Who wants to listen to (much less, sing) a bunch of  old songs with a bunch of thee’s, thy’s, and thou’s? I mean, not only is that stuff not cool, it just sounds weird. Yeah, the old hymns lyrics say stuff that nobody even understands anymore. Right?

Most of the old hymns lyrics talk about a living, loving Father who shows compassion to all who ask for it. As this example from the song, Great Is Thy Faithfulness, shows. It’s the second verse in most hymnals (and, yes, I know that’s an uncool thing to talk about, too). Here’s the verse:

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,

Those lyrics simply show how the almost endless, observable forces of nature and the universe show God’s mercy and love.

And the first verse of the song expresses the hope you can have for each new morning. The hope which can only come from this God. He provides, and has always provided, everything you need.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;

That’s what I call ’em. Thy, thee, thou, thine. But you can basically just change them all to some form of you or your. And then the meaning is clear.

Side note: when those lyrics say “thou changest not,” they allude to God’s nature. He’s always been, is now, and always will be good, living, loving, personal, and relational. But He has also changed over the course of time. A LOT. And all for your sake. And mine.

Your Creator has made an everlasting pardon for your many terrible mistakes available to anyone who asks Him. Anyone who asks with genuine repentance that is. And when you do, you’ll receive the peace that endures forever. Because you’ll receive the Spirit of everlasting Life from Jesus. That message comes through in another verse from the song:

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Remember this…God doesn’t give you a spirit of fear. He gave you a “spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind“. If you’re not experiencing the strength and hope for a bright tomorrow, it’s most likely because you’re still depending on yourself or your things or something worse. My recommendation is that you don’t have faith in YOUR faith. Have faith in His. As the old hymn’s lyrics say:

Great is Thy faithfulness!

Stay tuned,

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Buy books and music from me:

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The post Old hymns lyrics say so much in a better way appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I can hardly believe it’s already been almost 4 years. But the calendar doesn’t lie. And the metadata in the documents I saved doesn’t either. Yeah, almost 4 years since I produced rough cuts to several new songs. And I have a couple of main reasons why I call them “rough cuts.” One of those songs is called “I Can Do.” And, yes, it’s one of the many songs I’ve written where I swim upstream against current trends. But so be it.

And, no, I don’t get some sort of surreptitious pleasure from going against the grain. In fact, I wish my worldview and songwriting style were more the norm. But that ain’t gonna happen. So I know those opportunities I passed up on, back in the day, for recording deals, are the only ones I’ll ever have.

But I know the One who created me, AND made sure I can live forever, is much more pleased with my choice. And He said the world hated Him before it ever hated me. So, I’m in the best of company.

Anyway…

Back to those songs. There are seven of them. So far. And I have a deep and abiding desire to produce them from rough cuts to smooth. But, to my constant consternation, for six years, respiratory issues have kept me from accomplishing that goal. And my wife and I have moved to two entirely different parts of the country to hopefully help alleviate those issues.

Right now I’m gaining some cautious optimism that maybe I’m making some progress (Your prayers are desired and appreciated). And I hope I can do some recording, soon, and make some tracks. Sadly I’ve had that hope dashed against the rocks a few times in the past six years. But the thing about real hope is, it springs eternal.

So, that being said, here’s a snippet of lyrics from a little song in B flat called…

Outside the lines the grass is greener.

I know the morning sun will shine,

I can do…what I need to. I know it’s so, so I can do!

The rest is reserved for when I fully produce this song and the others. Until then, you can dive into lots of my other songs, AND all kinds of books, when you click or tap this link:

(https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B008R08LUG/allbooks)

Stay tuned,

The post I Can Do. And in B flat, too appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

You don’t have to look far to find a financial “guru” who has the solution to your retirement income problems. And they often say your future security depends on your present investments. But the future they talk about is chicken feed. Tiny grains of sand in the amount of time you have ahead of you.

I should make it clear that your total future security does depend on your present investment. But not an investment of your money or other material assets. It depends on where you invest your soul.

Will you sink your soul into the mutual bonds of short-term promises most of the world pursues? Or will you dive into a risk-free joint venture with your Creator.

Oops. I just tossed a monkey wrench into your stock portfolio. But I make no apologies.

Because there’s important. And then there’s crucial.

