The TRUTH - for Christian conservative parents - Page 32 of 163

Posted on August 2, 2023 by TonyAugust 16, 2023

No such thing as transgender and one day you'll return to sender

There’s no such thing as actual transgender. Sure, you can make up words and apply whatever touchy feely definitions you devise in your own mind. But just saying it doesn’t make it true.

You can identify. But it doesn’t change your identity.

And Christians should know that better than anyone.

So, it seems almost unthinkable that someone who call himself a Christian would also “identify as a transgender man.” And that last sentence is blurry since I’m talking about someone who “identifies” as a “transgender man.” Because that person was born a female.

At so-called “news report” started out with “Caught between his Christian faith and what some Americans view as a deepening assault on transgender rights, Zayn Silva remembers the moment he decided to fight back.”

Apparently Zayn was denied admission to a seminary after identifying as a transgender man. If Zayn truly believed in tolerance and diversity, that would have been that. But, nope. Zayn wouldn’t think of allowing opposing views on gender identity and so-called “sexual orientation.” Because wants to receive tolerance. Not give it.

There’s no such thing as true tolerance in the LBT+GQRSTUV world.

They don’t want to simply “coexist.” They want Christian believers, those who believe the Bible is true (even the “mean parts”) to not exist at all. Of course, they won’t say that. And they deny that truth. But, remember, they also deny their own chromosomal design.

So, the article I read about Zayn shared this:

“Silva is one of dozens of LGBTQ+ Americans suing the U.S. Department of Education, challenging a law that allows religious colleges to discriminate based on the sex of students and applicants, even when those schools receive millions in federal funding.”

I see three main irritating points in that little paragraph.

First, Silva’s intolerance of the rights of religious colleges. Second, the fact that people any Americans can sue the government or its departments at the cost of their fellow taxpayers (and even themselves). And third, the evil theft that has to occur in order for there to be federal funding for ANY school, even religious ones.

But, we’ve gotten to the point, in America and the world, where the wrong has become the norm.

The article said Zayn’s lawsuit “has arrived at a moment when federal courts, including the Supreme Court, are increasingly siding with religious groups over gay and transgender rights.”

Sadly, that’s not likely to remain true.

OK, the “Supreme Court backed a graphic artist who will decline to design wedding websites for same-sex marriage.” And “a federal appeals court, in Cincinnati this month, ruled that a Tennessee ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors may be enforced for now.”

But those are system results.

Not a recognition of right and wrong.

And, if you call yourself a Christian, it means you acknowledge there IS such a thing as right and wrong. And you also acknowledge that God is the one who determined that, long before you were born. Plus, you know the Bible is a recording of God’s word. And you know what God’s word says about homosexuality. (hint: He’s anti gay)

This trans agenda is not to gain recognition and rights. It’s to find even more ways to thumb noses and flip certain fingers at God. That’s why I love my dazed and confused neighbors enough to tell them that their “lifestyle choice” is a ticket to hell. AND I hate them for what they do to themselves, to children, and to others who have to tolerate them.

Their gender confusion and delusion even convolutes journalistic reports. For example, reporters end up writing sentences like this: “Silva said it was an especially challenging time, given his upbringing and faith, when he realized at around age 12 that he was no longer comfortable as a female.”

That’s whacko. “He was no longer comfortable as a female.”

Then people, like Zayn, get even more insidiously confused. As in this sentence from the article: “After years of fighting it, Silva decided to align his faith with his identity, helping young people at his church and their parents navigate their own sexuality and gender identity.”

I don’t even want to imagine being a parent who’s actually willing to listen to a female claiming to be a male. Much less being a parent who’d take any advice from that person who also claims to be a Christian.

However, I’m just an old, white guy.

I’m a guy who identifies as a person in need of a savior. And I identify as a guy because my chromosomes, included in my genetic makeup at conception, prove I’m a guy. My gender isn’t determined by my feelings.

God created only male and female. Not people who can trans into whatever they feel like.

Zayn apparently said, “Plenty of religious families are looking for ways to reconcile their faith and sexuality without being humiliated or ostracized to help them accept and feel loved.”

See? Feelings. Not Truth. Feelings.

And those dazed and delusional feelings often lead to costly, lengthy court battles these days.

But right and wrong are determined by the constitution, the courts, or even popular conformity. And when a person, like Silva, can say, “This journey has increased my faith significantly,” it emphasizes the main point:

Faith in who? Self? Or the one, true, living, loving God of all creation?

You don’t have to agree with God’s word in the Bible. You can be your own god if you prefer.

But I highly recommend you reconsider, if that’s you. Because ideas have consequences. And there’s no such thing as neutral territory with God.

Do you see the pattern form
How the wrong becomes the norm? Say Yeah! Say Yeah!
Would you like to stop the ride;
Could you dare to take a side? Say Yeah! Say Yeah!

Stay tuned,

Posted on July 30, 2023 by TonyAugust 15, 2023

Future security in spite of your iniquity

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.

So, most of the talk about future security is a whisper in the wind.

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.

Yeah. That’d be a shame.

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?

Swallowed Up By Life

I’ll be swallowed up by life
That will never fade away,
When I leave my body here
On an ordinary day.
I won’t mourn the things I lose
‘Cause there’s so much more to gain.
And my spirit will rejoice,
When I leave this earthly plane.
I’ll be swallowed up by life,
And I’ll never more know death.
I will just begin to breathe,
When I breathe my final breath.

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,

Posted on July 29, 2023 by TonyAugust 12, 2023

Well, it’s all over but the whinin’. Yeah, for all intents and purposes, July is done. And is it just me, or does it seem like there were more than a couple of hot days this month? Yeah, probably just me.

OK, July is done. But you know what that means.

Uh-huh. August, with its brisk, sweater weather days and frost-biting nights. Oh wait. Darn grammar checker. That was supposed to be brisk, Lipton tea, sweatier days and A/C testing nights.

