Author Archives: Anthony Baker

About Anthony Baker

Husband, dad, pastor, artist, and musician. Time Magazine's Person of the Year in 2006 (no joke!). Loves coffee (big time), good movies, and sarcastic humor. Holds a Doctorate in Ministry. Most importantly, a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. All glory belongs to Him! Matthew 5:16

by Anthony Baker | February 27, 2016 · 12:16 pm

Saturday Selah

I want you to stop for a second.

Pause from your routine for just a moment, and think.

Think about what?

FullSizeRender (1) Think about the truths of God’s Word as found in 71 different verses within the Psalms, each one ending with the word Selah.

To the best of our understanding, Selah is a musical notation. But when it comes to its specific purpose, scholars are not entirely sure. However, the general consensus is that where Selah was inserted, there the singers were to pause, to rest, or possibly even to reflect on what was just sung (the the book of Psalms is a collection of songs).

Therefore, each Saturday after this I want to encourage you – and myself – with some truths which are worth pondering.

Next week we will look at Psalm 3:2:

“Many there be which say of my soul, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ Selah.”

Will you be able to pause for moment? See you next Saturday!

8 Comments

Filed under Bible Study

Tagged as bible study, blogging, Psalms

by Anthony Baker | February 25, 2016 · 6:30 am

Those Were the Days

It was 1989, I believe.

It was back in the day when I worked in nuclear field services with Combustion Engineering, and then later with ABB.

It was back in the day when I flew to different nuclear plants to work for weeks at a time, 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.

It was a day when I could go up to any cockpit of any jet and ask to take a picture…and never get any grief.

It was a day when one pilot said, “Here, son, why don’t you just sit in my seat and put on my hat and let me take your picture.”

The engines were still spooling and my hand was on the throttles!

It was a day long before 9/11.

Man, those were the days!

I miss them.

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Were those glasses huge, or was my head smaller?

1 Comment

Filed under America, Uncategorized

Tagged as 9/11, Aircraft, Airliner, flying, History, transportation

by Anthony Baker | February 24, 2016 · 10:47 am

In Every Thing…

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Give Thanks

With regards to thanks, you have to give it for it to exist; being thankful is not the same thing as giving thanks. You can be thankful in your heart all day long, but you can easily offend someone by not saying “Thank you” at the appropriate time.

Thanks can be given in many different ways, but the fact is that it must be expressed in some way, not just felt. Say it with words, express it with a card, show it with a gift, or something. The whole concept of “giving” means it leaves you and goes somewhere else.

Every Thing

Note that it’s “every thing,” not everything. It may seem like an insignificant point, but it’s every little thing in particular – every situation, every circumstance, every joy, every pain – not an all-encompassing kind of thing we’re talking about.

You see, it’s easy for us to express a generic “Thank you, Lord, for everything,” but it’s much harder to be specific, especially when things are not going so great. Getting specific with our giving of thanks takes time, points out where we are not so grateful, and forces us to take stock of what we really have.

“In”

We can focus on being thankful FOR every thing another time, but for now pay attention to that one little word “in.” It’s a simple preposition, nothing more. All it does is point out where you are. And it is “in” every thing that we are told to give thanks.

Are you going through a time of confusion? Give thanks to God for the wisdom and guidance He promises to those who ask!

Are you in pain? No, you don’t have to be thankful for the pain, per se, but certainly give thanks while you are IN pain. Thank God for His mercy and grace. Praise the Lord for His promise to never leave you or forsake you. Thank God for Jesus coming to this earth to suffer so that you could have a High Priest who knows how you feel. Thank Him for the reminder that one day there will be no more pain!

Are in a scary situation? Praise God and thank Jesus for being in your boat! Just think, you could be out on life’s troubled sea all alone, tossed by the waves, but you’re not! If the Master of the wind is the Captain of your vessel, you may get battered by the tempest, but you’ll never sink! Give thanks for being able to witness the Voice of God speak peace IN your storm.

Remember, giving thanks IN every thing is the will of God IN Christ concerning YOU! Be obedient; give some thanks.

7 Comments

Filed under Faith, Thanksgiving, worship

Tagged as Christianity, Encouragement, Pain, suffering, thankfulness, Worship

by Anthony Baker | February 22, 2016 · 10:33 pm

I Love You Guys!

Let me just say that I am honored to have you folk as readers and followers. You are valued friends for whom I am eternally grateful.

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement during my wife’s recent illness (click here to see UPDATE). She is doing better, but we still have many unanswered questions.

I have had the priviledge to meet many of you in person, so I know that on the other side of this screen there are real people who truly care. I frequently thank God for this blogging community which makes the world seem so much smaller.

