Have you ever read the list of the perils of Paul? It’s an epic list, to say the least. And it was because he shared the unvarnished, hard truth. About the only peril preachers, in probably 99% of American churches, face these days is obesity. And my guess is, that’s not because they’re sharing that same unvarnished, hard truth in God’s word.

…in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things, what comes upon me daily

Dictionaries typically define peril as: serious and immediate danger

So, Paul certainly found out how correct that definition is.

But he didn’t let any of that stop him from delivering the message that Jesus gave him to share with the world. Of course, the world, most of it anyway, doesn’t want anything to do with the grace gift from Jesus. Because that would require the humility to acknowledge that He is the creator, the sovereign God, who has sealed the fate for anyone who denies who Jesus is.

I guess, in a way, that’s true. But you wouldn’t say that if you had read what they did to Jesus. An innocent person who went around healing people, sharing a message of hope and love, and performing miracles for mostly small-minded people.

His own people falsely accused Him, had Him thrown in prison, and then had Him beaten and crucified. And all because they didn’t like His message. They preferred their tradition and visible pomp and circumstance.

Hmm, that sounds like so-called Christian churches in America these days. Big stages, light shows, fog, machines, loud repetitive mantra music, and anecdotal stories (what I call Sunday TED talks) from the pulpit.

Yeah, pretty much the only peril those so-called preachers face is obesity.

There won’t be a “well done, good and faithful servant” for those actions.

When you tell the actual truth in church today, it will be almost impossible to build a large church. Because most people who go to church fall under the itching ears category. And when you share the “harsh” truth with them, they’ll feel convicted. And they would rather feel good about themselves. So, they go to churches or the so-called pastor or preacher tells them they can live their best life now.

I bet that’s not you. And I bet you would rather live…

Father God,
You never leave me You never forsake me.
And Your Word…
Gives me courage to go where you take me.

You are with me through each dire upheaval.
With You in me I will fear no evil.
As I walk through the shadow of death…
I will sing till my very last breath…

Green pastures, still waters…
Goodness and mercy for your sons and daughters…
True love dwells in the House of the LORD.
Each person, each nation…
Can be renewed through Your sweet restoration…
True love dwells in the House of the LORD.

Father God,
You made a Way for my total redemption.
I believe…
Jesus died to provide that exemption.

He’s my shepherd through thorns and thru clover.
He’s my new wine, and my cup runs over.
As I walk through the shadow of death…
I will sing till my very last breath…Chorus   © 2010 TF

Cheers to your day free from shipwrecks and prisons.

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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,

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19000 days. Yes, that’s nineteen thousand days. And that’s a lotta days. But I didn’t just pick a number off the top of my head. No, it’s the approximate number of days I’ve written poetry.

To those I say, “Ouch. You hurt both my feelings.”

So, the number of days also closely represents the number of poems and songs and short stories. Yes, I’ve written something nearly every one of those days. And there were many times I wrote multiple rhymes in a day.

But I didn’t bring that big number up to brag. I’d like to emphasize how inexhaustible information is. Because it’s non-material. No matter how many words are written. by every writer who ever lived, lives now, or ever will live, we will never be able to use up all the words.

And I’m not a proponent of miracles, when it comes to faith. I don’t look for signs and wonders to point me to the Creator of Heaven and Earth. So, when I talk about the miraculous wonder of our information based existence, I mean it’s a miracle that God allows us this life we willingly destroy.

Or, at the very least, it’s a wonder He still has any patience for any of us. But I believe He does have patience and tender mercy because at least some of us love this gift of Life He gave us.

Theirs is a hopeless existence. Because they believe it to be temporary and nihilistic. And in only what their senses tell them.

But that’s just not sensible.

Three years ago, I woke up in the wee hours, and worked on some “rewrites” of some of my writings. And, as I wrote, a few other thoughts popped in. Here’s what I said:

“A materialistic worldview says everything that exists is made up of nothing but matter and energy. But it’s a self-refuting position. Because the thoughts behind that statement are non-material and non-physical.

And that’s good news.

Unless your whole philosophy in life relies on the absence of a Creator God.

Then, non-physical information becomes a thorn in your side. A stumbling block you can’t move out of the way with more anti God rhetoric. And the sad news is, the opponents of God don’t care about evidence. So, their agenda is clear.

Mock and ridicule Christians for believing in “someone or something invisible in the sky.”

But they don’t care about our intellectualism and scientific knowledge. Only that we believe in the God who is the ultimate standard of right and wrong.