Anyway…

Point is, there are plenty more hot days where these recent ones came from. (“Teacher, Tony ended a sentence with a preposition!” – “Quiet, Judy! Nobody likes a tattletail.”)

Sorry, just had a flashback to my days as Theodore Cleaver. No, wait. That was Jerry Mathers. Well, if I’m not him, then who am I? Wow, apparently July is NOT done with its heat damage. My brain is playing tricks on me. And I’m sitting in my office, in the cool comfort of A/C protection.

So, the damage must’ve occurred when I hauled 2000 bales of hay yesterday. No, wait. That was way back when I was a teenager during my summer days in the hay fields of Kansas. Wow, this is getting ridiculous.

I should probably see Dr. Clooney, uh, I mean Dr. Ross to find out if there’s something I can do about all this brain fog and heat exhaustion confusion. Wait a second. Dr. Ross is actually a fictional doctor played by Doctor, uh, George Clooney. Oh no!

Even more dazed confusion.

Just kidding.

Really had you going there. Didn’t I?

What’s all this silliness got to do with anything? Well, it’s got everything to do with nothing. Because everything I’ve shared so far makes about as much sense as the constant blabbermouth nonsense passing itself off as climate change science.

And those who love to shout it from the rooftops, bully pulpits, and airwaves, love to use an especially hot summer to, as they they think, emphasize their point. But they actually manipulate facts to articulate fiction. And I’m not a climate denier. That’s a descriptive non sequitur. Of course, climate changes. Every year.

I’ve seen it with my own eyes for over 6 decades. Some hotter than others.

But don’t take my word for it. After all, I’m a Christian who might have “an agenda.” Let’s take a look at what an atheist, a guy who won the Nobel Prize in physics for 2022, said about it:

Dr. John Clauser is quoted as saying, the climate emergency “narrative” is “a dangerous corruption of science that threatens the world’s economy and the well-being of billions of people.”

And his opinion has been widely accepted and welcomed.

NOT!

Dr. Clauser was supposed to give a talk at the International Monetary Fund, on climate change models. But his talk was cancelled. Other talks have been cancelled as well. Probably just a coincidence.

The good doctor (who needs to get right with the only actual good person there is) also argues that carbon dioxide emissions are beneficial to life on Earth. And he believes so-called “climate science” has “metastasized into massive shock-journalistic pseudoscience.” Whoa, pardner. Them there’s fightin’ words. But Dr. Clauser doesn’t stop there. He says “business marketing agents, politicians, journalists, government agencies, and environmentalists” are in on the pseudoscience.

He made it easy to interpret his meaning by saying, “In my opinion, there is no real climate crisis.”

Now, I’m not saying that Dr. Clauser is the world’s leading authority on climate or weather. But I figured he’s a good source to share so I can show you this isn’t just a “Christian perspective.”

You can easily see the silliness when you watch the “marketing agents” on social media, TV, and in movies, commercials, and political circles through the years. For example, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) told us, that perhaps in “our kids’ and grandkids’ lives” the planet could become an uninhabitable frozen wasteland.

Don’t believe me? Check out this video: (https://youtu.be/yCzjSDwGSF8)

But here we are. Frying eggs on the sidewalk.

Chicken little, chicken little,
That old, darn sky just won’t fall.
But I guess that doesn’t matter
Long as they can fool us all
Into thinking that the climate
Is an enemy we’ve made
Just by breathing and by living.
It’s a heat wave masquerade.
But discerners don’t believe it.
Yes, we know where Truth is found.
And we know the sky will not fall
And the Earth will spin around
For as long as God determines.
He has made that point quite clear.
So, go spout your hoaxes elsewhere.
Earth will still be fine next year!

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,

Posted on July 28, 2023 by TonyAugust 3, 2024

Take it to the limit and you can’t just skim it

Right now he knows if I (and many others like me) am a liar or not. And he found out you can take it to the limit and barely be started.

Yeah, he fully knows the take it to the limit part.

First, he was the guy who wrote and sang the hit song, “Take It To The Limit,” with fellow Eagles, Glen Frey, Don Henley, and Bernie Leadon.

And even though he was the group’s bassist, which is typically one of the band members who shun the spotlight, Randy Meisner sang lead on that song. For the recordings and for the live performances. According to what I’ve read about him, it appears he wasn’t comfortable (to say the least) with the live performance focus. And that apparently was a big part of why he left the band.

The reason I’m talking about Mr. Meisner today is because he died yesterday. He was 77. And reports say his death was a result of “complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”

When a well-known musician dies, my first thought isn’t about his fame.

Because that’s all gone. So is his estate and all his earthly belongings. They all belong to someone else now. Or soon will.

My first thought is, “I hope he was right with God.”

Because an “astonishing vocal range” won’t get you into Heaven. And a “way with words” won’t either. In fact, there’s nothing you can do, nothing you can have, and nothing you can buy that will get you there.

No, once you take it to the limit, in this life, there’s only one Way to secure a place in eternal life. You gotta believe and put your trust in the one who called Himself “The Way.” And look out, here comes his name, Jesus.

I just read a short news article that described the last ten years of Randy’s life as “a less happy affair, though, dotted by struggles with alcohol abuse, health issues, and tragedy.”

And the article also said, “He was placed for a brief time under a conservatorship in 2015, with a judge citing his issues with substance abuse; the next year, his wife Lana died after what was ruled to be an accident with a rifle she was holding in their home.”

Tragedy isn’t a barrier to eternal life.

And thank God for that or none of us would have any hope. But I couldn’t find any stories or accounts of how Randy overcame his tragedies by giving his heart to the Lord. Maybe he did. I hope he did. But I couldn’t find any evidence for it.

