Here’s what I’m talking about in episode 1001 of the The Power of God’s Love Podcast:

Get my TRUTH Journal, my ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website go right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

The post From a truck to a boat on a high note – The Power of God’s Love Podcast 1001 appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Sure, I could’ve (and maybe should’ve) said daily bread instead of daily grain. But that wouldn’t have rhymed with the retrain your brain part. So, I took some poetic license. And there you have it.

Well, I could be talking about anxiety and depression, in which case I might give you a list of cognitive distortions like someone else did on another website. Here’s the list they shared.:

And the number one reason for that is because God tells me not to be. Plus, it’s bad for your brain which makes it much more difficult to retrain. So I recommend living in joy and gratitude. Yeah, we should all be extremely grateful. We’re not getting what we deserve (you’re not getting those wages you actually deserve, right?).

My educated guess is that if you ARE anxious and/or depressed, you’re way too focused on YOU.

But sometimes things happen and you find yourself forced to focus more on YOU. Or at least parts of you. And that’s where I find myself currently. So that’s why I’ve been talking about it more lately.

Brain injuries, or other forms of head trauma, like stroke, are a challenge to the neuroplasticity of your brain and nervous system. And since that’s the boat, I find myself in, at this time, the information I find is fascinating. Here’s the basic gist of it that I found in an article:

Brain cells send messages, which are the neural connections around the brain. However, when an individual experiences a stroke, the stroke damages some of the connections inside the brain in addition to the connection between the brain and the rest of the body. Rehabilitation activities help the brain make new neural connections in the healthy parts of your brain. And more neural connections can improve your brain’s ability to control your body and perform daily activities. Every time you take an extra step, say a new word or do an exercise, it helps the brain make new connections.~

My first gut reaction to all that is:

God is good. God is great.

By the way, I’m also extremely grateful you’re here reading this. I want you to know it’s no small thing to me that you have spent some of your precious, valuable time checking out what I share. I hope it blesses you in some way. And if there’s anything else you’d like me to focus on, don’t hesitate to ask.

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

Stay tuned,

The post Retrain your brain with a good daily grain appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Back To The Future. I’d say there’s a good chance you saw that movie. So, you probably remember that certain song by Huey Lewis and the News. The power of Love. It’s catchy. Huey sings it well. And it’s got a good beat.

The real POWER of love I’m always harpin’ on is only found in one place. And that place is actually one Person. And that one Person is, let’s all say it together, Jesus. I know I’m preachin’ to the choir right now. But “the choir” needs to speak up more about the whole Jesus. Here’s what I tell people. And I hope you do, too. Of course, you can put your own personality into it and use your own words. But tell them. Because most churches don’t now.

The world (and many Christians) say “God is love.” But God doesn’t say that. He says He is:

I just did a search in His book. And I couldn’t find anywhere in there where He says, “I am love.” No, when God describes Himself, you’ll find a lot of references to the effective power of His love. But no references to Him BEING love. He’s the source of it. But He’s the God of justice AND mercy. Because He loves you.

Yes, that’s completely sensible. Because God understands that in order for love to be true, it MUST be freely given. So, He freely gives His to anyone who will receive it. Yep, you get to choose whether or not you will. Because God gave you your own will.

And the POWER of His love provided (and still provides) the way you can know the truth and receive eternal life. But He never has, doesn’t now, and never will force you to believe in, trust in, or love Him. You are free to be your own little god. The person who is nicer, wiser, and more loving than anyone. I suggest you wise up and don’t choose that option. Because nobody in the whole world has ever done anything to deserve His

If this was the last day of my life…

If this was the last thing I could write…

If this was the last time I could pray…

© 2018

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

Stay tuned,

The post The power of love is much more than a dove appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

There are lots of bad guys (and that includes the female part of “guys” too) out there everyday. You can’t swing a metal jump rope without hittin’ at least one.

In fact, I could tell you a story, three stories in fact, that happened one after another on three consecutive nights way back in the 20th century. Well, I’ll just share the short version of the first one.

