Five Minutes with Tony Agnesi

FMWT-085 We Celebrate

A few months ago, Diane and I had a very busy weekend. We celebrated the baptism of a niece’s son. We celebrated the lives of a husband and wife who had died only hours apart. And, we celebrated our mutual birthday (we were both born on February 23^rd) with four other couples that share the same birthday week, an annual tradition for over 20 years. In this podcast, Tony discusses celebrating.

Scripture: Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy sanctuary; give praise in the mighty dome of heaven. Give praise for his mighty deeds, praise him for his great majesty. Give praise with blasts upon the horn, praise him with harp and lyre. Give praise with tambourines and dance, praise him with strings and pipes. Give praise with crashing cymbals, praise him with sounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath give praise to the LORD! Hallelujah! –Psalm 150 1:6

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, 1 Peter 3:15

Quote:  The best way to live life is to celebrate life. –Matthew Kelly

Book: Rediscovering Catholicism by Matthew Kelly, Beacon Publishing, 2012

Reflection:  What do you celebrate?  Is celebration at the center of your Catholic life? How do family traditions become our celebration?

FMWT-084 Girls with Purple Hair

As I approached the scene, I couldn’t help but notice that cars were swerving to avoid the driver, who lay in pain in the middle of the street, and his bike that was now a twisted mess. No one was stopping to help! In this podcast, Tony discusses unlikely hero’s, girls with purple hair!

Scripture: “Therefore, you are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment. For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things. –Romans 2:1

Quotes: If you judge people you have no time to love them. –-Mother Teresa

The loneliest people are the kindest.  The saddest people are the brightest.  The most damaged people are the wisest.  All because they do not wish to see anyone else suffer the way they do. –Tony Agnesi

Reflections:  Do we often judge people by their looks?  Does purple hair or a tattoo affect the way you look at someone?  Have you ever found the most unlikely people to be the most caring?

FMWT-083 That's Not Who You Are

As I sat there, a male technician came out to the waiting room and in a loud clear voice said, “The colon cancer!” He repeated himself, “which one of you is the colon cancer?  A few seconds passed before I realized that he was referring to me. As my anger grew, I rose to my feet and said, “My name is Tony, not the colon cancer! He sheepishly apologized.  In this podcast, Tony discusses who you are.

Scripture: With all vigilance guard your heart, for in it are the sources of life. Proverbs 4:23

For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus. –Galatians 3:26

Quote: “You are a child of God. You’re playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure about you. We were born to manifest the glory of God that is within us.”  –Marianne Williamson

Reflections: Have you been guilty of putting yourself down?  Have you ever allowed someone else to define who you are?  Do you ever feel unworthy of happiness?

FMWT-082 The Devil on My Shoulder

I remembered as a kid the cartoon that depicted the devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other. The devil is whispering in one ear and the angel in the other. The devil is suggesting sin and the angel suggesting goodness.  In this podcast, Tony discusses good and evil.

Scripture: Consequently, brothers, we are not debtors to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if by the spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.  Romans 8:12-13

Quote:  An Old Cherokee told his grandson, “My son, there is a battle between two wolves inside us all.”

One is Evil. It is anger, jealousy, greed, resentment, inferiority, lies and ego. The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, humility kindness, empathy and truth.

The boy thought about it and asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?”

The old man quietly replied, “The one you feed.”

Reflection: Do you feel this struggle with the wolves within you?  Is there one person, place or thing that you 

FMWT-081 30 Days to Live

What if you only had one month to live? What would you do if the doctor said to get your affairs in order in the next 30 days? How would you live your life if you knew with certainty that your days on earth were numbered? In this podcast, Tony discusses the most authentic you.

Scripture: “Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Psalm 90:12 (Grail)

Quotes: “Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives.” – Alan Sachs

Reflections: Have you ever had a life changing experience that changed the way you think about death?  What would you do differently if you only had one month to live?  Are you living as the most authentic version of yourself?

FMWT-080 Too Busy to Pray

We all wish we had more time to pray. Ask 100 Christians if they would like more prayer time and most would answer yes. But, most would say that a robust prayer life is difficult.  In this podcast, Tony talks about being too busy to pray and how we can find the time for a better prayer life.

Scripture: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.   Matthew 7:7-8

“Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.” Matthew 21:22

Quotes: “Prayer is the oxygen of the soul.” -St. Padre Pio

“The fruit of prayer is a deepening of faith. And the fruit of faith is love. And the fruit of love is service.” –Mother Teresa

“If you are too busy to pray, you are too busy!” –Mother Teresa

Reflections: What can you do to find more time to pray?  How important is prayer time to your well-being?  How do you find some extra time to pray?

FMWT-079 We Never Forget Kindness

There is something wonderful about kindness. We remember for years kindnesses that we received, many unexpectedly, some a needed blessing, others true miracles. Kindness is not easily forgotten.  In this podcast, Tony discusses random acts of kindness.

Scripture: “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap. For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you.” –Luke 6:38

I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.  –John 13:15

Quote: “You don’t pay love back, you pay it forward.” --Lily Hardy Hammond

Reflections:  Have you ever been the recipient of a random act of kindness? Does it make you feel like "paying it forward?"  Can you remember someone in your past because of their kindness?

FMWT-078 That Your Joy May Be Complete

Joy, the second fruit of the spirit from Galatians 5:22, a word used over 100 times in the old and new testaments, but what is it? What is joy?  Ask most people and they will say that it is happiness; but a true Christian understanding of joy goes beyond happiness.  In this Five Minutes with Tony podcast, Tony discusses joy.

Scripture: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.” John 15:9-11

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:11

Reflections:  What makes happiness different than joy?  Have you ever felt true joy?  What was the occasion and how did it make you feel?  What can we do to have more joy in our lives?

FMWT-077 Mothers and Sons

There is something special about mothers and sons. It is an unexplainable bond that only they share. She gave him birth, nursed him, wiped his slobbered chin, and held the tissue when he blew his nose.  In this podcast, Tony discusses the special bond between mothers and sons.

Scripture: Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

Quote: There has never been, nor will there ever be anything quite so special as the love between a mother and son. –Anonymous

Reflection:  What is your relationship with your mother?  What is the special bond you share?  What are the things you can share with your mom and no one else?

FGG-076 Br Not Afraid

I read a while back that the Bible has 365 uses of the phrase “fear not” or “be not afraid.” I haven’t been able to verify that, but I can tell you that it is one of the most used themes in the bible.  In this podcast, Tony discusses fear and how it can paralyze our actions.

Quote:  If anyone on the verge of action should judge himself according to the outcome, he would never begin. Even though the result may gladden the whole world, that cannot help the hero; for he knows the result only when the whole thing is over, and that is not how he became a hero, but by virtue of the fact that he began.” — Søren Kierkegaard from Fear and Trembling

Scripture:  The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge; of whom should I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

The LORD is with me; I am not afraid; what can mortals do against me? Psalm 118:6

Reflection: Do you feel your inaction is keeping you from achieving your goals? Do you feel you are moving in the direction of your goals?  What about the idea of baby steps?