Here’s the thing. You can keep runnin’ down the road away from Truth. But you won’t find some sort of witchy woman, one of these nights, who can cast a spell on you and make you immortal.

Without Jesus you’ll eventually check into a place much worse than Hotel California. And there’s NO passage back to the place you were before. You won’t be able to check out any time you like. And you can NEVER leave.

I certainly hope Randy Meisner didn’t take it to that limit. Because I certainly wouldn’t wanna be in those shoes.

Stay tuned,

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to The TRUTH Journal
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Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

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Posted on July 27, 2023 by TonyAugust 11, 2023

Something invisible inside that only you can hide

If you could carry around something invisible that could almost immediately transport you across the world, you’d do it. Right? Well, you’ve got something like that. And you have a way to access it almost anytime you like.

Your phone or tablet or laptop give you access to something invisible.

And magical. And you probably already use it, like that, in some way or another. But maybe not the way I’m thinking of right now. At least not as often as other ways. Like videos. Or games. Or pictures.

No, what I’m talking about is imagination. It’s better than all the video games. Because, with them, you can only do what someone else pre-programmed. But your imagination can take you to the edges of the universe. To the land of giants. And even down to the hidden wonders of the microscopic world.

For example, have you ever seen the stunning variety of of color, shapes, and movements in a human eye when viewed in photo magnification? Wow! So much intricate design contained in so little space.

Then there’s the other end of the spectrum. Did you know there are 40,000 muscles in an elephant’s trunk? Yeah, it’s true. And an elephant can use its trunk to lift up to 770 pounds and crush large fruit. Plus, it can pick individual leaves off trees. Human engineers can only attempt copycat designs. No matter how many times they try.

It sparks my imagination to think how all the big and tiny creatures could have come into existence as a result of spoken words. Something else invisible and powerful. Sadly, most people believe it sounds too far-fetched. And on the flip side , it sounds too far-fetched to me to imagine it could have all merely big banged into existence.

I’m glad I can see the design in everything around me. And I’m glad the Designer saw fit to give me imagination. And that’s how I can write, day after day, and never use up all the words or numbers. Like the big time I had writing…

Tiny Time

Look under the leaves of the sunflower plant…
Way back in the dirt you’ll see Arnold the Ant.
He works at his desk where he thinks up a rhyme,
And writes it all down in his own tiny time.

Now look over there in the bark of the tree.
A beetle’s as busy as beetles can be.
He chews for a while, and then starts to climb,
And keeps moving up in his own tiny time.

Have you seen the tadpoles that live in the pond?
They turn into frogs without using a wand.
They take a deep breath and swim under the slime
And only come up in their own tiny time.

There’s something invisible inside your head
When you are awake or asleep in your bed…
So small it can live in the sound of a chime…
Your imagination in sweet, tiny time.

Your support is welcomed and appreciated more than you can imagine. Use links below.

Stay tuned,

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to The TRUTH Journal
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

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

Posted on July 26, 2023 by TonyAugust 9, 2023

Hypnotic groove, but what does it prove?

“It has a very hypnotic groove, a samba, which has a tremendous hypnotic power, rather like good dance music. It doesn’t speed up or slow down. It keeps this constant groove. Plus, the actual samba rhythm is a great one to sing on, but it’s also got some other suggestions in it, an undercurrent of being primitive. Because it is a primitive African, South American, Afro-whatever-you-call-that rhythm.”

What are we talkin’ about here?

Obviously a song. But what song? There are basically countless songs to choose from that fit that description. And so many of them entice your toes to tap, your fingers to snap, and your heart to chance a little dance.

But this particular hypnotic groove is asking for a little sympathy.

Well, if you care about your fellow man (aka: love your neighbor as yourself), then it’s probably easy to prepare to offer sympathy. Especially if it can help ease someone’s pain and suffering. Right?

Yeah, fair enough. But the hypnotic groove I refer to, here, isn’t asking for sympathy for your neighbor or fellow man. Far from it.

In fact, the lyrics request sympathy for the one who has NO sympathy for you, me, or any human being. Rather ironic, to say the least.

The song, with the so-called hypnotic groove, takes the first person narrative perspective. And the “person” it represents is your most dangerous enemy. The one who wants your soul to endure eternal torment in a place so awful that mere words fail to thoroughly describe it.

Does that sound like someone you wanna show sympathy?

I don’t.

But Mick Jagger (and possibly Keith Richards) thought there might be reason enough to show Sympathy For The Devil. So, way back in 1968 they recorded the song with that title.

Actually, on a certain level, their lyrics revealed truth.

Of course, that truth is overshadowed by the songwriter’s bias. But the overall concept is that Lucifer, or Satan, or the Devil, was around for all the worst atrocities in history. And that’s basically true.

But take this verse, for example:

I was ’round when Jesus Christ
Had his moment of doubt and pain
Made damn sure that Pilate
Washed his hands and sealed his fate

I don’t take issue with any of those lyrics except the word, doubt. So, some truth peppered with some misinformation. Then, some blame game lyrics that lack wisdom:

I watched with glee while your kings and queens
Fought for ten decades for the gods they made.
I shouted out, “Who killed the Kennedys?”
Well, after all, it was you and me.
Let me please introduce myself.
I’m a man of wealth and taste
And I laid traps for troubadours
Who get killed before they reach Bombay.

Yes, humans are to blame for much of the evil in this world. But individually. Not corporately. You commit your crimes and sins. And I commit mine. So, somebody “killed the Kennedys.” But it wasn’t you. And it wasn’t me. Also, the devil is not a man. So, he has no wealth and taste. Unless you count the souls he’s destroyed as wealth and his attention to chaos, confusion, and corruption as taste.

After all of my sort of negative review, here’s a curve ball for you.

I enjoy the percussive, samba beat to the song. And the instrumentation, too. I’ve never been a fan of Mick’s vocals. So, even if the song wasn’t peppered with bias and misinformation, it still wouldn’t be hit material in my world. Clear up those lyrical problems and insert Michael McDonald’s voice or Kenny Loggins voice, and then you got the goods.