I was beaten by a motorcycle gang. Yep. True story. A group of them arrived at a place where I worked, and I had been advised to let them know they wouldn’t be allowed in. The establishment had a dress code. And, as you might imagine, the bikers didn’t come close to meeting the standard.

And they started to, let’s say, “raise some cane.” One thing led to another, and I found myself locked outside with no other workmates. And the biker dudes threw me on the hood of a VW and commenced to pound the daylights out of me. I knew I couldn’t take them on, so I just rolled onto my belly and protected my face and head as much as possible.

After what felt like too long, I heard sirens, and they hopped on their hawgs and took off.

Workers opened the front door after hearing the sirens and motorcycle engines. And they found me lying on the sidewalk. Of course, the management saw the huge swollen spots on my face and rushed me to a nearby hospital to be checked out. Fortunately I ended up with only minor cuts, bruises, and a concussion.

That was just the first night. Remind me to tell you what happened the next two nights.

The Way to be alert and aware. The Way to be prepared to avoid all, or at least most, of the baddies out there everyday. And the Way to get wiser and not just smarter.

Since too many good guys don’t have a clue how to properly handle bad guys, it’s a good idea for YOU to learn how to discern. And that’s just a fancy word that means figger some things out. But never worry. Never fear. Because, as I said, your Way is here.

Or at least the Way is a close as your bookshelf, table, or even your phone. That’s where I go when I need or want to know more about how to handle bad guy stuff. Here’s how it works:

When you wear the full armor of God,

Take a second and join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the TRUTH Journal. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my books and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy. Then, I’ll do my best to encourage you to sing a new song with the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

The post Out there everyday so stay in the Way appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Faith over fear. Make that your motto. Your creed. Or the sticky note you put on your computer. Whatever works.

Here’s one reason, I found in an article, about why it’s a good idea:

Hmm…sounds a little psychoanalytical. But here’s the rest of what they said:

“Faith encourages proactive behavior and resilience. When people have faith, whether in themselves, others, or in a higher power, they are more likely to take action despite uncertainties. And this can lead to personal growth, innovation, and community building. But fear often leads to inaction or defensive behaviors. And those can stagnate personal and collective progress. Faith inspires one to move forward. But fear might keep one stuck or retreating.”

OK. That’s a big nay-nay from over here in FunderWorld.

The article also said this about faith over fear:

Well, I see nothing wrong with doing that. So, how did they illustrate this?

“Faith provides a sense of peace, hope, and security. And it can act as a psychological buffer against stress and anxiety. Plus, it comforts in times of uncertainty or hardship. Studies have shown that faith or spiritual beliefs can correlate with better mental health outcomes. And that includes lower levels of depression and anxiety. But fear can contribute to chronic stress, anxiety disorders, and a host of other mental health issues. Because it comes from negative anticipation and worry.”

Yeah, that gets a big, fat goose egg on the Tone-O-Meter.

So, let’s see how they did with their final reason to choose faith instead of fear:

“Faith Fosters Connection and Community: Faith often leads to communal bonds through shared beliefs, rituals, or goals. This can create supportive networks where individuals feel part of something larger than themselves. And that fosters a sense of belonging and mutual support. So, these connections can be invaluable in times of personal or societal crisis. But even though fear can unite people in emergencies it more often isolates individuals. Because fear responses can be individualistic and survival-focused. And that can potentially lead to division rather than unity.”

Because not once did any of that information mention God the Father, God the Son, or God the Holy Spirit. Nope. It was all selfish mankind focus. And it attempted to make it sound inclusive and thoughtful and intelligent. But that kind of thinking makes you foolish.

Because here’s the real reason faith over fear is superior. God says it is. In fact, it appears that there are 365 times, in the Bible where God says not to fear. Once for every day of the year. And since He knows, better than you and me, how things work, I have faith in that.

