A mere forty-one days before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address. His speech contained 701 words and took less than five minutes to deliver. Amazingly, it was longer than his Gettysburg address, which had only 272 words and was delivered in less than three minutes. Perhaps there is a great lesson here for public speakers, but I will leave it unsaid lest I indict myself. … read more
One of the Bible teachers that Brother Hagin referenced frequently when he was teaching along the lines of spiritual and ministry gifts was the British minister, Donald Gee (1891-1966). Known for depth, simplicity, and balance, Gee was an important voice for the Pentecostal movement in the Twentieth Century, and what he taught then is still powerful and relevant today. … read more
With the possible exception of 1988 (88 reasons why Jesus was supposed to come back then), I don’t think I’ve seen a season where more emphasis has been placed on “predictive prophecies” than I have this year (2020). The difference is that this year, it is not just the stir from a single person making a prediction, but it seems like a plethora of voices are predicting things in the name of “The Spirit told me.” As a Bible teacher, it concerns me when I seem to see more emphasis on “What does prophet so-and-so say?” as opposed to “What does the Bible say?” … read more
I am no sports analyst, but I’ve seen several games, especially in basketball, where a team gets overly cautious, and instead of playing to win, they simply begin playing not to lose. Usually this happens late in the game and often coincides with a surge of momentum and increased effort from the opposing team. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2021-01-18 15:51:442021-01-18 15:52:23Going on the Offensive
2020 has been an unsettling and disconcerting year for many, and yet it has also been a time of great grace being poured out by God. There is nothing that this world can throw at us that is more powerful than God’s ability! In the last half of the year, I have shared at several events for leaders, and I have encouraged pastors and other ministers to consider the events this year in three perspectives: global, historical, and eternal. … read more
As you read each of the letters, imagine what it would be like to have been one of the pastors of the seven churches. Jesus Christ, the head of the church, communicates a letter to you through the legendary apostle John. It will be your responsibility to faithfully represent Jesus in stewarding that message and helping the congregation receive and apply all that the Lord has communicated. An ambassador is not assigned to a foreign land to share his or her own opinions, but to accurately represent the commissioning government. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2021-01-18 15:38:122021-01-18 15:38:12Jesus and His Messengers
Someone just recently asked me if I felt we are living in the age of the Laodicean church. As you probably recall, Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) was one of the seven churches Jesus spoke to through John when the aged apostle was exiled on the island of Patmos. Many people remember that church as one that Jesus described as extremely lukewarm. In short, my answer is “no,” but the topic is worth exploring. I see nothing in Scripture to indicate that there are seven different or distinct church ages. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2021-01-18 15:28:192021-01-18 15:28:19The Age of Laodicea?
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/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2021-01-18 15:08:562021-01-18 15:14:15The Anatomy of a Riot
It is quite common for someone to ask for agreement in prayer that they will receive a good report when they visit the doctor for an examination concerning symptoms they have been experiencing. I will not say we can never do this. I will say this is prayer with the wrong focus and it puts faith in a realm where it is not intended to function. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-10-08 23:19:452020-12-05 08:28:15A Good Report from Your Doctor
Na entrada da igreja Good News em Moscou, há uma grande placa que expressa a gratidão aos parceiros que ajudaram a tornar aquele estabelecimento maravilhoso em realidade. Cada vez que entramos e saímos do prédio durante minha visita mais recente, Rick Renner parava e colocava suas mãos sobre aquela placa. Ele fazia um breve agradecimento a Deus por seus parceiros e orava para que Ele que os abençoasse. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-08-06 21:13:462020-12-11 09:16:06Ninguém Consegue Fazer Sozinho de Tony Cooke
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/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-08-06 19:48:112020-12-11 09:07:48Thoughts on Human Hatred
Years ago, there was a movie called Pay It Forward where a young boy attempts to change the world with one idea. The idea was not just to pay back a favor to someone who had helped you, but to pay it forward with good deeds done to new people. Jesus’ idea to change the world was to commission his followers to go into the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-08-06 19:42:572020-10-08 23:17:25The Power of Church Planting by Lance Fricke
The Great Shepherd provided pastoral care not only in the temple and in syngogues, but along the dusty streets of Galilee as well. Wherever there was trauma, drama, or unexpected and sudden pain, you would find Jesus. The Master is my motivation and model for Police Chaplain Ministry. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-08-06 19:35:202020-12-11 08:56:26Why We Serve as Police Chaplains: Three Perspectives
Yes, that is a photo of me from the Spring of 2020. Someone is obviously in transition to a new normal! I recently heard a news commentator say, “I’m so tired of hearing the phrase ‘new normal.’” Nearly everyone in the world (the only exception being Antarctica I read) has been challenged with the need to embrace new normals as we endeavor to protect each other from a disease that surprised us. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Lisa Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngLisa Cooke2020-08-06 18:38:032023-04-10 14:47:42Transitions by Lisa Cooke
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/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-08-06 18:25:182020-12-11 08:50:07How Are You Handling the Full Court Press?