And I most likely wouldn’t have talked about this song at all except it popped up on my radar, that it’s Mick Jagger’s 80th birthday. I don’t know this for a fact, but my guess is the 80 year old Mick probably still has the same perspective as the 25 year old Mick. I hope, for his sake, that he comes to realize his misplaced sympathy. And wouldn’t it be cool if he came up with a hypnotic groove for the One who will defeat the devil once and for all?

Yeah, it’s enjoyable to daydream.

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,

Posted on July 25, 2023 by TonyAugust 8, 2023

Byline author shares the reason why he cares

I’m the only byline author here on TonyFunderburk.com. And, of course, that makes sense since the website bears my name. In case you’re not familiar with journalism jargon, a byline is just a title of the article and who wrote it, who it’s “by.”

And so I’m the byline author of this whole website.

So, whether it’s blame or credit that’s dished out or given, I’m the receiver.

And that’s a fact. Not a brag. Because I can’t (and don’t) make the claim that all my writings are epic works of art. Far from it. But they’re art from the heart. And science from reliance (feel free to ask me about that).

This website of mine is flows from a heart changed by the art and science of what I can clearly see AND what I don’t see at all. Reality, itself, is a clear indicator that there’s a force greater than all the gravity in the universe. And I’m perfectly willing to acknowledge that force flows from another, greater heart. The heart of God.

You’re free to disagree.

But I believe, whole-heartedly, that you’ll do so at your own peril. Naturally, it seems somewhat logical to believe you can be your own king. Because you make your own decisions about when to eat, sleep, and be merry. And you’re the only one who’s with you 24 hours a day. But your reign, here on Earth, is a very very short one.

So, it’s important to find out if I (or anyone else who makes the claims I make) share the Truth. Or am I just making up a fairy tale one step at a time? Sure I could do that. In fact, a while back I shared how I can just write one line after another and create rhymes I didn’t even know existed in my brain.

And then I shared an example of that. I opened my text editor without a clue of what I was gonna write. But I had NO doubt I’d write something. But I had nothing to start with. So, I took the idea of having nothing to start with and started. And here’s what happened…

ByLine

I didn’t have a thing to say when I first started out.
And I believe that sort of thing can fill your mind with doubt.
But then ideas began to form. I quickly wrote them down.
It felt so good to clear the dust from my mental ghost town.

Hey, have you ever felt like that, not sure of what to say?
And if you did, what did you do to make it go away?
Or did you find yourself at odds with even your own brain
And watched, as every thought you had, went swirling down the drain?

Well, may I recommend the treatment I just put me through?
I think you’ll find it might replace what’s missing inside you.
Just write your foggy, fractured thoughts down slowly line by line.
Then share the words and walk away. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.

So, you read all that and you might not be ready to believe what I say and go all in. Because, if I can do it with a rhyme, surely I can do it with my so-called “Truth.”

Yeah. No.

Because the Truth I’ve shared in some way or another almost 3000 times, here on the website, is not something I conjured up out of thin air. I found it in someone else’s writings. In a book that is time-tested and proved, over and over to be the most reliable source of Truth and love in existence. And it’s from the ultimate byline Author.

It can clarify, edify, and quantify your ideas, thoughts, and words.

And those are all conceptual examples of how life has Rhyme and Reason because God made you.

AMEN!

Stay tuned,

Posted on July 24, 2023 by TonyJuly 24, 2023

Happy Pioneer Day. And before you jump to the conclusion that I’m gonna share some Funderful insight about Brigham Young and his connection to Utah, let me assure you. Nothing could be further from that nonsense.

Pioneer Day supposedly started out that way.

And apparently it’s still “celebrated,” on some level, in Utah and maybe some other Western states. Chances are probably pretty good that you hadn’t even thought about it before I mentioned it. Right? Unless you’re one of those crazy people who sends out greeting cards for all the wackadoo holidays.

Anyway…

I’d like to talk about other, more respectable and believable pioneers. And since I’m one of those right-brain leftbrainers, I’d like to start with a well-known artist. You’ve probably heard of Leonardo da Vinci (or Leonardo Da Vince, as one blogger spelled it). Sure, he was a famous artist. But he was also considered a scientific genius. And a pioneer in physiology and biology. Maybe you knew all that. But did you know he credited God for his abilities?

OK, moving forward. And that’s an appropriate segue because next is Johannes Kepler. According to research, he was a devout Christian. And his claim to fame was/were the three laws of planetary motion. Just in case you’re interested, those laws are:

planets move in elliptical orbits with the Sun as a focus
a planet covers the same area of space in the same amount of time no matter where it is in its orbit
a planet’s orbital period is proportional to the size of its orbit (its semi-major axis)

Now, sticking with pioneers who looked to the heavens, I gotta mention Galileo. He discovered the moon’s surface had valleys and mountains. And that moonlight is actually just a reflection of the light from the sun. Pretty cool.

But let’s get our feet back on terra firma.

And we have a much better idea of how our feet stay on the ground because of Isaac Newton’s discovery of the law of gravity. And he pioneered Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy which is still considered a monumental contribution to our understanding of science. Oh, by the way, Newton believed that God created Adam and Eve, as adults in the Garden of Eden. And Newton wrote a lot about the biblical chronology of our young earth.

Pow! Take that Pioneer Day smackdown, Brigham boy.

And here’s something you don’t hear in the news. A scientist once said, “We know God ONLY through Jesus Christ.” And that scientist, Blaise Pascal, had a law named after him, too. Pascal’s Law states that the pressure applied to any part of an enclosed liquid will be transmitted equally in all directions through the liquid. If you enjoy the benefits of hydraulic pressure (and if you drive, you DO), you can thank a scientist who had faith in Jesus.