Please know that I think of you guys as real people, not web addresses. I think of you and pray for often, just not often enough. But after this episode with my wife, your support has reminded me of how much I need to intercede for you. God has brought us together as friends, so let’s make use of the gift He has given.

God bless you all!

3 Comments

Filed under blogging

by Anthony Baker | February 21, 2016 · 10:37 am

Prayer for My Wife

This [is] the day [which] the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24

It is a good day, and it doesn’t matter what is going on – God made this day! And, for that matter, He makes every day, and what He makes is good.

How, then, can one reconcile the truth of Psalm 118:24 with the fact that my wife is in the hospital and doctors can’t figure out what is wrong with her? God is Sovereign, Holy, and by nature He is Good; therefore, I will trust Him.

photo (28) Nevertheless, I would ask that you intercede for my wife, Valerie, with prayer. Lift her up before the throne of God. Petition our Father for her healing, if it be within His will. Pray that God enlighten the doctors’ understanding so that that they may be able to diagnose her pain. But whatever the case, make sure you pray that through all our struggles and unanswered questions Jesus Christ receives the glory!

Remember, because many within the hospital community never go to church, sometimes God has to put the church in the hospital.

Thank you!

Update: Dear friends and subscribers, your prayers and encouragement have meant a lot. Thank you so much for your caring kindness.

Valerie was discharged from the hospital this evening (2/22) with instructions to follow up with her regular doctor and a cardiologist. Unfortunately, while at the hospital, they were unable to find the reason for her pain. What also became obvious was her inability to stay awake for any length of time, actually falling asleep after only 30 seconds on the telephone (she does take meds to stay awake, but without them she is useless – she wasn’t able to take them while in the hospital – and they can’t determine the cause).

Valerie is no longer in pain (it was severe) except when she tries to lie down – when she does she suffers from crushing pain and the inability to breath. With some fluid around her heart, one would think there are heart problems. However, multiple tests were done and the doctors concluded her heart was in good condition and there had been no heart attack, no blockages, or anything. So, what the heck could it be???

Un-diagnosed illnesses can cause a strain on family and relationships, not to mention work and family routines. The stress has a tendency to stretch our abilities to cope. What we need more than anything right now is prayer for our spiritual hearts – especially mine – that we will remain compassionate, caring, and hopeful, not cynical or accusatory. Frankly, when we’re tired and worn is when the Devil tries to flank us, to cut us off from our Supply. That’s why we need you interceding for us.

So, right now Valerie is in good spirits and not in much pain, unless she tries to lie down. Please pray that future visits to specialists will provide answers. In the meantime we will do our best, in God’s strength, to give thanks in all things, for He is worth of our praise.

17 Comments

Filed under Apologetics, Defining Marriage, Marriage, Relationships and Family, Struggles and Trials, worship

Tagged as Hospital, Illness, Marriage, Pain

by Anthony Baker | February 19, 2016 · 9:12 pm

One Picture, Two Truths

Courthouse Queue

I don’t use United Kingdom words that often, but I will shine my torch on one this day: queue (I would spell it differently).

Yes, today I was standing in line, or, rather, I was in queue to register my daughter’s car at our county courthouse. While standing there, looking down and noticed something fairly profound and had to take a picture.

…and I sucked in my gut so you could see my feet.

Literally, there at my feet were two completely profound statements! One would have been enough, but two? Yes, two statements in one picture. Two thoughts worth pondering. Two very real truths.

First Truth

“Wait here until called for service.”

Now, I know that we should always be about the Lord’s work, serving as we go. But when I look at this all I can think of are those who rush ahead into something God never called them to do – or be.

Believe it or not, rushing ahead of the line (or cue), not waiting for God to give the go-ahead, can be devastating. How many have sold all to go to the mission field, only to find out later they were not meant to be there? How many have rushed to stand behind a pulpit without a firm confirmation of their calling?

People have done many things without waiting on God, from ministry to marriage, and have lived to regret their hastiness. Oh that we would be more like David when he said, “I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope” (Psalm 130:5).

Maybe you have already been called, but asked to step back in line for a moment. Be patient! Wait upon the Lord as He renews your strength; lifts you up on eagles’ wings; so that you may once again run and not get weary; walk, and not faint (Isaiah 40:31).

Second Truth

You are next.

Did you hear the one about the man who’s mother-in-law drove his brand-new truck off the side of a bluff? He had mixed emotions.

Knowing you are “next” is great if what you’re next in line for is a good thing. But what if you’re next in line for something bad to happen? Knowing you are next is not good news, is it?

