Many times, in sports, you’ll hear an announcer say something like, “Man, he really gave his all.” Or you might hear “Wow, she gave all she had to get to this event.” Well, have you ever said “I give you all” to anyone?

And there’s a place in the New Testament where it says that.  But do you do it?

I don’t.

It brings me no pleasure, in fact, it pains me to say it. But I don’t give my all to God. And that’s in spite of the fact that I love my Creator. I’m blessed and thrilled to know that I have a Risen Savior. Jesus was totally innocent of all crimes. But He was still put to death in a horrible way. For me. And for you. But I know I don’t put all my heart, soul, strength, and mind into loving Him on a full-time basis. I bet you don’t either.

He made the ultimate sacrifice for us. And all He asks for in return is love. But all of us puny humans focus more on ourselves and the things of this world. Wouldn’t it be great to know why that is?

Well, Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles (that’s you unless you’re a Jew), gave us clear insight into this problem. He used himself as an example. He talked about how the right things he wanted to do, he didn’t do. And the wrong things he didn’t want to do…those he did. Then he explained that “…in my flesh, nothing good dwells“.

If something is truly good…not merely good according to the low standards of this world…then it should lead to eternal life. Your flesh doesn’t do that. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a 1:1 ratio of births to deaths in the world. No one escapes the “wages of sin“. But you can escape having to pay for them forever. That’s gonna require some humility. But if you want eternal life you can look forward to with complete assurance, just tell Him…

You gave my heart

You gave me words,

You gave me dawn,

I give you all…my worries and my fear.

You gave me nights…

That song is one of eleven original songs I recorded and produced when I was the praise and worship leader at a small Denver church. Download the whole collection with a link in the handy, useful songbook journal you’ll find here: https://www.TonyFunderburk.com/rtpsongbook (paperback available, too)

Stay tuned,

The post I give you all in these lyrics ya’ll appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

They’re not scary when you use even a little of the wisdom and discernment your Creator is willing to give you. I’m talking about health headlines. But if you read them without wisdom and discernment, as if they’re actually full-blown facts, you might start feeling like calling up the suicide hotline.

Because the vast majority of news sources would prefer you to stay locked down, inside your house, and in front of your computer or TV with fear in your heart. Of course, I could just be a conspiracy nut. And, in that case, skip the rest of this raving rant. Save yourself some more time for the fear news.

For 50 years I’ve been writing and talking about how this kind of world could and would happen. At first it was innocuous “laws” and policies to simply “provide protection” from accidents. You know. Helmets for motorcycles. And seatbelts for cars. I’m not against those, by the way. But the “laws?” Not so much.

I’m not gonna bore you with some decades long timetable. Because all that data probably wouldn’t change 1 mind out of 10. Probably wouldn’t turn 1 person’s heart, out of 10, toward their Maker.

And that includes health headlines, business headlines, and political headlines. So, I just recommend that you at least scan the headlines and bullet points on major news sites. And don’t be surprised when you see how similar, almost eerily similar, they are to each other. It all reminds me of the lyrics I wrote over 25 years ago. It was a song called Cliché. Here’s a verse…

We want to live in a fat-free environment, and

Cliché, and 12 other songs are included in my Do Right songbook journal. Get yourself a copy on Amazon today. It won’t build your immune system. But it might help you connect with the One who designed that system.

Stay tuned,

The post Health headlines today keep common sense away appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Love, peace, and music. I wish those for you. And now, let’s get down to business. No, I’m not smokin’ any halo tobacco. It doesn’t take a dope-smokin’, long-haired, hippy freak to talk about the finer parts of life. And, while we’re on the subject, that leads me into some of the benefits of Christian music.

First, there’s no cursing.

Second, there’s no sex.

Third, there’s no cursing.

And did I mention there’s no sex?

But then, another HUGE benefit of Christian music is that it’s an indicator of your NEW character. What’s that you say? You’re curious about the NEW character stuff? Good. Because I was just getting to that.

Paul (that guy who claimed his own Gospel) wrote a letter to the Colossians. And he described what you can see when a man (or woman) has a new character. No, not a part in a movie. An actual compilation of who they/you/he/she are/is. (Sorry, I got too inclusive for a second there.)

Anyway…

Paul said the “new man” should and would follow this outline:

“But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.”

See? Love and peace. Yes, thankfulness is in there, too. But then Paul went and spinned the tables when it came to music. Because he had the audacity to say you should use music to instruct others and even get on to them. What? With music? Uh-huh.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

That’s not exactly what you’ll find in churches these days. So, I don’t think churches truly receive the true benefits of true Christian music. And, yes, that’s a lotta true-based stuff. But for a reason. Because what’s trying to pass for praise and worship music these days are actually repetitious, cotton candy choruses.

