Two emotions—fear and anger—have been running rampant across our nation and have now reached a fevered pitch. For some, fear has turned to panic, and anger has turned to rage. Many seem to be at each other’s throats, and the words of some exude venom and vitriol. We witnessed months of rioting in many cities throughout the summer, and now the hatred being expressed in our nation’s capital has brought further angst and agitation to the populace. The purpose of this article is not so much to analyze current happenings in our country but to try and obtain a few lessons from what happened around 2000 years ago in ancient Ephesus. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2021-01-18 15:08:562021-01-18 15:14:15The Anatomy of a Riot
As numerous voices began calling for the defunding of police across our nation, I was reminded of a time when soldiers came to John the Baptist (in the light of his preaching of repentance) and asked what they should do. Interestingly, John did not tell them that they belonged to a corrupt profession and that they should all resign. … read more
Did you ever notice that the Bible makes absolutely no attempt to “sanitize” the history of its key figures? The sins of Moses, David, Paul, etc., are on full display in Scripture. It is very clear that Jesus alone is sinless and worthy (Rev 5:1-5). He came into a sin-sick world to bring redemption and forgiveness. … read more
Two decades ago, I preached in a nation that has long been known as a hot spot for animosity, conflict, and violence between two specific people groups. The church that hosted me was made up of people from what I will simply call social group A. It was interesting because the people were born again, and yet culturally … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2020-08-06 19:48:112020-12-11 09:07:48Thoughts on Human Hatred
If you are a basketball fan, you know exactly what a full court press is. It brings a noticeable intensity to all that is happening on the court. If you are not a basketball afficionado, let me paint a picture for you, because I believe the “full court press” is a powerful analogy to what is happening in many peoples’ lives today. When a team scores in basketball, the other team takes the ball out of bounds and passes it back in so they can bring it to the other side of the court where they will hopefully score also. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2020-08-06 18:25:182020-12-11 08:50:07How Are You Handling the Full Court Press?
The word “unprecedented” is being used quite a bit relative to the crisis that the world is currently experiencing. The term “unchartered territory” is also being used. People don’t like uncertainty and the unknown, and they certainly don’t like the sense of “threat” that seems to be in everyone’s face. In short, these have been unnerving times. … read more
Here’s what is not helpful when a house is on fire: Cite statistics on how many people die in different ways than in house fires. Downplay the significance of the fire because it only appears to be in one small section of the house and probably won’t turn into anything significant. Debate on whether to alert your neighbor, because after all, it might violate their right to privacy. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2020-04-12 23:32:582021-01-17 22:15:31What To Do When a House is On Fire
As Lisa and I prepare to head back to Australia next month, we do so with some really great memories. When we finished our first year of Bible school in the spring of 1980, our very first venture in ministry was to Australia. It was quite an initiation into faith and ministry for us at that age (we were 21 and 22 years old at the time)! … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2020-03-09 21:38:082021-01-17 21:25:08Forty Years Ago: Back to Where We Started
There are many moral, ethical, and practical implications in what the Bible teaches, but at the core of God’s involvement in our lives is the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. There are descriptions in the New Testament of how the Holy Spirit works in the life of a believer—a work that actually starts before we even come into faith. … read more
I was attending a church service once, and during the worship time the congregation sang some of the newer worship choruses. This was followed by a seamless transition into one of the beautiful, old hymns of the church. It was a powerful and moving time of worship, and I appreciated the richness of both the new and the old—both were Christ-exalting, and God’s Presence was readily sensed in both. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2020-01-08 19:55:072021-01-17 21:33:05Treasures—Old and New
We are at a time of the year when everyone is looking for discounts. Maybe you got up super early on black Friday and fought the crowds, or perhaps you scoured the internet on Cyber- Monday endeavoring to snag one or more gifts at a deep discount. Everybody loves getting a great deal on gifts, don’t they? But some things in life are so sacred that only paying full price is appropriate. God paid full price for us when Jesus died on the cross—truly the debt of our sin was paid in full. … read more
