Ephesians - discover the rhyme and reason for your life in this letter.

Doubt and unbelief put you in a constant state of stress and worry.

I mean, I know you have flaws. Because everybody does. But flaws don’t define you. Unless you let them cause doubt and unbelief to grind into your mind and affect your daily life.

There’s a very reliable way to positively affect your decisions so you can effectively pursue your dreams. But it’s so simple that most people’s doubt and unbelief makes them run the other way. Are you ready for this? Stop putting all your faith in YOU. And put it in the One who made you.

I want you to know it’s not an unforgivable sin to have anxiety and worry in your life. But I think it’s important to know that God says “be anxious for nothing” and “do not worry.” Those are imperatives. Not wishy-washy suggestions. So, He must know they’re do-able.

Doubt is often referred to as fear, or a lack of courage, or unbelief. And whatever way it’s presented, the solution is always presented as faith. God wants you to have courage. He wants you to be powerful and loving. And He gives you the tool to get the job done. His word. His word is also called “the sword of the Spirit.” It’s not a visible sword made of brass, iron, or steel. It’s invisible. But it’s sharp enough to be used for the “division of soul and spirit.”

Here’s the thing.

I just want you to know that if you’re filled with doubt and unbelief instead of faith, you’re doing something wrong. Not evil, but wrong. You’re trusting in yourself. And leaning on your own limited understanding. And you’re not trusting in the Lord with all your heart.

There ARE successful people, in this life, who don’t trust in the Lord. But most of them will discover how their profits might’ve helped them gain the whole world. But the cost will be that they lose their soul?

Yeah, here’s an awful thing to think about.

Most millionaires and billionaires go to hell.

That’s not to pick on wealthy people. Because most poor people are going to hell, too. The point is…most PEOPLE are not going to Heaven. For one stupid reason. They choose not to go. If you have any doubt about where you’ll go if you die today, here’s what I suggest. Find a way to crush your unbelief and put your faith in Jesus. Without Him, the most you’ll ever be able to do is make a series of…

I seem to make so many false moves.

False moves, like shadows, fall behind.

I always seem to see the empty spots

I sit and dream of traveling so far,

Since I referenced Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I’m gonna share a link to my own lyrical perspective on that book of the Bible. It’s called “Rhyme and Reason in Ephesians.” Get your copy today:

https://www.TonyFunderburk.com/retail

Stay tuned,

The post Doubt and unbelief will give you no relief appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Seems like nobody can keep a secret. And when just one person lets the cat out of the bag, so to speak, it’s not long before everybody knows about it. Then, Katie, bar the door.

About 2000 years ago, a man named Paul traveled all around telling the very same secret I’m about to share with you. The big difference was that he shared a secret nobody had ever heard before. In fact, he called it a mystery.

But Paul wanted everybody to know the answer to the mystery. You might wonder how Paul found out about it. Well…Jesus told him.

Yep, Paul heard all about this special secret directly from the Creator of the universe.

So, of course, what he discovered was true? Jesus never lies. And He wanted Paul to go tell everyone the news. At first Paul wasn’t sure if he could believe his eyes and ears. But Jesus proved He was real and that Paul could trust Him. Once that happened Paul was filled with joy and courage. He began to tell anybody who would listen about Jesus.

But Paul didn’t just tell everybody what kind of a person Jesus was. He told everybody why Jesus came to earth. And why He had to be killed and rise from the dead. And the secret was that Jesus did all that so we could all know Him like a personal friend.

God had kept that secret for thousands of years. Before anybody knew about Jesus, the only way to get to Heaven was to keep ALL the rules that God gave Moses to present to His people.

But nobody was ever able to keep all those rules. The Jews tried. But they just couldn’t do it. They were just like you and me. We want to be good all the time, but somehow we just can’t do it.

Well, thanks to God choosing not to keep a secret hidden, you don’t have to be good all the time. And you don’t have to follow all those rules from the Jewish people from thousands of years ago.

