The Four Rivers of Eden Rev. Tony Cooke Like many people, I have a tendency to skim over lists of names in the Bible. Some time ago, though, I began wondering about the names of the rivers that flowed out of the Garden of Eden. Genesis 2:10-14 tells us that a river went out of […]
The Right to Think! by Tony Cooke New Testament leaders such as Jesus and Paul wanted believers to be thinkers. Specifically, they wanted them to think through issues scripturally. Paul did not say we were to be transformed by the removing of our minds, but by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2)! In Isaiah […]
Relevance Without Compromise Rev. Tony Cooke These are notes to a message that Tony shared with a group of pastors at a conference in Pittsburgh in February of 2003. To order a copy of the CD, please Click Here. 1. THEY SPEAK WITH OTHER TONGUES (A Humorous Look at Witnessing) By Bob Cohen “Have you […]
Realistic Optimism Tony Cooke I recently submitted the manuscript of a brand new book – Through the Storms: Help from Heaven When All Hell Breaks Loose – to the publisher. This book will be available in late June. Chapter titles include: 1. Can’t I Just Have a Trouble-Free Life? 2. Jonah’s Storm 3. The Storm […]
To Quench or Not to Quench? Tony Cooke There are two particular usages of the word “quench” in Paul’s writings that are very important in our walk with God. …taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. (Ephesians 6:16) Do not quench […]
What Does it Mean to be Qualified? Tony Cooke The following article is excerpted from the upcoming book, “Qualified: Serving God with Integrity and Finishing Your Course with Honor.” It will be released no later than July, but you can order your copy today! It has been said that “God does not call the qualified; […]
Pure Religion Tony Cooke According to today’s politically correct and tolerant society, the last thing in the world a Christian should ever do is to state or imply that one person’s religion is better than another’s. We are supposed to embrace the idea that all religious expressions are equal and that all roads ultimately lead […]
Pride and Spiritual Leadership Tony Cooke Spiritual leaders must be aware of and guard themselves against the intoxicating and devastating influence of pride, especially when experiencing success. Pride is insidious. It deceives the one infected, causing him to think "more" of himself, and "less" of God. • Pride was a major factor in Lucifer’s downfall. […]
Practical Lessons from the Trinity by Tony Cooke Having grown up in a mainline denominational church, I was used to hearing about the Trinity. Every Sunday as church was being dismissed, we sang the Doxology, which ended with the admonition, "Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." After decades of studying the Scripture, I am more […]
The Power of Talking to Yourself Rev. Tony Cooke One of the reasons that Lisa and I love sharing the Word of God around the world is because it is the truth of His Word that changes lives. When people come to the knowledge of His Word, they are acquiring the tools and skills necessary […]
The Bread by the Door – Understanding the Power of Association Rev. Tony Cooke We were greatly encouraged by the many expressions of love and support that we received following my father’s death (November 16, 2007). Each phone call, e-mail, card, flower arrangement, etc. meant so much to us, and each one seemed to release […]
Is it Stupid to Play by the Rules? Rev. Tony Cooke In Psalm 37 and 73, frustration is expressed at seeing people “get ahead,” even though they’ve cut corners and compromised, while the righteous seem to not be making as much progress. Psalm 73:13 (The Message Version) even says, “I’ve been stupid to play by […]
OUR MOST OVERLOOKED ASSET? By Rev. Tony Cooke People who yearn to do God’s will and positively influence others are always looking for ways to increase their effectiveness. I believe one of the most essential characteristics we have at our disposal-kindness-has often been overlooked. There may be those who think of kindness as somehow inferior […]
One Who Went Tony Cooke The eyes of the world have been on Japan for the last few weeks as it experienced a 9.0 earthquake, a tsunami that brought unimaginable devastation, and a nuclear incident that has been described as at least a partial meltdown. As these events unfolded, millions around the world have witnessed […]
It’s Not What You Think by Rev. Tony Cooke Albert Einstein said, “Thinking like we always have is what got us where we are. It is not going to get us where we are going.” One of the great quests of life is simply to get from point A to point B—from where we are […]
What Does “I’m Not Under the Law” Really Mean? Tony Cooke When a believer says, “I’m not under the law,” we usually assume that the person is really saying, “I’m not under the law of Moses.” This reflects an accurate understanding of Scripture. Even a casual study of Romans and Galatians will support this. For example, […]
It’s a Great Time Not to Worry Rev. Tony Cooke As I’ve traveled all over, it’s been interesting to see how people are handling the pressures and tensions in life. Just recently, an individual from the east coast told me, “People around here are on edge all the time.” Mickey Rivers, a one-time outfielder for […]
Things Aren’t Always As They Seem Tony Cooke Charles Spurgeon and his wife owned chickens, and people noted that they never gave any of the eggs away, but would only sell them. Some people felt they should have been more generous and accused them of being stingy and greedy. The Spurgeons were aware of these […]
The God of New Beginnings Rev. Tony Cooke Lamentations 3:22-23 22 Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, Because His compassions fail not. 23 They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness. This is a beautiful way of saying that God is ever ready to forgive, to restore, and to renew. He is […]
Multi-Dimensional Ministry Tony Cooke One thing is certain about ministry; it is not one-dimensional. Ministry requires that we be able to adapt ourselves and our methods to different people and to different situations. Consider some of the following Scriptures that express this necessity: Romans 12:15 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those […]
Another Look at Multi-Dimensional Ministry Tony Cooke This is a sequel to a previously published article here. As a young Bible school student, I heard Brother Hagin emphasize three major aspects of Jesus’ ministry that are mentioned in Matthew 9:35. “Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the […]
More Than a Sermon – More Than a Preacher Tony Cooke It’s amazing how we can focus on certain aspects of Scripture at one point in our lives, only to see richer, broader, deeper thoughts in surrounding and complementary passages as we mature through time, growth, and experience. For example, when I was a Bible […]
Mastering the Paradoxes of Ministry Tony Cooke A paradox involves the presentation of two ideas which seem to be contradictory, but are in fact, complementary. A few classic examples in Scripture of paradoxical statements are: “…when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10) We are in the world, but we are not […]
Are You Making Pearls or Just Getting Irritated? Rev. Tony Cooke There is a great lesson for us in understanding the formation of pearls. Natural pearls are formed when a grain of sand or another object slips in between one of the two shells of the oyster. Because of the irritating nature of the sand, […]
Loving the Old Testament By Rev. Tony Cooke For the past several months, I have been reading the Old Testament slowly and systematically, and it has done my soul good. I have always majored on the New Testament, and I’m sure that this will always be the case; after all, that is OUR Covenant. But […]