I’ll share one more with you. A real renaissance man.

Nicolaus Copernicus fulfilled the Renaissance ideal. He was “a mathematician, an astronomer, a church jurist with a doctorate in law, a physician, a translator, an artist, a Catholic cleric, a governor, a diplomat, and an economist. And he spoke German, Polish, and Latin, and understood Greek and Italian.”

Smart guy. Right?

And his intelligence stood out in this quote attributed to him. “It is my loving duty to seek the truth in all things, in so far as God has granted that to human reason.”

And it’s MY loving duty to share this information with you on this Pioneer Day and every day I can put my hands in motion to write about our Creator. You most likely won’t ever hear about this Christianity and Science connection in schoolbooks or colleges. Because the popular view is that you can’t be a Christian AND a scientist.

But that kind of nonsense only comes from people who would never pioneer anything true and meaningful. The kind of people who personify the statement: Truth is hate to those who hate the truth. Can I get an Amen?

We need the Truth! The world doesn’t care.
They can’t see design; though it’s everywhere.
No absolutes, and they’re absolutely sure.
They worship time and bow down to chance.
They give themselves up to circumstance.
I have to say I don’t comprehend the allure.
(from my song, “How Long Till?”)

The the Amen Songbook Journal and get that song and a bunch more. Plus, a journal for your own thoughts.

Stay tuned,

Posted on July 23, 2023 by TonyJuly 23, 2023

Just plain pelican facts. That’s what they are. Don’t need to make it any more complicated than that. And they’re not dry, scientific bits of information. Far from it. Here’s what I’m talking about.

And if you’re not interested in pelican facts, move along.

But it crossed my mind that I’ve written a couple of rhymes about pelicans and even drew a picture to go with one of ‘em. Since I’m not superstitious I don’t read anything metaphysical into that. But I DO find it interesting that I find them so interesting.

If you’ve never lived around or visited a coastal area where they live, be sure to change that before you leave the planet. They’re such a different looking bird (among a world of different looking birds).

That’s all I wanted to share right now. Except, oh yeah, here are the rhymes. Two of them, and that’s why I said “pelican facts in a couple of acts.”

Pelican rhyme #1

The Sloppy Pelican

There was a sloppy pelican who lived on a dock
That stood by the bay that lead to the deep, blue sea.
He would float in the water and eat lots of fish
But wouldn’t clean up no matter how others would plea.

And when a sloppy pelican who lives on a dock
Won’t leave it the way it was when he first got there,
Well, he shouldn’t be surprised if friends disappear…
‘Cause wouldn’t you, too, if you saw some junk everywhere?

So if a sloppy pelican was found on your block
In a house like yours, in fact in your very own room,
And you saw him in the mirror, and he looked like you…
Would you just take a nap…or go get a mop and broom?

Pelican rhyme #2

In spite of the long face
Pelly stuck to his plan
As he mumbled to himself,
“Pelly can. Pelly can.”

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Posted on July 22, 2023 by TonyJuly 22, 2023

Okie dokie, it’s long overdue. And I hope they pump up the Americana and build “a whole new world,” so to speak. Of course, I’m talking about the $2 billion American-themed amusement park and resort that’ll be in Oklahoma.

I read a short article that said it’s scheduled to open in 2026. And supposedly it’ll rival the size of Dizzy’s Tragic Kingdom. And a news release I read in an online article said it’ll be “located near Grand Lake, Oklahoma on Route 66.” So, before too long there’ll be plenty more ways to get your kicks on Route 66.

Okie dokie, that’s a musical reference that might slip past the younger peeps.

But no matter. The point is, it looks like Northeast Oklahoma hopes to be a Funtime destination spot. And I hope they’re a big time hit. At least if they don’t get all okie dokie wokie like Dizzy’s Tragic Kingdom.

And I have a certain connection to that area, too. Because I’ve driven through or by there many times. And I was a kid passenger several times as parents did the driving. It’s a very scenic part of Oklahoma. If you enjoy lake related activities, you’d probably get a kick out of the whole Grand Lake O’ The Cherokees experience. “1300 miles of shoreline” means plenty of water to play in. So, that kind of stuff is there even if a theme park never arrives.

But imagine a theme park that’s focused on the splendor that was once America (the splendor is still there, but people blur the view). The article I read said there’s gonna be “125 acres and feature six distinctly American lands that take guests on a journey through the best of the American story. Families will find thrilling rides and heartwarming shows as they discover Great Plains, Bayou Bay, Big Timber Falls, Stony Point Harbor, Liberty Village, and Electropolis.”

And there’s gonna be a 320-acre campground and RV park with cabins. And that part of the development is supposed to open in 2025, according to their press release. The American Heartland CEO, Larry Wilhite said, “At the crossroads of the heartland, Oklahoma is an attractive location for a family entertainment destination.”

Yeah, that area is very close to a single point where Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arkansas meet. That’s pretty cool. And, in fact, in a half-day trip you could actually drive a big “circle” and see those three states PLUS Kansas. Road trips, like that, might not be your thing. But that would be (wait for it) okie dokie with me.

Because I love to travel.

I remember heading up Highway 75, out of Dallas, and going to Tulsa. Then, I found my way over to Highway 69 and followed it as it wound its way north, through Pryor, Adair, Big Cabin, Vinita, and Afton. And then connected with Interstate 44 (aka Turner Turnpike) till it reached Miami (yes, in Oklahoma, not Florida).

From Miami, it was just a zig and a zag up to Picher, and that was the last town in Okie land. From there I drove up Highway 69 the rest of the way to the sleepy town of Louisburg. The little “burg” of about 1500 people where I spent several halcyon summers.

OK (okay, not abbreviation for Oklahoma), a news blurb about a theme park in Oklahoma just led to memories of long and luxurious summer days in Kansas. Yeah, I love to travel so much, I even do it in my head all the time. So, I think what I’m gonna do is handcuff the little wifey, fire up the micro motorhome, and hit the road.