No, the good news, the secret, is this: believe in Jesus. He lived here on earth in the same world as the rest of us. And He never did anything wrong. And He kept all the rules. He lived a perfect life. And He showed us perfect love by paying the price for sin so you and I wouldn’t have to.

Here’s a rhyme so simple even kids can remember…

The best secret ever told was just for you

If you can keep a secret, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Stay tuned,

The post Keep a secret or not? Is this what you thought/ appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Just about everywhere you look or go people seem to be mad about something. And a lot of them don’t seem to have any problem letting that anger, inside, out for everyone to see.

People are walking around with chips on their shoulders. That’s what we used to call it anyway. Or you could say they’re carrying grudges in their hearts. And that would be bad enough. But at least it would be invisible to just about everyone. Trouble is, they don’t stop the anger inside from coming out. And a lot of it even leads to escalated physical harm.

But I’ll let you in on a little secret about the root cause. Selfishness.

Yeah, selfishness is at the heart of almost all anger issues. It’s difficult to manage your anger, when all you care about is how he or she or the whole world wronged you.

And you find a way to justify your own anger, when you don’t take responsibility for your actions. I’ve been dealing with this with someone I’ve known for a very, very long time. He believes I’ve wronged him in the past (issues from 20 years ago and beyond). And he has told me I’ve never apologized or shown any remorse.

I’m not gonna share the whole sob story. But I can say with a clear conscience that this person has ripped me off multiple times, left me in the lurch multiple times, and F-bombed Jesus in my house. And, to this day, he’s never once apologized or shown any remorse for his actions. Some say this is narcissism. And I don’t disagree.

The person I’m talking about doesn’t care what God says about anger. But, to quote from Paul’s writing in Ephesians, “be angry and do not sin.” And when Paul wrote that, he was actually quoting from one of King David’s Psalms where it said, “Be angry, and do not sin, Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.”

But people obsess over problems, challenges, and obstacles in everyday life. That makes it easy to form a tunnel vision where the tunnel always leads to SELF.

And that leads to projecting those problems onto others. And that leads to self harm. Physical, mental, and emotional harm. You might not realize the full negative consequences of letting the anger inside out while you’re young and strong. But they’ll show up eventually. And the older you are, the more harmful the consequences.

I’m not saying those studies are absolutely true. But it might be more than coincidence that the rising rate of cancer in the world happens at the same time there are more angry people than ever.

So, what about you? What rules in your life? Anger? Or joy? I wrote this rhyme about it years ago…

If you’re angry, just don’t sin.

If this didn’t make you mad, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

Stay tuned,

The post Anger inside out can take a harmful route appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

You’ve probably experienced faith and doubt at the same time. It’s OK to admit it because it’s part of your human flaws. I know. How dare I say you have flaws, right? Easy. Because everybody does.

I talk about the Apostle Paul a lot. And that’s because he’s the best example of where you and I are right now. And he expressed his concerns about his own ways when he wrote to the new Christians in Rome. Check out what he said and see if you detect yourself in his words:

“…we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.”

And a few lines later, you can see those weren’t just idle thoughts. Paul was so deeply affected by that inner conflict that he said, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Yikes!

Yeah, flaws, like the ones Paul described, can allow doubt seep into your mind. That doubt can affect your day, your decisions, and your dreams. And that’s even if you’ve expressed a true faith in the One who made you. I’m not talking about the skepticism kind of doubt, the kind of uncertainty of how we even got here.

Uncertainty and insecurity can sneak into your life if you don’t watch out. Regardless of that, I want you to know it’s not an unforgivable sin for that to happen in your life. But doubt can grow when you focus on it instead of the solution.

Faith and doubt are mentioned, a lot, in the Bible.

Doubt is often referred to as fear, or a lack of courage, or unbelief. But, no matter what kind of doubt it is, the solution is always presented as faith. God wants you to have courage. He wants you to be powerful and loving. And He gives you the tool to get the job done.

His word.