Have you ever had a preconceived idea of what you thought you were going to do, only to have God interject a different plan—his plan—into your agenda? How did you deal with that? Were you flexible, and did you willingly make the required adjustments? All of the great biblical heroes experienced and responded favorably to a divine interruption. God disrupted their regular routines in a huge way. … read more
When he died in 1791 at the age of 88, Wesley had traveled 250,000 miles ministering the Word of God (much of that on horseback). He had preached 42,000 sermons, and authored 250 books and pamphlets. Throughout his life and ministry, Wesley experienced and witnessed many expressions of the supernatural power of God. He recorded several healings … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2019-10-11 12:10:402021-01-17 21:52:50Encouraging Lessons from John Wesley
The part that seemed to be getting my attention was the “Prone to wander” part. Looking at things from the perspective of the new creation, I want to dispute that. I want to say, “I am a new creation in Christ. I have the life and the nature of God on the inside of me. I do NOT want to wander away from any sense of closeness with the Lord.” I like that position and approach. At the same time, I have to recognize that even born-again people still have the flesh and the mind to deal with, and that can create a distracting pull on people. Some manage it better than others, but even great spiritual leaders like Paul said that he had to manage fleshly elements; he was not immune from the influence of the flesh. … read more
When King Jehoram had reigned for eight years and died at the age of thirty-two, we learn that “no one was sorry when he died” (2 Chronicles 21:20). They didn’t even bury him in the royal cemetery. What is that all about? The Old Testament is far more than simple history; it contains powerful lessons and examples for us today. Paul states, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” It is vital that we study the lessons of the Old Testament and find the appropriate personal applications that God has placed there for our benefit. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2019-08-08 14:40:082021-01-17 22:19:38Lessons from Dead Kings
It is unfortunate that some people have chosen to pit medicine against faith as though they were somehow adversarial. I believe these two forces should be seen as complementary, not as contradictory. After all, both your faith and the doctor are aiming at the same goal—your healing and wholeness. My persuasion is that medicine and faith can be integrated and complementary. They do not need to be adversarial toward or isolated from one another. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2019-07-08 02:07:532021-01-17 22:52:52Faith and Medicine
Jesus’ death on the cross was so effective and so final that no one would ever have to add anything to what he had done. Jesus would never have to come back and die again for the sins of the world or for anyone’s sins. No human would ever have to supplement Jesus’ work with his own religious activities or efforts in order to come into right standing with God. What Jesus did was enough; it was sufficient, and it was absolutely effective. … read more
If we are not careful, we will fail to realize how much our own labors (and whatever results might occur) are actually undergirded and enhanced by the labors of others who have gone before us. I don’t want to be that person “who was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple.” We have all benefitted from and built upon the labors of others. I remember one time preaching in a service and giving an altar call. A handful of people responded and I had the privilege of praying with them as they placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. … read more
In a day when mega-churches with multiple campuses receive so much attention, it is important to always remember that God doesn’t just care about numbers, statistics, and masses of people; he cares about individuals. It is vital that we never forget the importance of one soul, of one person. We love the m-word: multiplication. We love another m-word: multitudes. All this is good, but it is not good if, in the process, we forget the value of the individual, of every person. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2019-04-03 22:51:412021-01-17 23:03:10God’s Love and a Little Girl’s Mandolin
We see Paul conducting a leadership meeting in a “retreat” venue in nearby Miletus with the elders from the church in Ephesus. In Acts 20:17-38, Paul presents the example of his own life and ministry to demonstrate how they are to serve Christ. He presents such vital topics as humility, consecration, perseverance, and doctrinal content, and he provides details about the serious nature of their God-given responsibilities. … read more