Well, believe it or not, there are people reading this that are next. Next for what? I don’t know, but they should be ready. You might be next in line for a heart attack or cancer. You may be the very next one in your family to get married, or have a child. Or, you might be the next one to get a terrible phone call in the night.

“Boast not thyself of to morrow; for thou knowest not what a day may bring forth.” – Proverbs 27:1

Either way, you are next for something, and only God knows what that is. Are you right with Him? Are you willing to follow where He leads? Don’t be afraid, just put your faith in Jesus Christ and let Him guide you through what’s ahead.

“Next!”

Update: Not six hours after publishing this, I had to take my wife to the Emergency Room. As of this moment (Saturday evening) she is still in unexplained chest pain. She is now in the hospital and I’ve been awake close to 40 hours.

What’s next? Nobody knows. But God is still good!

5 Comments

Filed under Faith, Future, Life/Death, the future

Tagged as future, hope, truth, waiting

by Anthony Baker | February 18, 2016 · 6:00 am

When You Vote…

Your VOTE should be more than a calculated bet.

Your VOTE should be more than a strategic move to benefit a party.

Your VOTE should be, if possible, more than a compromise; it should be a statement.

Your VOTE should be – it SHOULD be – your stamp of approval, one that signifies the person for whom you are voting is the best possible choice.

Your VOTE should NOT be based on statistics.

YOUR vote SHOULD be based on YOUR understanding, NOT public opinion.

vote Your right to VOTE is NOT a true right; it’s a PRIVILEGE. Certain inalienable rights are given by God (i.e., life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness); the privilege to vote was bought with human capital (the blood of our soldiers). DON’T waste the opportunity afforded to you by the lives of others!

Remember, our Forefathers pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor so that you could have a voice in who governs you. However, those for whom you vote these days have nothing to lose, but everything to gain. Hold them accountable!

Your VOTE is a sacred trust. DON’T betray it.

Just the Sound of BB’s

This post was first published in 2013.

Now that it’s an election year, it’s time for a reminder.

The attached video is not graphic, but hopefully disturbing. It is not gross or disgusting, only sobering.

Please listen to the sound of BB’s in a tin can.

I agree with the author of this video – God help us!

Here is another video you should watch. It is of an abortion survivor. Very powerful.

But you know what, I would be remiss if I didn’t tell you that there is hope for those who have had abortions. Watch and listen to my friends (who I used to play bass guitar with), Adam and Kathy Glover (Adam is now a pastor). This was from several years ago.

We were at their home when this aired, and you should have seen the emails that flooded Kathy’s computer.

Kathy had abortions, but God has brought healing. Now they devote much of their time reaching out to those who struggle with the guilt of past and hidden sin.

Obviously Obvious

A Great Deal

Every once in a while a deal comes along that you just can’t pass up, like four suits for the price of one at Joseph A. Bank. I mean, that’s simply a once-in-a-lifetime steal!

And have you ever seen those commercials for…I don’t know…everything? How can you pass on buying something for $19.95 when you get a second whatever and ten additional gadgets for no additional cost? (Just pay separate shipping and handling, of course).

Well, one deal I saw the other day at Wal-Mart just took my breath away! It was awesome! It was more than awesome…it was OBVIOUS!

TWO – count them – TWO honey buns for just $1! Or, if you like, you could buy one for just 50 cents. What a deal!

Yeah. Right.

Obvious Stuff

Look, businesses don’t give things away for no reason; separate shipping and handling actually covers the cost of free items; and, getting two honey buns for the price of two honey buns isn’t exactly a great deal. Some people never put two and two together.

What are some other things that should be obvious? Let me start a list:

Watching church on TV is NOT as good as being there.
Your vote DOES matter.
Living together first is NOT the best way to start a marriage.
One’s actions DO have consequences.
Government is NOT the solution to every problem.
Believing God doesn’t exist doesn’t make Him go away.

Any other suggestions?

4 Comments

Filed under General Observations

Tagged as Advertising, Marketing, observations, Obvious, wisdom

by Anthony Baker | February 15, 2016 · 7:00 am

Happy President’s Day!

Happy President’s Day, for what it’s worth.

However you celebrate it, I hope your holiday (if you’re out of work or school) is not hampered by allergies. Allergies are unpatriotic.

Oh, by the way, I only realized I had the American Flag hanging improperly AFTER I made this video and deleted the original “film.” Oh well, you get the point. It’s been 3 years since I made this Monday Monkey video, so there’s no going back now.

Author Archives: Anthony Baker

About Anthony Baker

Saturday Selah

Those Were the Days

In Every Thing…