His word is also called “the sword of the Spirit.” It’s an invisible sword, more powerful than brass, iron, or steel. And yet it’s sharp enough to “divide soul and spirit.” Wow, that’s difficult to even imagine.

Anyway…

Here’s my main point. I just want you to know that if you’re bouncing back and forth between faith and doubt, it means you’re doing something wrong. Not evil, but wrong. And it’s probably that you put most of your trust in yourself. But that’s leaning on limited understanding. And certainly not trusting in the Lord with all your heart.

There are successful people who don’t trust in the Lord. That’s undeniably true.

But what profits will you enjoy if you gain the whole world and lose your soul?

Most millionaires and billionaires go to hell.

I’m not picking on wealthy people because most poor people are going to hell, too. Because most PEOPLE are not going to Heaven. For one stupid reason. They choose not to go. If you have any doubt about where you’ll go if you die today, I suggest putting your faith in Jesus. Without Him, you face a life full of…

I seem to make so many false moves.

False moves, like shadows, fall behind.

I always seem to see the empty spots

I sit and dream of traveling so far,

© 1978 Tony Funderburk

Since I referenced Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I’m gonna share a link to my own lyrical perspective on that book of the Bible. It’s called “Rhyme and Reason in Ephesians.” Get a digital copy from your choice of stores:

https://books2read.com/u/baEaeP

Stay tuned,

The post Faith and doubt and what you might leave out appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

The first century Christians were committed to one another. Christians today? Not so much. Sure, there are small cliques. But, as a whole, it’s a divided faith. And splintered, sometimes, by just the meaning of a single verse. Or even a single word. Want an example?

I just scanned an article with this title: “Which denomination tithes the most?”

And that, inadvertently, addresses a big part of the issue. Because human nature seeks to “be number one.” And that includes the giving department. So, the article shared lots of demographics from a 10 day study of denominations. How ’bout I share just a few snippets?

“Eighty percent of people who attend a worship service at least four times a month agreed that tithing is a biblical commandment compared to 72% of respondents who attend a worship service one to three times a month.”

Hmm. Wonder how many tithing messages the first group hears as opposed to the second group.

Here’s an age-related stat. 66% of young adult respondents between the ages of 18 and 34 were less likely to believe tithing is a Biblical commandment. And I think that’s interesting. Because tithing IS undeniably a commandment (or law) found in the Bible. But it’s crucial to understand where it’s found and why.

Before I share that, it’s important to know (if you don’t) that tithe means a tenth. And that’s the command God handed down to the Jews. To give a tenth of all they had.

So, on that note, notice what Christians today, and even many of those Jews, do and did.

“Thirty-one percent told pollsters they give a tithe and 19% said they give more than 10% of their income. Meanwhile, 16% said they donate less than 10% of their income to their church. Nine percent of respondents reported that their financial situation makes it difficult to give, and 2% said that they did not give.”

Yeah, if God says give a tenth, then I should give more. Because, well, because I say so. And if it feels good to me, then I’m sure God will be even more impressed with me. Or at least other people will once I’ve informed them that I give even more than God says.

I know, from personal experience, that Christians boast about giving their tithe AND even more. Because benevolence should be spotlighted. Right? Wait. Wasn’t there a left hand right hand thing?

Now, I would never urge you to believe what I say just because I’m a trustworthy guy. I believe I am, but I’m not the authority. You find that in the Bible. And if it says “the law kills” and that the Grace of God is “not of works” (which includes the tithe), then that’s the truth. My goal is to agree with it. And to keep “rightly dividing the word of truth.” And I urge Christians today (you and me) to…

If you take a stand and you stand for the Way,

Angels are gonna rejoice,

If you take a stand and you stand for the Truth,

All eyes are gonna look up.

If you take a stand and you stand for Life,

© 2008

The post Christians today still do it their way appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Do you speak Psalms? And how fluent is your Hymns? Or what about Spiritualese? What’s that you say? You don’t speak any of those languages? And you don’t even believe they ARE languages. Well, I guess, technically, they aren’t languages. But you could speak to me in any one of them if you’d start with a melody in your heart.