Well, your dead-end dreams left you lacking laughter

Take a second and join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the TRUTH Journal. When you do, I’ll send you links to 2 songs and 2 books that adults AND kids enjoy right away. Then, I’ll send you flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

The post Faith over fear makes it bearable here appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Anyone who truly knows me might tell you, if cornered, that I’m definitely anti touchy feely ushy-gushy stuff. So, I make it a point to write books for kids with a good balance of love AND strength. And I believe that’s the example you can see in the bestselling life manual of all time.

And I’m confident I’ll be at my best when I’m following the example you can easily see in Jesus. Plus, I think that’s fairly easy to see in my writing. If you think I’m wrong about that, feel free to show me why you think that way.

Anyway…

I shared all that because of a summary I found of one of my most recent books for kids. The book is called “The Lonely Lilypad.” And, as I said, I believe it shows that nice balance of love and strength. But the summary mentions a bunch of touchy feely ushy-gushy stuff. Here’s what it says:

“The Lonely Lilypad” by Tony Funderburk explores several themes, including:

And the summary ended with this:

“These themes are woven into a narrative that aims to teach children about emotional resilience, the value of friendship, and the beauty of life’s surprises through a simple yet engaging story.”

Evidently I wrote a book that emphasized feelings, transformations, more feelings, acts of kindness, community, inclusivity, more feelings, and even lessons about our ecosystem and “natural world.”

Wow. I didn’t realize I could be so progressive. But there you have it. In red and yellow (and black and white, so we can keep it inclusive). Now, I’m not even sure I can recommend you to my own book. And maybe I shouldn’t share the link, to get this crazy coloring and drawing book, with my email subscribers. But what the hey. I will. Because I think they’ll understand and forgive me.

Now, how did those first lines go…?

So, once there was a lilypad that no frog ever used.

Do you have kids, grandkids, or know someone who does? Well, if you’re the forgiving (and inclusive) type, too, maybe you should subscribe to my TRUTH Journal so you can grab the link to “The Lonely Lilypad.” But, remember I warned you about the ushy-gushy stuff.

Stay tuned…

The post Love and strength are found in the water, not on ground appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

It was about 2,000 years ago. And today doesn’t mark the exact day and time. But that’s another topic for later. Nevertheless some shepherds were on the job, whatever day and time it was. And their job was to watch over their flock of sheep. As they stood under the night sky, a host of angels appeared and told them to follow that curious light, they had noticed in the sky, to where it pointed. So, the shepherds followed that guiding star to Bethlehem to find out more about the story.

They discovered a man and his wife spending the night in a livestock pen with their newborn Baby in a manger. And for some strange reason, the shepherds believed what they were told about this Child. Which was that He was God in the flesh. Can you imagine? Yeah, that would qualify as a mighty big deal. At least if it was true.

Apparently that Child was who He was claimed to be. Because all these years later, we still talk about, sing about, and celebrate that Person born in a manger. And, as a matter of worldwide fact, all of history revolves around His life.

But wow! How awesome it would have been to be there that night? Well, something that will be even more awesome and glorious will be to live in Paradise forever getting to know that Person we Christians call Jesus. He came to earth to be born as a real human baby. Then, He grew into a real human man. Then, He suffered a real human death. But He resurrected after 3 days to show us what could be true for any and all trust Him. And all because He loves us.

Since I don’t see myself as all that lovable, it does my heart good to re-read the story from time to time. And at this Christmas time of year, it’s particularly good to share it with others. I hope you will too. Merry Christmas 2024.

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 Tony Funderburk

Once you see the benefit, join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the TRUTH Journal. And I’ll send you daily flashes of light so we can stay focused on faith, hope, and love.

Stay tuned…

The post Exact day and time have less reason than rhyme appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Your government’s budget (and every other part) is NOT operating on or in a just and wise system. And if you ran your household like politicians run this country, you’d be a dead duck already.

I read, somewhere, that Andrew Jackson first used the expression, dead duck, in the 1840’s to describe a political opponent. And I don’t know if that’s true. But, based on other things I’ve read about that former president, it sounds plausible.

