Five Minutes with Tony Agnesi

In this podcast, Tony discusses Secular Advent. For those of you who are not familiar with the holiday season, it began several years ago and has grown into the biggest secular holiday of the year. But, it’s not OUR Advent! Scripture: And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed;the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness [and] put on the armor of light. Romans 13:11-12 Quotes : The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has nobody to thank.–Dante Gabriel Rossetti Reflection: What has happened to the real meaning of the Advent season? Have you found yourself getting swept away in the commercialism? What can we do to keep the real meaning of the season alive?

Thanksgiving and Christmas are the happiest times of the year. We get together with family and friends, exchange gifts, share wonderful meals, and enjoy the holidays. But, for many of us, the loss of a loved one makes this a sad and even depressing time. Let’s face it; every one of us will have a holiday where there is an empty chair. In this podcast Tony discusses the loss of a loved on at the holidays. Quote: “I am not alone at all, I thought. I was never alone at all. And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent. For this is still the time God chooses.” –Taylor Caldwell Scripture: “He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there shall be no more death or mourning, wailing or pain, [for] the old order has passed away.” –Revelations 21:4 “The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, saves those whose spirit is crushed.” –Psalm 34:19 Reflections: What do you t...

Doubts, we all have them at times. As Christians, we are embarrassed by our doubt. Is the story of Jesus true? Did he really die for my sins? In this podcast, Tony discusses doubt. Scripture: When John heard in prison of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” –Matthew 11:2-3 “Everything is possible to one who has faith.” Then the boy’s father cried out, “I do believe, help my unbelief!”–Mark 9:24-25 “So he got up and went back to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” –Luke 15:20 Reflections: Do you think your doubt is a lack of faith? What do you think of Tony’s idea that doubt can actually lead to a greater faith? What will you be doing during Advent to grow your faith?

There is a saying I have been using in business for over 40 years, “You can only coast in one direction.” So often, as I talked with new clients they would say, “if only we could keep the status quo, things would be great.” The problem with the keeping everything the same is that things are always changing. In this podcast, Tony discusses Old Wineskins. Scripture: “Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. [And] no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’” –Luke 5:37-39 Reflections: Are you guilty of clinging to the old and familiar? How can we reflect on younger Catholics and find ways to communicate with them in a way that makes our faith attractive? Are you guilty of the saying, “if we could only keep things the way they were?