OK, I’m gonna bring this more into focus. But first, I’d like you to get a feel for my favorite language. And that language, of course, is music. The most profound and passionately perfect language there is. With the possible exception of God’s native tongue…which it wouldn’t surprise me if it’s a form of music.

Side note: as I’m writing this, my wife is doing some of her “chores” in another part of the house. And she loves to listen to music while she works. And right now her phone is playing “Carry On Wayward Son” by the band, Kansas. Love that song. It really rocks! And it’s in my repertoire. OK, back to my point.

Now, you might think a guy like me, who’s always talking about Grace and how you should accept it and get out from under the law, wouldn’t say “follow the law.”

But you definitely should follow THE law.

And THE law I’m talking about is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind…”

Don’t misunderstand me. I didn’t say you MUST follow THE law. I said “should.” It’s your choice.

But when you do, you’ll see the results Jesus promised,

Plus, when you follow that law, you’ll almost surely follow the next part and “love your neighbor as yourself.” And your neighbor will be your brother…or sister. And you’ll most likely discover, without even realizing it happened, that you’ll speak fluent Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritualese (aka spiritual songs).

Because those words and languages will flow from the melody in your heart.

How can I explain the numbers in the rain?

It’s a firecracker and a windchime

(from my song “The Living End”)

Stay tuned,

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

The post Speak to me in a melody because it’s neighborly appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Just think if you lived back in the days of gladiators. And imagine if you had to go out and fight for your king with an invisible suit of armor. Sure, it would be much lighter. So, it would be so much easier to stand up than if you wore that heavy metal armor they had back then. But do you think you’d feel powerful and safe?

I bet you’d be more likely to feel vulnerable. Right?

But what if your king promised you’d win the war and you’d get a mansion for your efforts? Now, it’s starting to sound better. But invisible armor? How’s that gonna work?

But if you’re a Christian, then you’re expected to get up every day and put on your invisible armor. General Paul issued the order way back when. And you might recall…he said you should stand…

“having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…”

So, what do you think about that invisible armor now? Does it make you feel less vulnerable to know it’s made of eternal material? It should. Because all that heavy metal stuff turns to rust. And all the weapons formed against God will not prosper. So, that should sort of put it in a better perspective.

But remember, when you wear the armor…and when you shine your light…you could lose friends. And people who tend to condemn “judgmental people” will start judging you. And lots of other people might laugh at you. They’ll probably look for opportunities to mock and ridicule you in public.

But if that happens, you know you’re on the right track. So, bravely put on your armor, smile, and…

If you take a stand and you stand for the Way,

Angels are gonna rejoice,

If you take a stand and you stand for the Truth,

All eyes are gonna look up.

If you take a stand and you stand for Life,

No more livin’ like this;

© 2008 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

The post Stand up for right and be a light appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Back in 1977, on one of my trips to the music store (because digital downloads weren’t invented yet) I picked up the brand new cassette from Kenny Loggins. It was his official first solo album called “Celebrate Me Home.” And if you’ve never listened to that collection, do yourself a favor. Great tunes. But this morning I remembered one of the songs, in particular, as I heard a certain melody in my heart.  

That was the second track on side two of Kenny’s album. And, of course, it struck a chord with me. Because for as long as I can remember, I’ve always had melodies and rhythms playing in my head and heart. To this very morning (as I write this, it’s not even 4 a.m.) the music bounces through my brain and neurotransmitters.

And I don’t believe it’s an accident.

What possible evolutionary function could a melody in my heart ever have. All that non-physical musical information doesn’t make me more fit…or stronger. So, it serves no survival purpose. At least not from a “survival of the fittest” perspective.

But when you consider how music magnifies the evidence for a Creator who promises eternal life, bam! Now, that’s what I call real survival.

And Paul even told Timothy to speak “to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…”

And I believe that’s because no language speaks so clearly to so many people more than music.