It should go without saying that a Christian should not read the Bible the way a superstitious person might read a fortune cookie. Messages in cookies typically tell people what they want to hear, but the Bible tells us what we need to hear. I’m absolutely not against a Christian reading and being inspired by a single verse or an inspirational quote—those can be helpful sources of encouragement to us. I am concerned, though, that many people today treat Scripture as though its sole purpose is to provide encouragement and motivation … read more
All through church history, the Holy Spirit has manifested himself to heal, bless, deliver, and empower. As wonderful as it is to learn about the “notable works” of God (Acts 4:16), it is also important to recognize and appreciate the full spectrum of the Holy Spirit’s activities, including his more subtle activity. Instead of having a broad appreciation for God’s comprehensive work, the disciples tended to focus on a more spectacular aspect. For example, they were exuberant that demons were subject to them when they used the name of Jesus. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2019-01-04 03:04:262021-01-17 23:15:14Appreciating the Subtle Workings of the Holy Spirit
Dysfunction has become a popular buzzword in our society. Some hear the word and think of a medical abnormality—some organ or body part is not working correctly. Others think of an unhealthy family situation where trust and peace have been badly eroded. Yet others hear dysfunction and think of a business or government setting where communication is poor and incompetency abounds. God himself is a God who functions. In my book, Your Place on God’s Dream Team, I share that the Father plans, the Son performs, and the Spirit perfects. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2018-12-05 21:24:122021-01-17 23:19:02Getting the ‘Dys’ Out of Our Function
People love predictability. I like knowing that when I do certain things, I will get certain results. Isaac Newton communicated this regarding the laws of motion when he stated, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” In other words, if I take a rubber ball and throw it down hard, it will rebound or bounce back at a similar velocity. Spiritually speaking, the Bible refers to the laws of sowing and reaping: “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Unfortunately, especially in the short term, the laws of human interaction are not as predictable as the laws of physics … read more
The reality is that (1) God is good and (2) we live in a fallen world with much pain. God is not the source of our pain, but is the source of our comfort. As much as we want to be positive people and “stay on the victory side,” there is much to be said for the awareness of our need for comfort and to be comforters. British Minister, F. B. Meyer said, “If I had my ministry over again, I would devote far more time to the ministry of comfort and encouragement.” … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpg00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/TCM-LogoColor-300x105.jpgTony Cooke2018-10-10 04:25:242021-01-17 23:24:47Help for the Hurting
The Anatomy of a Riot
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeTwo emotions—fear and anger—have been running rampant across our nation and have now reached a fevered pitch. For some, fear has turned to panic, and anger has turned to rage. Many seem to be at each other’s throats, and the words of some exude venom and vitriol. We witnessed months of rioting in many cities throughout the summer, and now the hatred being expressed in our nation’s capital has brought further angst and agitation to the populace. The purpose of this article is not so much to analyze current happenings in our country but to try and obtain a few lessons from what happened around 2000 years ago in ancient Ephesus. … read more
Defund the Police?
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeAs numerous voices began calling for the defunding of police across our nation, I was reminded of a time when soldiers came to John the Baptist (in the light of his preaching of repentance) and asked what they should do. Interestingly, John did not tell them that they belonged to a corrupt profession and that they should all resign. … read more
Erasing Sinners?
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeDid you ever notice that the Bible makes absolutely no attempt to “sanitize” the history of its key figures? The sins of Moses, David, Paul, etc., are on full display in Scripture. It is very clear that Jesus alone is sinless and worthy (Rev 5:1-5). He came into a sin-sick world to bring redemption and forgiveness. … read more
Thoughts on Human Hatred
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeTwo decades ago, I preached in a nation that has long been known as a hot spot for animosity, conflict, and violence between two specific people groups. The church that hosted me was made up of people from what I will simply call social group A. It was interesting because the people were born again, and yet culturally … read more
How Are You Handling the Full Court Press?