It’s important what you and I do in this life. No doubt about it. But there’s no real protection. You can’t protect yourself from rainy days any more than you can stop the rain from falling from the sky. But go ahead and save (or invest) for those rainy days. As long as you realize it only helps a little. Just like exercise only helps a little.

But you know what would be a shame? If you invested wisely, made huge profits (and margins), and had plenty of moolah for your so-called “retirement.” What? That doesn’t sound like a shame? Oh wait. I didn’t finish. I left out the part where you enjoyed your retirement and then died and went to hell.

Because one other investment could have been the icing on the cake. The pièce de résistance. The everlasting crown of achievement. And that’s the aforementioned investment of your soul. That’s the only one that lasts.

Have you made that investment? Do you have that sense of future security?

Or maybe you think you’re just headed toward total nothingness. And maybe you think people like me are simpletons who bow down to some invisible nobody.

Of course, you can put your faith in you. At least you’re somebody you can see. And you can put your faith in your way with words, your money manipulation skills, or your physiology.

Yeah, you could be like billions of other people on Earth. Sure, you could trust in self and ignore Truth.

What have you got to lose, besides everything?

I’ll be swallowed up by life

© 2014

Before you go, share this link with everybody you know. Tell ’em to jump on the The TRUTH AND get some music and other good stuff, for Fa-Ree.

Stay tuned,

The post Future security in spite of your iniquity appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

It’s summer time. And no doubt you’ve been in the garden yourself, or you know someone who has. Or you’ve been to someplace to get some of the good stuff that comes out of a garden. Right? And I can tell you, from a LOT of experience, how good it is to go into a garden to feel the dirt beneath your feet and smell the variety of scents.

Now, I know this is gonna sound a little bit nitpicky. But I think it bears at least a little scrutiny. And I’m talkin’ about a picture of a sign I saw, this morning, with something that’s not quite right. It’s a cool sign. And it looks like it’s for somebody’s garden shop or restaurant or something similar. Here’s what is said:

Stephanie’s Garden: And into the garden I go to lose my mind and find my soul.

Innocent enough. But I still gotta take a bit of issue with it. Because you should never think or believe it’s somehow a good thing to “lose your mind” or “forget your mind” or “ignore your mind.” You hear something like that in all kinds of movies and other videos, podcasts, seminars, webinars, etc.

And if you lose your mind, how will you know if you find your soul. I know, I know. As I said, it’s nitpicky. But I think people would be much better served to think of it like this:

Into the garden I go

Because it’s an approximate rhyme. But I shared it that way to tie it into the lines from the sign. And, as you might have gathered from my description of a garden experience, mind-clearing and soul-soothing are much better perspectives. Especially if you understand where you get your mind and soul.

As I thought about what I wanted to say about that sign, I also started to remember an old hymn. Turns out it was first published in 1912. And you might not believe it, but it has been recorded by some famous singers. Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Tennessee Ernie Ford, Perry Como, Rosemary Clooney, The Statler Brothers, and, get this: even Elvis recorded a version. How cool is that?!

The song is called, “In The Garden.” And it was written by a pharmacist who lived from 1868 to 1946.

C. Austin Miles also was an editor and manager at a publishing company for 37 years. And according to an article I read about him, his great-granddaughter said the song was written “in a cold, dreary, and leaky basement in Pitman, New Jersey that didn’t even have a window in it let alone a view of a garden.”

That goes to show you what the true mind-clearing, soul-soothing love of God can do for your perspective. I’ll share the lyrics to the song. And if you wanna hear a beautiful rendition of it, listen to Rosemary Siemens’ video.

I come to the garden alone,

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

He speaks, and the sound of His voice

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,

Jump on the The TRUTH (regular emails with my rather poetic perspective on life and truth) AND I’ll send you some music and other good stuff.

Stay tuned,

The post In the garden your mind shouldn’t be left behind appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

Neil Patel, a marketing guy who shares a lot of how-to videos, has a website to help you with keywords and keyphrases for your content. Those are important if you want your website to be found and pull in traffic. So, with his keyword tool, you can type in a couple of words and get a bunch of questions being asked online. I typed in “Christian music,” and many of the questions asked “Why is Christian music so bad?”

If you do, let me know what you come up with.