The Holy Spirit appoints pastors to the local church to oversee its operation, and He gives the vision for the church to them. It is then the pastor’s responsibility before God to steer the church in that direction. He has the God-given authority to govern it. The pastor is to maintain control over every ministry of the local church. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-06-25 10:53:532021-06-25 12:44:47Balanced Pastoral Authority by Edwin Anderson
Existem muitas implicações morais, éticas e práticas no que a Bíblia ensina, mas o cerne do envolvimento de Deus em nossas vidas é a presença e o poder do Espírito Santo. Há descrições no Novo Testamento de como o Espírito Santo trabalha na vida de um crente – um trabalho que verdadeiramente se inicia antes mesmo de tomarmos consciência da fé. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-05-13 11:06:112020-05-13 11:06:11Uma vida sobrenatural de Tony Cooke
There has always existed, within the framework of church history, two extreme views regarding the role of tongues in public worship services. Unfortunately, in both their theological positions and practice, churches have tended to swing to either one extreme or the other. My assessment on the matter comes from over three decades of ministry in the capacities of a church planter, pastor, and teacher of biblical languages. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-05-13 09:13:132020-10-08 23:28:14The Role of Tongues in the Local Church by Keith Trump
The world is right now searching feverishly for a cure for Covid-19, and we pray someone soon is given the wisdom to know what that is. It will be a great day when people will not die from this virus. But I think I may have found a cure for something else that can wreak havoc in our personal lives. … read more
Eu estava participando de um culto em uma igreja uma vez e, durante o momento do louvor, a congregação cantou algumas das mais recentes canções de adoração. Logo em seguida, houve uma transição direta para um dos belos e antigos hinos da igreja. Foi um momento de louvor poderoso e comovente, e eu apreciei a riqueza do novo e do antigo – ambos louvores exaltavam a Cristo, e a Presença de Deus foi facilmente percebida em ambos. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-04-12 23:58:572020-04-12 23:58:57Tesouros – O antigo e o novo de Tony Cooke
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
I’m guessing that many mothers of young children are hearing that question hundreds of times a day while our nation and even the world is under the counsel of restricted activity. I know my own “inner child” has asked me that question! It is amazing to all of us how different our life is today compared to a month or two ago. … read more
https://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Lisa Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngLisa Cooke2020-04-12 23:39:452023-04-10 14:47:42So Now What Do We Do? by Lisa Cooke
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/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.png00Tony Cookehttps://tonycooke.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/TCMLogo2022-300x138.pngTony Cooke2020-04-12 23:32:582021-01-17 22:15:31What To Do When a House is On Fire
With Malice Toward None
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeA mere forty-one days before his assassination, Abraham Lincoln delivered his second inaugural address. His speech contained 701 words and took less than five minutes to deliver. Amazingly, it was longer than his Gettysburg address, which had only 272 words and was delivered in less than three minutes. Perhaps there is a great lesson here for public speakers, but I will leave it unsaid lest I indict myself. … read more
Predictive Prophecy, Part 2
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeOne of the Bible teachers that Brother Hagin referenced frequently when he was teaching along the lines of spiritual and ministry gifts was the British minister, Donald Gee (1891-1966). Known for depth, simplicity, and balance, Gee was an important voice for the Pentecostal movement in the Twentieth Century, and what he taught then is still powerful and relevant today. … read more
Predictive Prophecy, Part 1
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeWith the possible exception of 1988 (88 reasons why Jesus was supposed to come back then), I don’t think I’ve seen a season where more emphasis has been placed on “predictive prophecies” than I have this year (2020). The difference is that this year, it is not just the stir from a single person making a prediction, but it seems like a plethora of voices are predicting things in the name of “The Spirit told me.” As a Bible teacher, it concerns me when I seem to see more emphasis on “What does prophet so-and-so say?” as opposed to “What does the Bible say?” … read more
Going on the Offensive
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeI am no sports analyst, but I’ve seen several games, especially in basketball, where a team gets overly cautious, and instead of playing to win, they simply begin playing not to lose. Usually this happens late in the game and often coincides with a surge of momentum and increased effort from the opposing team. … read more
Unimaginable Grace
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony Cooke2020 has been an unsettling and disconcerting year for many, and yet it has also been a time of great grace being poured out by God. There is nothing that this world can throw at us that is more powerful than God’s ability! In the last half of the year, I have shared at several events for leaders, and I have encouraged pastors and other ministers to consider the events this year in three perspectives: global, historical, and eternal. … read more
Jesus and His Messengers
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeAs you read each of the letters, imagine what it would be like to have been one of the pastors of the seven churches. Jesus Christ, the head of the church, communicates a letter to you through the legendary apostle John. It will be your responsibility to faithfully represent Jesus in stewarding that message and helping the congregation receive and apply all that the Lord has communicated. An ambassador is not assigned to a foreign land to share his or her own opinions, but to accurately represent the commissioning government. … read more
The Age of Laodicea?