Anyway…

Yeah, your household couldn’t, and wouldn’t survive, the kind of deficits your country has. Here’s something I wrote, years ago, about how reasonable taxation could help you be more creative.

~ If we took enough from every taxpayer (say about 5%) and spent it on only those things that benefit the country, we’d have beautiful bridges, smooth roads, and strong defense against all enemies. And lots more time for creative endeavors and innovations. ~

Can you imagine how much nicer (and budget friendly) it would be to drive on smooth roads all the time? And how much safer you’d be if all our bridges were maintained they way they should be? Not to mention (be here I go mentioning) how much safer we’d all be if our enemies knew they’d be a dead duck to try to stand up to our strength.

A long time ago. It didn’t just happen in the last four years. Sure, the last four years have been some of the most disastrous in American history. But the system that got us here started over 100 years ago.

Years ago I described what we now have like this:

~ Instead we have a tax system that only the trained professionals and lawyers can understand. And it makes for “class” envy, fraud, and political skimming. Not to mention that our tax system has become a Robin Hood money laundering machine. Take from those who work hard and give to those who don’t or can’t or won’t. You can call it whatever you want. But if private citizens did that, it would be called stealing. Just because the government has made laws and given the tax system involved and caring (yeah, right) names doesn’t change the fact that it’s stealing. ~

It’s ironic how many “conservatives” and “republicans” declare how they’ll fight to be sure America never becomes a socialist nation. Ironic because we’ve been a socialist nation for a long time. And those same Americans say how much they despise the people who say “you’ll own nothing and like it.” But that’s where we ARE. You and I effectively own nothing.

And, from what I can see, most people seem to like it.

For the record, I hate it.

Sometimes this world brings my bad side out.

(from my song, Never Neverland)

Let’s get to know each other better and stay connected. Join the growing body of believers who signed up for the TRUTH Journal. And receive daily, delightful dashes of salt and flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…

The post Dead duck perspective and what’s more effective appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Gonna talk about truth and mercy right now. So, get ready to take some mental notes. Yeah, put away those silly tablets and other writing accoutrement. Because I don’t want your brain distracted by an urgent need to jot notes.

So, before I go any further, I know your brain is already distracted by the grammar in my headline, “Truth and mercy for what him and her say.” Right? C’mon, admit it. Your first thought was to call the grammar police and report some noun/verb abuse. But, hopefully you remembered I’m Mister Tony, the Rhyme and Reason Guy. And you thought, “Hey, wait a minute. I bet Tony’s using his poetic license to make his headline rhyme.”

And I’m so glad none of this caused a ruckus we can’t overcome. So, on to the main point(s).

Have you ever been called a loser? I hope not. But if you have, I’m sure you remember how much it hurt. Right? People who call you a loser or some other name have already lost something. I bet you didn’t know that, did you? Yep, people like that have lost 2 things you should never lose. Would you like to know what they are? Keep reading…

There are a lot of things in this life you could lose and it wouldn’t make much difference. Your pencil. Your paper. And your bubble gum. But those are just thingy things. You can almost always get more thingy things. But there are other things much more important.

Truth and Mercy. Did you already guess? If so, you win a big pat on your back. Go tell someone I said to give you one.

And you know what mercy is. Right? It’s kinda like telling someone you’re not mad at them for breaking your toy. In fact, instead of getting mad at them, you tell them they can play with another one of your toys. You should try that sometime. You might be surprised to see what a big smile you could put on your friend’s face. Yeah, mercy is a pretty special thing. You should have a lot of it in you.

And I bet you know what truth is, too. Right? It’s what you say that can stand any test. And it’s the same for everybody. Let’s say I tell you the sun is bigger and hotter than the moon. Am I telling you the truth? Sure am. And isn’t it true for everybody who lives here on Earth. Sure is. Everybody can see the sun is bigger. And they can feel how much hotter it is. So, if I tell someone those things…I’m telling them the truth. It’s good to know some things are true for everybody.