So, I think God put music in me in hopes I’d use it to talk about Him. But I haven’t always done that. And I remember my Grandmother talking to me about that, shortly after my Granddaddy’s funeral. Because she knew I was earning a living as a musician. But she told me I should be “singing for the Lord.”

Of course, I was full of “youthful wisdom.” And I knew that if I wanted to make a living with my voice, I’d need to sing and perform secular music. And I did that for a long time.

But during a lot of that secular music time I also wrote songs for my own pleasure. And many of those songs at least alluded to my Christian faith.

And these days, as I listen to the melody in my heart, or hear the rhythm in my head, I try to focus on how I can share the love of God. Because, as you might have noticed, the world’s quickly becoming a much meaner place. And people who hate God, and hate themselves, are getting bolder. But in the darkest hours is when the light of God’s love can shine brightest.

And God’s love shines brightest in a song.

Stay tuned,

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your player.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself a cool tee

Or how about some music for kids

The post The melody in my heart is my spiritual art appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

And get it “while the gittin’s good.” Because if you’ve got any sense left in your brain, heart, and soul, you know it can’t last. Right? Or can it? Maybe I’m just an aging, yet naive, so-n-so who don’t understand the powers of higher economics. (And I know it’s doesn’t instead of don’t…but I’m waxing colloquial.) If that’s the case, then by all means point me to the line where I can get a lifetime of free money fast. After all, who wants to work when they’re giving away money? Wait…could that be a potential problem? Hmm…  

I mean, when was the last time you heard anybody say this? “I sure wish I could get some free money slow.” Yeah, never. And I think it’s because even knuckleheaded public skool grajits (of which I’m one) know in their hearts it’s a limited time offer. Because it just ain’t real. And reality tends to roll back around…well, at least most of the time, whether anybody admits it or not.

I’m sure, by now, you know I’m referencing those benevolent deposits and checks our federal government has been sending out lately. And I’ll bet you can guess how I feel about it. Right?

Yeah, the money should never have been stolen from us in the first place. That’s right. I said “stolen.” Because when a government taxes its people even 10%, it’s tyrannical. And all the rest of those taxes our government burdens working people with fall under the “thou shalt not steal” category.

So, do I recommend not taking the money if and when you get it from the government?

Certainly not! It was yours first. At least if you’re a productive individual who provides goods and services for payment. And the less of our money politicians have, the less they can spend to buy votes and power. So, get yours back. And invest in yourself and a business.

You’re currently still able to create and produce information, products, and services for your fellow man. But don’t think for a moment there aren’t politicians, powers, and principalities looking for ways to take most or all of that away from you.

So build and serve others today

If you know there’s no such thing as free, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Stay tuned,

The post Free money fast while free supplies last appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

You were born with a very special gift. You may not be the only person in the world with your gift. But nobody can use your gift the exact same way you can. Know why? Because you’re one-of-a-kind. God didn’t make any more you. You’re the only you there is. And you can use your very special gift to help others use theirs. Wanna know how? Keep reading.

There’s a place in the Bible where it tells you some things you can be when you’re an adult. You can be a cheerleader for God. A whiz for God. A fighter, or speaker or even a teacher. You could be someone who makes money to support others. You could be someone who nurses others back to health. Or someone who prays. Your gift is important. And your job is too.

You will need to share how His Son Jesus created everybody and that His love and His spirit give us forever life. When you’re young, you can spend most of your time discovering these things for yourself. You’ll find out how true the story of Jesus is. And most people won’t want to believe it. In fact, they’ll try to trick you into believing the Bible is just a bunch of fairy tales. But you’ll use your very special gift to show them that’s not true. And that’s why God gave it to you.

Maybe this doesn’t all make sense right now. But it will. Don’t ever give up. And don’t ever quit finding out more and more about Jesus. With Him you can’t lose. And here’s a rhyme to help you remember”

Life is a very special gift.

If you enjoy God’s gift, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Stay tuned,

The post A Very Special Gift that should give you a lift appeared first on Tony Funderburk.