But when you try to give churches, and the “pewple” inside, more meaty music, they turn a deaf ear. Mostly.

I speak from experience.

I’m not bitter about it. I AM sad about it. But I also won’t be spinning any cotton candy. So, I pray the music I’ve composed and compiled over the years will be an indication of the treasures I’ve stored up in Heaven. And if that IS how it turns out, then I’ll rejoice at the eternal benefits of my Christian music. And I’ll do my best not to admonish anyone who turned a deaf ear.

And then I can behold the inner man

(from my song Consequential Servitude)

Stay tuned,

Share this link with everybody you know, so they can jump on the The TRUTH (My regular emails about the essentials of life, AND get some music and other good stuff, for Fa-Ree)

The post Benefits of Christian music and hope for my forever land appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I’m gonna rant and rave. And, although I can’t speak for him (especially since he’s got other things on his mind besides music, these days) I think Buddy Holly would back me up on this. If you’ve never heard of Buddy Holly, or don’t know any of his music, that reference is gonna be way over your ears.

Anyway…

Well, you’re included if you’ve posted anything, on social media (or elsewhere) about the sad state of “contemporary Christian music. And praise and worship music. I’ve read lots of comments about how the music offered up in churches, and on the radio, is “repetitive” and “empty” and “repetitive.”

But, in spite of all those commentaries from the bleachers, I still see most church goers still going to those churches. And still enduring those syrupy, up and down, namby-pamby, limp-wristed “love songs” week after week. And then going back home to post a rant about it on Spacebook.

Plus, most of those church goers still buy (on those rare times when they actually buy) music from those celebrity christians. Instead of seeking out singer-songwriters who add meat to the musical message.

And I think it’s because it’s easier to listen to (and buy from) the status quo, that doesn’t judge you and make you feel guilty. And it’s uncomfortable, sometimes, to listen to (and buy from) singer-songwriters who deliver up God’s word in a way similar to the Apostle Paul.

Because, yes, I consider myself to be a singer-songwriter from the meat market side of Christian music. But I absolutely don’t want you to buy my music or books or anything if you prefer today’s sugar-coated christianity. Because you might hurt your “teeth.”

And I absolutely don’t want you buy anything from me until you see if what I say lines up with the Bible. Because, despite what stupid people, like Andy Stanley, say, it’s still God’s word. So, if what I say or sing doesn’t sync with the Bible, then what I say or sing is wrong. Period.

OK. As you can see, I do have a rather hot-blooded opinion about this. But I wrote a rhyme five years ago that kind of expounds on why. Hope I didn’t write it about YOU.

The times will come in everyone’s life

© 2019

Stay tuned,

Share this link with everybody you know, so they can jump on the The TRUTH

The post Rant and rave and misbehave appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Tomorrow is not the time to start something new. Because tomorrow is a concept. Because humans need that concept to help us understand the flowing of time. And even though it helps to include tomorrow in your understanding of time, it never actually gets here.

Then, on the other hand, tomorrow is already here. On the other side of the world at the international date line area. But those people who live on the other side of it don’t live in the future. To them, it’s today. It’s right now.

It’s all so discombobulated. Except when you realize you absolutely DO have a future.

You can’t keep it from happening any more than you can keep the sun from shining.

And that’s why I talk about the power of love so much. Not the wimpy, limp-wristed, “tolerance and diversity” nonsense that attempts to pass itself off as love these days. Nope. I mean the love so powerful it makes the moon revolve around the Earth and the sun to shine with light and warmth.

And that all happens in a universe that’s logical, yet magical. Reasonable, yet unbelievably huge.

For that kind of expansive evidence to exist, there MUST be a Designer even more expansive. I’d be a fool to say otherwise.

Since the evidence points to a Designer, a Creator, it’s a good idea to see if there’s more we can know about that person. Turns out, there’s a LOT more. Yeah, He wrote a bestselling book. No, that’s wrong. He wrote THE bestselling book of all time. The Bible. Maybe you’ve heard of it?

The “heavens and the Earth.” Maybe you’ve heard of ’em? And after He created a perfect living environment He created a couple of perfect people. And He showed ’em their paradise. And He didn’t do all that for funsies. It wasn’t just something to pass the time. It was an awesome act of love.

And because you can see love throughout the Bible, you can understand how and why you can love. At least if you’re willing to understand. Most people aren’t. But I’m willing. And that’s why I’m sharing this song…

What made You think

You made a world

Because You love me so…in spite of all You know…

You put a life

I can live because You live!

© 2010

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The post Start something new. Not tomorrow. That won’t do. appeared first on Tony Funderburk.