And it’s only 4 a.m. I can only imagine what this new day will bring.”

Then, of course, I finished my morning journal entry with a poem…

This day, I know, will be awesome and so lyrical

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Why are there so many people hell-bent on the destruction and torment of other people? It’s like the world is literally filling up with slime from Satan’s cup. And you don’t even have to watch the “six o’clock news” to see and hear it anymore. Because the internet, a bag of tricks for those on the dark side, has billions of channels you can tune into 24/7/365. And even 24/7/366 in leap years.

Sadly, most of the world wants nothing to do with those channels. Because those channels (you’re on one right now) don’t do the “cool stuff.” You know what I’m talkin’ about. F-bombs. Bathroom humor. Dirty celebrity laundry. Political hijinks and shenanigans (now, THERE’S a couple of modern words for you).

Yeah, I don’t spend my time scheming and strategizing ways to make people with opposing worldviews squirm. One reason is, I don’t have to. Because the Truth does that. And another reason is, I actually don’t want people to be miserable.

But it appears that nothing and no one can stop them from being miserable. They insist on it with every fiber of their being. And every decibel of their vocal cord.

So, for now, I’m just enjoy a peaceful Friday evening with my beautiful wife. And we’ll stream a show from the bag of tricks, uh, the internet that isn’t about murder and mayhem. We’ll leave that to the residents of…

Sometimes this world brings my bad side out.

So much depending on tomorrow.

And it’s just like the drifting of the sand,

Sometimes I need just to air things out,

So much at stake; so much to lose now.

© 1989

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They’re everywhere. In almost every household. Certainly in every politician’s office. And in the heads of most every kind of person there is. From young graduates to old tyrants. Big plans. For good. And not so good. And downright evil.

If you’d like to achieve and receive awards, scholastic achievements, and trophies, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that.

And if you can speak three languages, program computers, and even design and improve infrastructure, that’s awesome.

Do you practice intellectual philosophical meanderings? Do you seek out cataclysmic discoveries? And are you excited by geological conquests? OK, that’s interesting.

Riddle me this. Do you have a keen eye for detail, a sharp ear for nuances, and an acute awareness of your surroundings? Because those are some cool abilities.

Got any world-changing inventions you care to share? Like some life-changing machinery. Or a miraculous AND safe medicine? Please, do tell.

And don’t leave out any of the beneficial details.

And tell me about your physical prowess, your endurance abilities, and your driven personality. Because those can certainly be useful.

And are you one of those supernaturally gifted people who can prophesy, or speak in tongues, or heal people with your hands? Because those might come in handy right about now.

But you could tell me you have all these things and more. And you could tell me you have the world on a string. And I’d be skeptical. In fact, even if you said you have the whole universe at your disposal, I’d say there’s a very real possibility that you have nothing at all.

Because there’s only one thing that makes any of those other things worth anything. And that one thing comes from only one source. That doesn’t make it scarce. Quite the opposite. But it DOES make it the most valuable resource in existence. Because it conquers darkness.

So…

If your big plans and big dreams don’t include it,

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God? Or environmentalists? Where is your trust? Let’s say God told you something like, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”Would you believe Him? Or do you put your faith in those who’ve been incorrectly predicting “the end” of humanity for decades?

*buzzer sound* Ooh, sorry. Wrong answer.

Because God actually DID say everyday life will continue, normally, for as long as the earth remains. And the earth will remain until God gets rid of it. And He WILL get rid of it one day.

Now, of course, I know, when a heathen…aka, an unbeliever…comes across an article like this, he or she will scoff. Because it’s not the hip, trendy thing to believe in God. Especially when you can become like a god practically overnight on YouTube or Instagram. (psst…you can lose that status overnight, too)

But it’s not a good idea (translate: it’s stupid) to disagree with God.

Everyone, who ever did, lost that debate. And everyone who ever does, will, too.

But who cares? Right? Why does it matter whether I’m right for saying the earth is gonna be OK, or you’re right for saying the sky is falling as we speak?

Ideas have consequences. Wrong ideas lead to bad science. And bad science leads to bad ideologies. And surely you can see the vicious circle forming here. Sort of like the definition of insanity.

But good ideas lead to good science. And good science can find cures for cancer. Or the discovery of information encoded into your DNA. Those kinds of discoveries point to a Designer. Because the incredibly complex design found in one human cell could not have happened accidentally.

Sure, accidents happen.

But you’re not one of them.