There’s something that ties mercy and truth together. Do you know what that is? It’s love.

When you love somebody, it’s much easier to show mercy and say, “You can play with this toy even though you broke that one.” And when you love, you want to know truth…because you might be curious where love comes from. Don’t you think so?

Here’s the biggest reason why it’s important to know these 2 things you should never lose. Because when you have those things in YOUR heart, you win a place in God’s heart.

And winning a place in God’s heart is the best thing you could ever win because that lasts forever. Go share some Truth and Mercy today. I’m counting on you. And here’s a rhyme to help you remember…

Mercy and truth are lighted lamps

Get some music and a book sent your way real fast. Just jump on the The TRUTH. And join a growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the power of God’s Love.

Stay tuned,

The post Truth and mercy for what him and her see appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Cow secretions and bee vomit. Yum, yum. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be goin’ back for seconds. Oh yeah! But first, here’s my desire as I share a little something with you today:

Let my teaching drop as the rain,

I can’t (and don’t) take credit for that most pleasant prose. Because it was written by Mo very many years ago. And Mo was the one who put the dude in Deuteronomy. He was inspired, by God, to give an account of how the nation of Israel came to be. And how that nation was God’s chosen people who actually betrayed Him repeatedly. The prose I just shared comes from a section in Deuteronomy known as “The Song of Moses.”

What’s that? You didn’t know Moses was a poetic guy? A songwriter? Well, you learn somethin’ new every day.

And now you know he’s the guy I called Mo.

Especially when we’re talkin’ about cow secretions and bee vomit.

Well, imagine you’re in a desert land. And it’s quite the understatement to call it a terrible place. Because you have virtually no hope of getting out. No food or water or shelter. And no idea which way to go. Then, out of the blue, a ghost appears and leads you to food. In fact, you walk into fields of juicy, tasty produce. Not only that, but the ghost shows you how to get honey and good fats from the ground.

If all that happened, you’d probably think you just hit the best lottery ever!

OK, now imagine that the scenario I just shared isn’t make-believe. Because the “ghost” is a real person. And the story I just told is based on a true story found in the Bible. It’s about how God took a man named Jacob and made him into a nation. And that nation is Israel. The story I told you to imagine goes like this:

“He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, So the Lord alone led him, And there was no foreign god with him. He made him ride in the heights of the earth, That he might eat the produce of the fields; He made him draw honey from the rock, And oil from the flinty rock…”

If someone did all that for you, would you betray him?

Because, on some level, we all have. And that’s because of the lowest common denominator we all have. Selfishness. Somewhere inside you is your desire to be your own king. To handle everything YOUR way. And you either fight against that desire or you give in. Most give in. Reminds me of these lyrics from The Who:

Out here in the fields

Don’t cry.

Yeah, that whole selfish concept of “I don’t need to be forgiven.” But, even though Pete Townshend didn’t realize it at the time, it’s actually that kind of selfishness that keeps you in the wasteland. Keeps you in the desert.

But there IS a Way out of that desert and into the land of cow secretions and bee vomit.

That’s their descriptions of milk and honey. Cow secretions and bee vomit. But God inspired Mo (aka: Moses) to call the “promised land” the “land of milk and honey. And that was a description meant to entice. Not repulse. And if God says something is good, it is good.

This is just one of the many reasons why the Bible is the bestselling book of all time.

And I’m convinced that, if you read it with an open mind and heart, it will change your teenage wasteland heart to one full of love, purpose, and focus. Plus, I believe you’ll love the amazing force of life you can feel, when you KNOW you’re gonna live forever in paradise.

And don’t be surprised, once you’ve discovered the truth I’m talking about, how you’ll want to go back for seconds. And thirds, fourths, fifths, etc.

Dig deep and find the treasures for your heart.

Now, jump on the The TRUTH. And be part of the growing band of believers who wanna show the world that life has Rhyme and Reason because God is Real.

Stay tuned,

The post Back for seconds because the bee beckons appeared first on Tony Funderburk.