This Christian music rabbit hole led me to a song I think is called Why. Or maybe it’s Why Why Why. Not sure. But I DO have to wonder why it’s considered a Christian song. And I wonder why so many songs can only find approximate rhymes and almost no phrasing rhythm. But that’s probably just me being out of touch with the times. So be it.

Anyway…

I found the lyrics to Why. And the songwriting credits are listed as Amy Moody Corbett and Christopher Joel Brown and Steven Furtick. It doesn’t say who wrote what. So, I don’t know if one wrote the music and the other two wrote the lyrics. Or if it’s vice versa. Or if they just all contributed words AND music.

But the sad point is, this could be a “love song” (full of confusion) to anyone. And about anyone. I realize they capitalized the word “You.” But when you listen, your brain doesn’t pick up on spelling and capitalizations.

Then, they pass off the words “said” and “breath” as rhyming words. Approximate. And the words sung, enough, and one as rhyming words. Barely approximate. Then, the chorus drifts into neverland as it says “I’ll never know why You love me like you love me.”

Because a Christian should know that the answer to that question is found in the Bible. From more than one perspective. And from more than one of the contributors to its content.

I’m not gonna pick apart every jot and tittle. But there’s one section I particularly don’t like. Where the words drone into how no matter what you do, God loves you. Certainly there’s no sin that is not covered by the death and resurrection of Jesus. But that doesn’t mean you can “make my bed in hell” and it’s all good. Or that when you “don’t even love myself” it’s all good. Or that you can curse God and it’s all good.

Especially when you read how Jesus condensed all the commandments down into just two. Love the Lord your God. And love your neighbor as yourself. So, you’re commanded to love God and love yourself.

God won’t force you to obey those commandments. Because that would take away your freedom to choose. And He wants love to be freely given. But if you don’t follow those commandments, freely, your freedom to choose will come to an end. And that end will torment you forever.

I’ll leave you with the words to “Why.” And see if you’re left asking why is Christian music so bad?

The post Why is Christian music so bad? This doesn’t make me glad. appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I first shared this song over a dozen years ago. And about eight years ago I showed how the lyrics explained more of the whole person who created you and me. I went through the words a little at a time and put the explanation in blue. For anyone who’s interested, here’s a rerun of that explanation for…

Oh give me love…give me justice…

Give me words…give me courage…

Give me the whole Jesus;

Then give me dreams…give me wisdom…

So, there you have it. That’s the inside lowdown for “Give Me The Whole Jesus.” And it’s one of the 12 songs on my “Raise The Praise” collection. Yeah, my original praise and worship songs. Get the whole collection at https://www.tonyfunderburk.com/raise-the-praise/ 

You can also get the songbook journal version (with a link to the download version of the songs) on Amazon. Your friendly Amazonian link is: https://www.amazon.com/Raise-Praise-Songbook-Journal-Funderburk/dp/B095WRJBF1

Be sure and let me know how much you liked ’em. Or even how much you didn’t if you didn’t.

Stay tuned,

The post Lyrics explained in a way unrestrained appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

It’s so sad that so many people believe you can kill a little boy or girl just because of how they look or where they live. And I mean the very youngest boys and girls. The most innocent boys and girls. The boys and girls who can’t even fight for themselves. Can’t even say a word. And, of course, I mean the tiny boys and girls that cellular biology shows exist from the moment of human conception.

So many people are unwilling to admit a little boy or girl exists in a single cell. But that’s a willful ignorance toward an obvious truth. Human beings have a beginning. You and I (and every person) had/has a beginning. The moment a human sperm fertilizes a human egg, another human life begins. And cellular biology has discovered the incredible amount of microengineering that takes place in a single human cell.

To believe all that goes on, in that single cell, could ever have evolved is to take an almost infinite blind leap of faith.

Watch this video of an animated representation of what took place when you were a single cell. And keep in mind, this is one part of what’s going on down at that “invisible” level. The makers of the video describe it like this: “Masterpieces of microengineering, kinesins are motorized transport machines that move cellular materials to their correct locations in the cell so they can perform their functions. Kinesins have two feet, or globular heads, that literally walk, one foot over another. Known as the workhorses of the cell, kinesins can carry cargo many times their own size.”