/in Articles by Tony Cooke /by Tony CookeSomeone just recently asked me if I felt we are living in the age of the Laodicean church. As you probably recall, Laodicea (Revelation 3:14-22) was one of the seven churches Jesus spoke to through John when the aged apostle was exiled on the island of Patmos. Many people remember that church as one that Jesus described as extremely lukewarm. In short, my answer is “no,” but the topic is worth exploring. I see nothing in Scripture to indicate that there are seven different or distinct church ages. … read more
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
A Good Report from Your Doctor
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeIt is quite common for someone to ask for agreement in prayer that they will receive a good report when they visit the doctor for an examination concerning symptoms they have been experiencing. I will not say we can never do this. I will say this is prayer with the wrong focus and it puts faith in a realm where it is not intended to function. … read more
Ninguém Consegue Fazer Sozinho de Tony Cooke
/in Articles in Portuguese /by Tony CookeNa entrada da igreja Good News em Moscou, há uma grande placa que expressa a gratidão aos parceiros que ajudaram a tornar aquele estabelecimento maravilhoso em realidade. Cada vez que entramos e saímos do prédio durante minha visita mais recente, Rick Renner parava e colocava suas mãos sobre aquela placa. Ele fazia um breve agradecimento a Deus por seus parceiros e orava para que Ele que os abençoasse. … 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
The Power of Church Planting by Lance Fricke
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeYears ago, there was a movie called Pay It Forward where a young boy attempts to change the world with one idea. The idea was not just to pay back a favor to someone who had helped you, but to pay it forward with good deeds done to new people. Jesus’ idea to change the world was to commission his followers to go into the world and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). … read more
Why We Serve as Police Chaplains: Three Perspectives
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeThe Great Shepherd provided pastoral care not only in the temple and in syngogues, but along the dusty streets of Galilee as well. Wherever there was trauma, drama, or unexpected and sudden pain, you would find Jesus. The Master is my motivation and model for Police Chaplain Ministry. … read more
Transitions by Lisa Cooke
/in Articles by Lisa Cooke /by Lisa CookeYes, that is a photo of me from the Spring of 2020. Someone is obviously in transition to a new normal! I recently heard a news commentator say, “I’m so tired of hearing the phrase ‘new normal.’” Nearly everyone in the world (the only exception being Antarctica I read) has been challenged with the need to embrace new normals as we endeavor to protect each other from a disease that surprised us. … 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
Balanced Pastoral Authority by Edwin Anderson
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeThe Holy Spirit appoints pastors to the local church to oversee its operation, and He gives the vision for the church to them. It is then the pastor’s responsibility before God to steer the church in that direction. He has the God-given authority to govern it. The pastor is to maintain control over every ministry of the local church. … read more
Uma vida sobrenatural de Tony Cooke
/in Articles in Portuguese /by Tony CookeExistem muitas implicações morais, éticas e práticas no que a Bíblia ensina, mas o cerne do envolvimento de Deus em nossas vidas é a presença e o poder do Espírito Santo. Há descrições no Novo Testamento de como o Espírito Santo trabalha na vida de um crente – um trabalho que verdadeiramente se inicia antes mesmo de tomarmos consciência da fé. … read more
The Role of Tongues in the Local Church by Keith Trump
/in Articles by Others /by Tony CookeThere has always existed, within the framework of church history, two extreme views regarding the role of tongues in public worship services. Unfortunately, in both their theological positions and practice, churches have tended to swing to either one extreme or the other. My assessment on the matter comes from over three decades of ministry in the capacities of a church planter, pastor, and teacher of biblical languages. … read more
The Cure (For Self-Pity) by Lisa Cooke
/in Articles by Lisa Cooke /by Lisa CookeThe world is right now searching feverishly for a cure for Covid-19, and we pray someone soon is given the wisdom to know what that is. It will be a great day when people will not die from this virus. But I think I may have found a cure for something else that can wreak havoc in our personal lives. … read more
Tesouros – O antigo e o novo de Tony Cooke
/in Articles in Portuguese /by Tony CookeEu estava participando de um culto em uma igreja uma vez e, durante o momento do louvor, a congregação cantou algumas das mais recentes canções de adoração. Logo em seguida, houve uma transição direta para um dos belos e antigos hinos da igreja. Foi um momento de louvor poderoso e comovente, e eu apreciei a riqueza do novo e do antigo – ambos louvores exaltavam a Cristo, e a Presença de Deus foi facilmente percebida em ambos. … 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
So Now What Do We Do? by Lisa Cooke
/in Articles by Lisa Cooke /by Lisa CookeI’m guessing that many mothers of young children are hearing that question hundreds of times a day while our nation and even the world is under the counsel of restricted activity. I know my own “inner child” has asked me that question! It is amazing to all of us how different our life is today compared to a month or two ago. … 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