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeIf you are a basketball fan, you know exactly what a full court press is. It brings a noticeable intensity to all that is happening on the court. If you are not a basketball afficionado, let me paint a picture for you, because I believe the “full court press” is a powerful analogy to what is happening in many peoples’ lives today. When a team scores in basketball, the other team takes the ball out of bounds and passes it back in so they can bring it to the other side of the court where they will hopefully score also. … read more
Conquering Adversity: Lessons from Luther, Carver, and Frankl
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeThe word “unprecedented” is being used quite a bit relative to the crisis that the world is currently experiencing. The term “unchartered territory” is also being used. People don’t like uncertainty and the unknown, and they certainly don’t like the sense of “threat” that seems to be in everyone’s face. In short, these have been unnerving times. … read more
What To Do When a House is On Fire
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeHere’s what is not helpful when a house is on fire: Cite statistics on how many people die in different ways than in house fires. Downplay the significance of the fire because it only appears to be in one small section of the house and probably won’t turn into anything significant. Debate on whether to alert your neighbor, because after all, it might violate their right to privacy. … read more
Forty Years Ago: Back to Where We Started
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeAs Lisa and I prepare to head back to Australia next month, we do so with some really great memories. When we finished our first year of Bible school in the spring of 1980, our very first venture in ministry was to Australia. It was quite an initiation into faith and ministry for us at that age (we were 21 and 22 years old at the time)! … read more
A Supernatural Life
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeThere are many moral, ethical, and practical implications in what the Bible teaches, but at the core of God’s involvement in our lives is the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit. There are descriptions in the New Testament of how the Holy Spirit works in the life of a believer—a work that actually starts before we even come into faith. … read more
Treasures—Old and New
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeI was attending a church service once, and during the worship time the congregation sang some of the newer worship choruses. This was followed by a seamless transition into one of the beautiful, old hymns of the church. It was a powerful and moving time of worship, and I appreciated the richness of both the new and the old—both were Christ-exalting, and God’s Presence was readily sensed in both. … read more
Where Discounts Don’t Apply
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeWe are at a time of the year when everyone is looking for discounts. Maybe you got up super early on black Friday and fought the crowds, or perhaps you scoured the internet on Cyber- Monday endeavoring to snag one or more gifts at a deep discount. Everybody loves getting a great deal on gifts, don’t they? But some things in life are so sacred that only paying full price is appropriate. God paid full price for us when Jesus died on the cross—truly the debt of our sin was paid in full. … read more
When God’s Plans Interrupt Your Plans
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeHave you ever had a preconceived idea of what you thought you were going to do, only to have God interject a different plan—his plan—into your agenda? How did you deal with that? Were you flexible, and did you willingly make the required adjustments? All of the great biblical heroes experienced and responded favorably to a divine interruption. God disrupted their regular routines in a huge way. … read more
Encouraging Lessons from John Wesley
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeWhen he died in 1791 at the age of 88, Wesley had traveled 250,000 miles ministering the Word of God (much of that on horseback). He had preached 42,000 sermons, and authored 250 books and pamphlets. Throughout his life and ministry, Wesley experienced and witnessed many expressions of the supernatural power of God. He recorded several healings … read more
Prone to Wander?
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeThe part that seemed to be getting my attention was the “Prone to wander” part. Looking at things from the perspective of the new creation, I want to dispute that. I want to say, “I am a new creation in Christ. I have the life and the nature of God on the inside of me. I do NOT want to wander away from any sense of closeness with the Lord.” I like that position and approach. At the same time, I have to recognize that even born-again people still have the flesh and the mind to deal with, and that can create a distracting pull on people. Some manage it better than others, but even great spiritual leaders like Paul said that he had to manage fleshly elements; he was not immune from the influence of the flesh. … read more
Lessons from Dead Kings
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeWhen King Jehoram had reigned for eight years and died at the age of thirty-two, we learn that “no one was sorry when he died” (2 Chronicles 21:20). They didn’t even bury him in the royal cemetery. What is that all about? The Old Testament is far more than simple history; it contains powerful lessons and examples for us today. Paul states, “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.” It is vital that we study the lessons of the Old Testament and find the appropriate personal applications that God has placed there for our benefit. … read more
Faith and Medicine