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For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

So, you and I are amazing creatures. By Design. And we have an eternal future. Either to look forward to or to dread. But we didn’t have an eternal past. And we didn’t just end up here by accident. We’re here because there IS someone who IS eternal from eternity past through eternity future.

And that’s where Life has always been and always will be. And that’s why I wrote the song, “You Are,” about God that says…

You are…the start and finish

It’s the first song in the “Raise The Praise” collection. And it can be found with the other 11 songs in a handy songbook journal. If you’re someone who enjoys praise music AND who takes notes or journals your activities, this is a great book. You can either click or tap on the link below or you can scan my glasses with your mobile device. Either way, don’t delay.

Celebrate your awesome cellular biology and get your Raise the Praise songbook journal today.

(https://www.amazon.com/dp/B095WRJBF1)

Stay tuned,

No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can help me spread the Word…

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

The post Cellular biology was designed for you and me appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

When I led the praise and worship music, at a church in the greater Denver area, I made sure to include old hymns. Because so many of those “old songs” have such meaningful depth. And one of them has remained so popular, through the years, it was even sung by Elvis. How Great Thou Art was originally written back in the 1800’s.

I kept recordings from some of those hymns. And I even had a collection of them on a CD, back then, called “Hymns for Him.” I don’t sell that now. But you can listen to one of them, at the video below, and here are lyrics to…

O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,

Chorus:

And when I think, that God, His Son not sparing;

Chorus

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,

By: Carl G. Boberg and R.J. Hughes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1LpdIXe8Io

Stay tuned,

No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can help me spread the Word…

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

The post How Great Thou Art is from the heart appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

It’s not a new cop show. Nope. The Grace and Glory I’m talkin’ about is found in the one story that makes ALL history possible. And this is true whether you believe in the God of the Bible or not.

And that’s because grace and glory are fully contained in the one person who’s responsible for your existence. The one person who created all the universe, our solar system, and planet Earth with the power of His words.

And that same person is the ultimate risk taker. So, that’s why you’re able to choose whether or not you’d like to have an eternal relationship with Him.

I chose to do exactly that. Because eternal life sounds like an awesome proposition. Especially when you consider it won’t be forever in this broken and beaten world.

You’re free to choose not to have anything to do with Jesus. But I absolutely don’t recommend that choice. I’m convinced the love you’ll experience, in Heaven, is not to be missed. And I’d love to see as many of my family, friends, and acquaintances there as possible.

God loves you. Don’t miss out on it. And it’s so amazing I’ve written lots of songs about it. Some of them are part of a collection I call “Raise The Praise.”  You can get the whole collection in a BOOK on Amazon. Here are some lyrics from one of the songs. Get the songbook, which is also a journal, today.

Lord, I let You down,

© 2009 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can help me spread the Word…

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

The post Grace and glory in a singular story appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

I remember singing what we called “old spiritual songs” way, way back when I was in choir in high school. One, that always comes to mind, said “soon ah will be done uh wit da troubles of da world. Goin’ home to see my Lord.”

And my high school was composed of 99.99% latte toned people. I can only recall one or two chocolate toned people in the whole four years of high school.

Sounds delicious when you put it that way, doesn’t it? And it was.

I loved those songs. And I think most of my choir mates did too. And we loved ’em because they weren’t the norm. I think our choir director, Mr. Scarcella, enjoyed musical excursions off the beaten path. That’s what made him my favorite teacher.

By the way, in case you’ve never visited my website or read my blog posts or listened to my podcast episodes, I went to public school. Not private. And not Christian.

Public (aka government) school.

And my first solo vocal medal (a 1, which is best) was for my performance of a spiritual song. The words to the song were based on Psalm 27. And I can still hear myself practicing it over and over.

“The Lord is my Light and my salvation.

So, while I do have responsibilities IN this world, I have even more important responsibilities TO this world. Especially to fellow believers. Here’s how I know.

“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.”

And I hope to get better at that. Because I want my remaining days, weeks, months, and years on Earth to become more significant. Not less.

So, if I sing a song that makes you think, or wonder, or even feel guilty, I hope you understand my motive. And I hope wisdom rings through each note and syllable.

I want that grace in my heart, I want that grace.

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 Spiritual songs were sung when I was young appeared first on Tony Funderburk.