So, I hope you’ll learn to see

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Something is either right or wrong. And, it goes without saying (but I’m saying it anyway) some of those right or wrong things are more important than others. And some are of great importance. But the foundation of the statement remains the same.

For example, I’ll share a snippet of conversation I had with someone who disagreed with me on this idea. And I’ll put in their comments first, followed by my reply.

“Being right has nothing to do with it.

The idea that you call ‘right’ is the idea that someone else calls ‘wrong.’ The solution that you call ‘perfect’ is the solution that another calls ‘unworkable.’ The position that you feel is unassailable is the very position that others assail.

 What will solve all of this? Not attack, that’s for sure. And not defense, either. So what is left? Simple human love. The kind of love that says, “It doesn’t matter who is right or wrong. It only matters that you are not hurt.

And that we both can benefit. All true benefits are mutual.”

But not simple human love.

Now, here is my reply to the previous statements…

“Being right has nothing to do with it” Is that right? “The idea that you call ‘right’ is the idea that someone else calls ‘wrong’ ” Is that right or wrong? “The solution that you call perfect is the solution that another calls unworkable” Is that absolutely true?

Can you actually know anything? Or can you only attempt to correct others for not knowing what you think you know? Does absolute truth exist? Because a statement that says “all true benefits are mutual” is a statement of absolute truth by its inclusion of the word “all”. That leaves no wiggle room, ringing of absoluteness.

True love rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes, hopes, and endures all things…even those things which we might not prefer to believe are true. I don’t attack you. I respond to your challenges in kind. And I say these things with no malice toward you…no expectation of spontaneous illumination. I say them out of a love…a love you will never understand if you choose to live out your life elevating yourself above your Creator. And it is choice, not predetermination.

OK. There are two opposing views of the right or wrong debate. And I’d like to add that Love isn’t merely a feeling. It’s an act of your will. It doesn’t simply fall out of the universe and land in your heart. You choose to either love or not love. And it’s either freely given, or it’s not love.

What do you think? Am I right or wrong?

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“All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.” If you’re a principled person, or if you’re someone who knows the difference between good and evil, you’ve probably heard that quote by Edmund Burke. Or did Eddie actually come up with that one? Hmm, there appears to be some good evidence he didn’t. And, it’s a great way to say you gotta stand for something good and right. But…

According to an article I read on some famous good and evil quotes that saying might have actually been by John Stuart Mill. He was an English philosopher. And some time during the 1860’s he wrote “Bad men need nothing more to compass their ends, than that good men should look on and do nothing.”

Leave it to the English to put in more words than necessary. Yeah, I like the first version (that Edmund Burke wrote or didn’t write) better. Because it rolls off the tongue more easily. And it gets the point across in fewer words.

And this is 2000% more true for good women.

Not really. I just made up that number. Because there are women who read and listen to what I write and read. And I know it’s important to be inclusive. So, I figured 2000% is a who lot of inclusive’. Right?

Anyway…

Evil is expanding at an exponential rate right now. And I think it’s happening here in the “land of the free” and the “home of the brave” more than just about anywhere. And that’s just because I believe we had the most to lose and the furthest to fall. Or is that farthest?

But a better place for good men (and women) to “compass their ends” doesn’t reside in government. No, bureaucracy is like your small intestines when not enough hydrochloric acid is present in your body. It’s a breeding ground for parasites.

So, it’s important to stand for what’s actually right. Not merely what you “feel” is right. Stand for something like Truth, for instance. And dare I say it (rhetorical question)…absolute Truth?

Yeah. Stand for that. Like in these lyrics by my favorite songwriter…

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

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Did you see that movie “This Is Spinal Tap” about a fictitious rock band in a fictitious rockumentary? If not, no great loss. I never saw the whole movie either. But I saw some funny clips. And one that stands out is one of the members of the band is asked why the knobs on his power amplifier go to 11 instead of the usual 10. And in a fictitious English accent he answers, “Well, it’s one louder isn’t it.”

Yeah, when your goal is to be the loudest band in the world, it makes total sense to have volume knobs that go to 11. Of course, that only works till somebody figures out they can have theirs go to 12.

Then, all bets are off. But they all lose.

And back in 1977 I wrote some ethereal lyrics with an idea for a song. But it never materialized. And that doesn’t matter. Because the act of writing carries a writer along to eventually find the song. And that’s why I kept lots and lots of my non-song lyrics. Like this one…

If I sat down, and I took the time

But there is no need for me to worry.

If I stood still, and I counted days

“˜Cause the power is higher

© 1977-2017 Tony Funderburk

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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

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