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeIt is unfortunate that some people have chosen to pit medicine against faith as though they were somehow adversarial. I believe these two forces should be seen as complementary, not as contradictory. After all, both your faith and the doctor are aiming at the same goal—your healing and wholeness. My persuasion is that medicine and faith can be integrated and complementary. They do not need to be adversarial toward or isolated from one another. … read more
It Is Finished (Not “I Am Finished”)
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeJesus’ death on the cross was so effective and so final that no one would ever have to add anything to what he had done. Jesus would never have to come back and die again for the sins of the world or for anyone’s sins. No human would ever have to supplement Jesus’ work with his own religious activities or efforts in order to come into right standing with God. What Jesus did was enough; it was sufficient, and it was absolutely effective. … read more
Laborers Together
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeIf we are not careful, we will fail to realize how much our own labors (and whatever results might occur) are actually undergirded and enhanced by the labors of others who have gone before us. I don’t want to be that person “who was born on third base and thinks he hit a triple.” We have all benefitted from and built upon the labors of others. I remember one time preaching in a service and giving an altar call. A handful of people responded and I had the privilege of praying with them as they placed their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. … read more
God’s Love and a Little Girl’s Mandolin
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeIn a day when mega-churches with multiple campuses receive so much attention, it is important to always remember that God doesn’t just care about numbers, statistics, and masses of people; he cares about individuals. It is vital that we never forget the importance of one soul, of one person. We love the m-word: multiplication. We love another m-word: multitudes. All this is good, but it is not good if, in the process, we forget the value of the individual, of every person. … read more
Is Leadership Teaching Scriptural?
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeWe see Paul conducting a leadership meeting in a “retreat” venue in nearby Miletus with the elders from the church in Ephesus. In Acts 20:17-38, Paul presents the example of his own life and ministry to demonstrate how they are to serve Christ. He presents such vital topics as humility, consecration, perseverance, and doctrinal content, and he provides details about the serious nature of their God-given responsibilities. … read more
Fortune Cookie Christianity
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeIt should go without saying that a Christian should not read the Bible the way a superstitious person might read a fortune cookie. Messages in cookies typically tell people what they want to hear, but the Bible tells us what we need to hear. I’m absolutely not against a Christian reading and being inspired by a single verse or an inspirational quote—those can be helpful sources of encouragement to us. I am concerned, though, that many people today treat Scripture as though its sole purpose is to provide encouragement and motivation … read more
Appreciating the Subtle Workings of the Holy Spirit
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeAll through church history, the Holy Spirit has manifested himself to heal, bless, deliver, and empower. As wonderful as it is to learn about the “notable works” of God (Acts 4:16), it is also important to recognize and appreciate the full spectrum of the Holy Spirit’s activities, including his more subtle activity. Instead of having a broad appreciation for God’s comprehensive work, the disciples tended to focus on a more spectacular aspect. For example, they were exuberant that demons were subject to them when they used the name of Jesus. … read more
Getting the ‘Dys’ Out of Our Function
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeDysfunction has become a popular buzzword in our society. Some hear the word and think of a medical abnormality—some organ or body part is not working correctly. Others think of an unhealthy family situation where trust and peace have been badly eroded. Yet others hear dysfunction and think of a business or government setting where communication is poor and incompetency abounds. God himself is a God who functions. In my book, Your Place on God’s Dream Team, I share that the Father plans, the Son performs, and the Spirit perfects. … read more
Unintended Consequences
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookePeople love predictability. I like knowing that when I do certain things, I will get certain results. Isaac Newton communicated this regarding the laws of motion when he stated, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction.” In other words, if I take a rubber ball and throw it down hard, it will rebound or bounce back at a similar velocity. Spiritually speaking, the Bible refers to the laws of sowing and reaping: “Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.” Unfortunately, especially in the short term, the laws of human interaction are not as predictable as the laws of physics … read more
Help for the Hurting
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeThe reality is that (1) God is good and (2) we live in a fallen world with much pain. God is not the source of our pain, but is the source of our comfort. As much as we want to be positive people and “stay on the victory side,” there is much to be said for the awareness of our need for comfort and to be comforters. British Minister, F. B. Meyer said, “If I had my ministry over again, I would devote far more time to the ministry of comfort and encouragement.” … read more