Who knows? Maybe we’ll stop by and make sure they’re on schedule with the American Heartland Theme Park. They should be. Because Republican Oklahoma State Sen. Micheal Bergstrom expects the park to create more than 4,000 jobs. So, I know they want that to happen Sooner (see what did there?) than later.

I respect a lot about Oklahoma.

And that’s despite the fact that one think tank said, “the average Oklahoma worker would still save roughly $2,095 a year by moving to Texas. It’s also despite how many marijuana dispensaries I saw the last time I visited Oklahoma. (hint: it was a bunch) And, oh yeah, they’ll let just about anybody live there. It’s crazy.

I’ve lived in both states. And there’s advantages and disadvantages to both. But an American Heartland Theme Park could be Ace in the Hole the Okies need to mess with Texas.

Thanks for goin’ on this digital road trip with me. And I’ll end, for now, with a question for you.

How long do you think it’ll take an American Heartland Theme Park to “woke up” like Dizzy’s Tragic Kingdom?

OR…

Do you think the boomer sooners can keep that from happening?

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Posted on July 21, 2023 by TonyJuly 21, 2023

God hates certain reprobates. There go the floodgates.

OK, it’s in the Bible. So I believe it. John said, “God is love.” And he (and other apostles, too) also wrote of the many ways God loves us humans. Plus, all you gotta do, to know that’s true, is take a good look at what Jesus did for us. Yeah, that’s true love. So, why do I have to go and mess all that up by saying something like, “God hates.”

You don’t have to like it when I say/write that. And it might make you uncomfortable to hear/read it. But none of that makes it any less true.

And it’s true. God hates certain reprobates.

(side note: In Calvinism, a reprobate, is a sinner who is not of the elect and is predestined to damnation. That’s stupid and NOT true)

Now, I’m gonna borrow from Jeff Foxworthy’s “you might be a redneck” standing joke to illustrate what I mean.

If you strut around with an attitude of arrogance, you might be a reprobate. If it’s easier for you to lie than tell the truth, you might be a reprobate. And if your hands shed innocent blood (and if you support someone who physically does that, you share the guilt), you might be a reprobate.

Am I touching on any nerves, yet?

OK, there are more.

If you devise wicked plans, even if they’re just in your heart, you might be a reprobate. Or if your feet (physical AND metaphorical feet) are swift to run to evil, you might be a reprobate.

No descriptions of you yet?

Well, here are two more. If you tell lies about someone, on purpose, you might be a reprobate. And if you stir up bad feelings, especially among your family and friends, you might be a reprobate.

Because reprobates, by definition, are people who do those seven things. And they don’t tend to feel any guilt or sense of remorse when they do. And God hates that. Yeah, you read that right. God hates that.

The very same God who, through love, willingly took on the responsibility for every bad thing that has ever happened, is happening now, or ever will happen, hates. And it makes total sense, when you allow yourself to step back from the “God is love” perspective. Step back enough to realize His hate and love are sort of symbiotic.

He hates anyone who would dare shed innocent blood. And yet He loves anyone, who shows true humility and remorse, enough to make the Way out of the eternal consequences even of murder.

God hates unrepentant sinners. But He loves sinners who realize their need for Him. So, because of His love/hate relationship with us humans, we all have two options of where we’d prefer to spend eternity. One is place where you never have to hear the name of Jesus again. We call that hell. The other is where Jesus is. We call that Heaven.

As for me, I choose Heaven. And I DO get to choose. Calvin was absolutely wrong about that. My eternal life in Heaven was made possible by Jesus. But it’s up to me to decide whether I’ll go there. And it’s up to you, too.

You can’t run away from real truth.
And every word of truth is a knife.
A captivating voice might pigeonhole your choice,
Cut free…and choose life.

And choose to tell everybody where they can get some Tony music, in a songbook journal.

Stay tuned,

Posted on July 20, 2023 by TonyJuly 20, 2023

You had a lot of things to do today. Right? Of course. Everybody, who leads a normal life that requires sustenance, had a busy day. So, I won’t take a lot of your time. This is just a little nudge post. Just a tiny, gentle nudge.

Just something to ponder in the middle of all you’ve got to do today.

Maybe, and mind you I’m just sayin’ maybe, if you might not have done these couple of things I’m about to mention, maybe you could consider them for a few seconds.

How about figuring out how to stop all, or at least some of the wars you might have some influence over? And those don’t have to be air force bomb-dropping or army machine gun wars. Could be those harsh disagreements with those you tend to call a “loved ones.”

Or how about scheduling some peace talks? Nothing that includes any middle east nations. But talks between people who should work harder to understand and care for one another. Yeah, add that to the list.

And here’s the kicker. Did you do as much as you could have to spread true love today? (Spoiler: that’s basically a rhetorical question.) Because, of course, you DO understand that, no matter who you are, the answer is NO!

OK, maybe you’ve got things to do today that just can’t be done any other day. And maybe they’ll carry over into tomorrow. And the next day. Sure, that’s just how life is. So, don’t sweat the peace and love stuff. You can always get to those later. But maybe consider this: it’s gonna be later a lot sooner than you think.

I’ve Got Things To Do

I wouldn’t mind stopping all of the wars.
I’d be a diplomat,
If I could know for sure in my heart
That it was simple as that.

But peace will have to wait.
I can’t just change my life around.
I’m in the middle of something
That has me helplessly bound.

I’ve got things to do, and I’ve got places to go.
I’ve got people to see
And savings to grow
And though I don’t know how to see this through
I know for sure I’ve got things to do.

