercession is a way of loving others." Richard J. Foster
It's Week 5 in Building Blocks: A Life of Prayer and this week, we're looking at the most selfless (and therefore Christ-like) form of prayer: INTERCESSORY PRAYER. This is where we follow the lead of our Lord and use our time of prayer to carry the burdens of others.
Because intercession is the primary work of Christ, it should therefore should be the primary work of His disciples (US) as well.
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The Reason We Can’t Pray Anymore
Prayer. A word that means different things to different people. We all know we need it, but then why do so few of us do it? Why does something which is supposed to be so simple end up being so hard? We know the importance of prayer and we could speak endlessly about the priority it should have in our lives...but in practice, we don't do it!
Sound familiar to anyone else?
Read MorePRAYING THROUGH SCRIPTURE - Building Blocks, Part 4
“We aren’t just reading words; we are seeking the Word thru words.”
You can't have prayer without Scripture and you can't have Scripture without prayer. In this week's message, Part 4 in Building Blocks: A Life of Prayer, we talked about the "office" in our house of prayer: PRAYING THROUGH SCRIPTURE.
We talked about what it means to meditate on Scripture and how we can begin practicing this essential aspect in our lives.
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Reviews for "WHATEVER, GOD"
It's now been 4 months since I published my very own book, "WHATEVER, GOD", and in case you're wondering how it's been received, take a look below. These are just a sample of the many reviews people have been kind enough to leave online (Amazon and Goodreads), and for those who still haven't read it, I'm hoping this helps you get a feel for what the book is all about.
And if you're interested in the audiobook version, click HERE to learn how you can get a copy, absolutely FREE!
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Having a Friend in High Places
Ever feel like you’re drowning? Like it’s just too much? Like the world around you is a raging sea and you just keep getting tossed from one wave to another? Always unsettled? Always on the run? Always late for something or behind on something? Always overwhelmed?
If so, JOIN THE CLUB! Believe me, I know how you feel and I often find myself in a similar state. Too many things going on at the same time and not enough time or energy to do a quality job with each of them.
I gotta start working out...And I need to find time to fix some stuff around the house...Oh and my kid needs help with his homework...And I forgot to read my Bible today...And there’s a meeting in church tomorrow...
TOO MUCH!!!
Read MoreSTRUCTURED PRAYER - Building Blocks, Part 3
It's Week 3 in Building Blocks: A Life of Prayer series, and this week we're taking a look at the key to long term transformation and spiritual growth: STRUCTURED PRAYER, which involves having set TIMES of prayer and set WORDS to pray.
Do I really need structured prayer? Why is it so important? Can't I just pray whenever I want and however I want?
I answer those questions and more in this week's message as we discuss why we need to have consistency and balance in our prayer life if we're going to fulfill God's plan for our life - which is to be "conformed to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29).
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The Chapters You’ll Write in the Story of Salvation
The following guest post is by Michael Elgamal from Creative Orthodox, an artist and storyteller who retells the ancient stories of church fathers and mothers through modern storytelling. Creative Orthodox recently published the graphic novel “Anastasis: The Harrowing of Hades”, an exciting retelling of Christ's descent to Hades.
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What Are You Going to Look Like in Five Years?
Recently I found some old pictures of myself from my younger days – my pre-priesthood/pre-marriage days. Nothing is more fun than looking through those old pictures (especially with your kids who think the world wasn’t created until they came into being) and remembering what life was life back in the good days of the late 1990s (aka, the Stone Ages for all you younger pups).
Things were so different back then. Life was slower and simpler. We used to "chat" with our mouths, not our keyboards. We used to play outside and drink from the hose and we all lived to tell about it. We used to read newspapers and magazines and books! And get this…back in the 90s, MTV actually played music!!!!
Times certainly have changed quite a bit since then. But as much as the world has changed in 20 years, the thing that struck me the most from those old pictures is how much I HAD CHANGED.
Read MoreSIMPLE PRAYER - Building Blocks, Part 2
It's time for Part 2 in our series BUILDING BLOCKS: A Life of Prayer and this week, we're talking about the first room in our house of prayer: SIMPLE PRAYER, aka the family room of the house.
Simple prayer is ORDINARY people bringing ORDINARY requests to an EXTRAORDINARY Father. And while that may seem pretty elementary, it's the foundation of a life of prayer and without it, you'll struggle to achieve any level of intimacy in your relationship with God.
“casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7
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Want to Write for My Blog?
Ever feel like you have a message to share, but don’t know how or where to share it? Have you ever felt a burning desire to put one of your "lessons learned" into writing so that others can be inspired as well?
Well, you’re in luck my friend! My blog is now open for guest posts!
Every week, usually on Fridays, I’ll give you the opportunity to share something on my blog.
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The One Habit that Helps Me Grow the Most
What is it? Is it prayer? Is it fasting? Is it Bible reading or quiet time? What’s the ONE habit that’s most closely associated with my spiritual growth and zeal?
While I hesitate to say that any one habit is more important than another when it comes to spiritual growth (we need to find balance and not be overzealous in any one area to the disregard of another), there's definitely one habit that stands out as most closely linked to my spiritual growth.
In other words, with regards to this habit: when I’m doing it the most I’m growing the most, and when I’m growing the most I’m doing it the most.
(you may need to read that sentence again)
Read MoreAN INVITATION TO PRAYER - Building Blocks, Part 1
Prayer isn’t an ACT we do; it’s a HOME we build.
That's the main idea behind our latest series at The Well, BUILDING BLOCKS: A Life of Prayer. It's a series where we'll be talking about the different types of prayer needed to build a house of prayer - a place where Jesus can enter and we can meet with Him daily.
So if you're looking for a spark or revival for your prayer life, check out part 1 above.
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Happy Valentines Day / ASK ME ANYTHING Scope
Happy Valentine's Day! And to show you my love for you today, I'll be answering YOUR QUESTIONS in another Ask Me Anything scope today at 12:30 pm EST. Any question you want. Nothing is off limits. You 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 I'll get to the live ones as time allows.
Submit your question now and then join me on Periscope at 12:30 pm EST. Download the app and follow me at FrAnthony to join in the conversation.
Happy Valentine's Day!
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How Do You Define Greatness?
Two days away from MOMENTUM 2018: MORE THAN ORDINARY and I'm starting to get PUMPED UP! But in order to make sure that I'm not just excited for this year's conference but that I'm also PREPARED, I'm offline this entire week. So no blog post and no Periscope today.
But to help get you (and me) in the mood for the conference, I am reposting what I wrote 4 years ago, after Momentum 2014. And boy did that do the trick! God was glorified back then and I got a good feeling that He will be glorified again... AND I CAN'T WAIT!!!
And for those who aren't gonna be there, be sure to follow The HOPE Association on social media for highlights and updates throughout the weekend.
Read MoreGiving Up to Get Ahead - WanderLOST, Part 4
It's the finale of WanderLOST and in this week's message, we talk about the one thing we can do to keep the message in front of us at all times.
We need DAILY time to RENEW our minds. Without it, we'll be in danger of SETTLING for what we merely WANT vs STRIVING for what we truly VALUE.
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