I wouldn’t mind spreading love in the world.
I’d work it every day.
I know that someone’s life can be changed.
When you give love away,

But love will have to wait;
We’ll have to hold that thought.
I’m on a merciless mission, and though it hurts a lot,

I’ve got things to do, and I’ve got places to go.
I’ve got people to see and futures to grow.
And though I don’t know how to see this through
I know for sure I’ve got things to do.

I’m sure someone will come along
Who could easily fit the bill.
And when they do, I’ll lend my support,
If I can ever get over this hill.

I’ve got things to do, and I’ve got places to go.
I’ve got people to see and futures to grow.
And though I don’t know how to see this through
I know for sure I’ve got things to do.

Stay tuned,

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Posted on July 19, 2023 by TonyJuly 19, 2023

Traveler journal entry from the highway signpost sentry

I’ll do it. Yeah, somebody’s gotta keep an eye on ’em. And make sure they’re not fallin’ into decay. Like so many other parts of this land of the less free and brave. And my trusty MacBook will serve as my traveler journal to record what I discover along the way.

Oh, I guess I should clarify. I’m talkin’ about the signposts along the highways and byways of America.

It’s time to go check ’em out again. Because, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but a lot of things have gone downhill in the past few years. I’m guessin’ those signposts haven’t been immune to the rampant neglect and hostility found.

Anyway, consider this my first traveler journal entry for this chapter.

And this chapter is in the planning and preparation stage. That stage when things have to look much worse before they can look better. I’m sure you know what I mean.

But I’ll keep you posted on the progress during the far-flung Fundy “flight.” In the meantime, here are the lyrics to a song I wrote, several years ago, for a photographer’s travel pics.

I’m A Traveler

Faster than sound, faster than light
I go gallivant like a bon vivant
To the place where the day becomes night.

Droppin’ the drudge, casting the care
And my free heart flies when I close my eyes
And I go where I once did not dare

I’m a traveler, there’s no moss on me,
And reflective eyes guide my odyssey.
Where cathedral peaks match a golden moon
There’s a bridge so high that it makes me swoon.
Full of wanderlust, and a thirst for more,
I move ever on, going shore to shore,
With a heart that no walls can deter.
I’m a traveler.

Lighter than dreams, lighter than clouds
If I trek the trails, or I set the sails
I can toast to the absence of crowds.

Travel, by way of these links, to get some Tony music, in a songbook journal.

Stay tuned,

Posted on July 18, 2023 by TonyJuly 18, 2023

Incrementalism approach needs some reproach

In a way, you could say that life requires the incrementalism approach. Because you’re not born knowing everything you’ll know or how to do everything you’ll do. And you don’t learn calculus and geometry in first grade. And you don’t start on black diamond ski trails. So, life is a series of steps. Each one leading to the next. And so on.

But certain parts of life are NOT better served with the incrementalism approach.

And nowhere is that more true than in the crimes against humanity. And there is no greater crime against humanity than the killing of the most helpless and innocent humans of all, unborn babies.

If I had the authority to snap my finger, or wield my pen, I’d abolish abortion on demand immediately. And I would NOT look for ways to regulate it. But I don’t have that authority. And what’s worse is, my voice and opinions on this subject even offend many (if not most) so-called pro lifers.

I found a note, written by Randy Alcorn, where he commended a guy named Scott Klusendorf for explaining and defending the incrementalism approach to end abortion. Here’s what Mr. Alcorn wrote:

“Over the years, we’ve received numerous comments and feedback from those who consider themselves abortion abolitionists.I honestly appreciate their passion to see abortion ended. Any sincere prolifer would be ecstatic if abortion were made illegal. Unfortunately, their methods and philosophy, and their antagonistic stance to other prolifers, are often problematic.

Scott Klusendorf explains that the assumption behind these abolition groups is that “pro-lifers have the power to immediately end abortion but simply won’t.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Pro-life advocates do not have the power to say which children live and which ones die. The federal courts have already said that no unborn children have a right to life. In that legal environment, the principled pro-lifer is an immediatist morally and an incrementalist strategically. That is, while pro-lifers remain committed to the principle that every unborn human should be legally protected, they work to save as many lives as possible given current political realities.”

Certainly we can and should pray for and work toward the day when abortion is illegal and ending an unborn child’s life is unthinkable. In the meantime, may prolifers work together, in a spirit of humility and grace. I like to put it this way: to win a war, it takes the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, Special Forces, Navy Seals, etc. Anyone who thinks their group or branch of the Armed Services is the only way of fighting the war or accomplishing the mission is simply wrong. The same thing is true of those who believe their strategy to end or prevent abortions is the only one that is right or effective.

My thanks to Scott for this article explaining the problems with abolitionism and giving a defense of prolife incrementalism.”

If you’re a prolifer who’d be “ecstatic if abortion were made illegal,” then it’s crucial to recognize how the incrementalism approach hasn’t worked in the 50 years it has been tried. In fact, it does the opposite. Every single piece of incremental legislation simply tells people what they must do before they go ahead and kill the baby.

And the abolitionist approach ended slavery.

It didn’t regulate it. Slavery abolitionists didn’t call for requiring parental consent before you could own another person. And they didn’t require the sound of a heartbeat before you could own another person. And they didn’t ask for anything other than the 100% end to slavery.

When you want to see an end to something, you call for an END to it. Not a way to “save as many lives as possible.” But a way to save ALL unborn babies. Knowing, full well, there are some so intent on killing their babies you can’t stop them no matter what.

And that armed forces analogy is so lame. All the armed forces work together to destroy the enemy and END the war. Not simply reduce the enemy’s ability and capacity to fight. At least that’s true when the forces are led by commanders who understand that enemies of life and liberty must be vanquished. And at once, if possible.

All human life is precious because we’re the ones made in God’s image and likeness. You are a…

Child of God

I am not a silly chance…
Not a random circumstance.
I am not a lucky dance
In an accidental place.

I am not a spark of light
That evolved from darkest night.
If you say I did, I might
Have to make a funny face… ‘cause…

I am a child of God…child of the Living God…
The One who spoke and made the universe.
I am a child of God…child of the Living God…
The One who saved me from my sinful curse.

I did not come out of slime.
That would take way too much time.
You can clearly see that I’m
A whole lot more than simple dirt.

Take a closer look and see
Information runs through me
From The One Who sets me free.
Listen now to my alert…

Chorus

Skip all the in-between steps and go directly to these links to get some Tony music, in a songbook journal.

Stay tuned,

Posted on July 17, 2023 by TonyJuly 17, 2023

Ship of fools floats like the shakiest of boats

Over 30 years ago I asked the question in a song I wrote on my brand new (at the time) keyboard. How long can it go on? And even though, now, I can listen to the digital keyboard version of an electric guitar and cringe, the question is more relevant than ever. Because we’re on a ship of fools with a ghost at the wheel.

And, truth be known, the ghost is probably another passenger on the ship of fools.

Fortunately the ship is large. So, there are a few (of us) on board who refuse the “fool” badge. And we don’t buy into the land of law mantra. And we prefer the sunshine on the ship’s deck to the dark corners in the ship’s hull. Yes, there IS sunshine on the ship’s deck despite where it’s headed. And despite who steers the course.

And that sunshine, with its ability to stimulate Vitamin D production, isn’t just great for your skin and your body’s health. It’s crucial for anyone who’d prefer to keep your eyes on the prize.

If none of this makes sense to you, you might be one of those F’s on the SOF.

If it makes total sense to you, hang on. This ship is headed for the Rock (yes, Rock, not rocks). And anyone who isn’t looking out for the Lighthouse might end up ground to powder. All that’s left to wonder, right now, is…

How Long Can It Go On?

There; you can see firsthand
There’s a ship of fools on a sea of sand.
And there; on a tiny blue ball
They got their universe,
And they’re the center of it all…The center of it all

There; it’s a race against time
On a singular quest for the omni-enzyme
There; they can get what they need
But the need turns to want
And the want turns to greed
Yeah, the want turns to greed

Play with toys that they can’t afford
Get some more when they get bored
And the sky grows dark…the sky grows dark
How long can it go on?…repeat 3 times

There; in the land of law
There are those who see and don’t tell what they saw.
And there; where they send their best
The kettle’s brought to a boil
And it’s too much to digest..too much to digest

Play with lives they don’t even know
Head’s above, but their brain’s below
And the sky grows dark..the sky grows dark

(repeat chorus)

Save us from the fools, Jesus, from on high,
Help us help ourselves; don’t let our spirits die

Get some Tony music, in a songbook journal, for your ocean journey on this ship.

Stay tuned,

Posted on July 14, 2023 by TonyNovember 21, 2024

I’ve talked about the Holland–Dozier–Holland songwriting and producing team before when I shared some info about The Supremes and their hit song, “I Hear A Symphony.” And they had another hit, 60 years ago this month, with the song, “Heat Wave,” performed by Martha and the Vandellas. Martha’s version was a number 1 hit. Then, Linda Rondstat had a number 5 hit with the same song 12 years later. Even Phil Collins had a hit with it.

“Heat Wave” is an energetic, get-you-on-your-feet-to-dance kind of song.

Some critics might say it’s “infectious.” Reviews might call it a “danceable rock-a-twister.” But the main thing is, it’s an upbeat dance song about some of the effects of love.

But here we are 60 years later. And now a heat wave is an ominous and potentially world-changing (maybe even world-ending) event.

Sometimes I open my digital tablet and then open the “News” app. I don’t do it ALL the time. Because the basic news, weather, and sports are so predictable and mostly non-believable. But today I saw a headline that read: “Heat Wave Spanning From Florida To California Prompts Urgent Warnings.”

In case you didn’t already know this Florida is on the Eastern edge of America. And California is all the way on the opposite, Western, edge of America. So, right away, (if that info is familiar to you) you understand this truly IS an urgent matter. Because we’re talking about our entire country here.

So, obviously, that’s a report you gotta read.

And it follows up the headline with plenty of information to get your antennae up and your heart racing. The opening sentence says: “An expanding, intensifying heat wave prompted the National Weather Service to issue heat alerts for 115 million people on Friday in 15 states, with no letup in sight for some areas.”

Oh no!

115 million people! That’s a third of all the citizens in America. And the point is, it’s HOT! With no “letup in sight.” (uh, hang on, there’s still gonna be a September, October, etc. this year) But let’s not muddy the fear waters with actual provable facts. Because we’ve got a populace to control. And fear is the best tool for that.

So, let’s talk about the “public health dangers.” And the “scope, intensity, and endurance” of this hot weather. Plus, we need to get the “alerts” about where the “longest-lasting impacts” of this “heat dome” will occur.

But maybe I’m not being fair.

Maybe the weather services just have our best interests at heart.

So, maybe they just want you to have all the facts so you can make good decisions while your brain is frying. And maybe that’s why they say things like: “Heat waves can be extremely deadly.” And “Heat waves are quiet killers, with deaths often going uncounted until well after an extreme weather event has subsided.”

It’s true that “extreme weather” events can kill you.

But so can aging, boating, camping, driving, gambling, gardening, hiking, recreational marijuana, a sedentary lifestyle, and sports. Yeah, pretty much all you have to do, in order to one day die, is exist in the first place.

Here’s the kicker to the “weather report” I read.

They had to toss this in: “…using peer-reviewed methods, from Climate Central shows climate change is likely boosting the odds for the upcoming extreme heat.”

And they add these guilt-loaded bullet points to make sure you’re aware that YOU are the problem:

The main cause of long-term climate change is human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, due to burning fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.
Some research has shown that without climate change, certain heat waves would have been virtually impossible.

I hope you realize there’s no such thing as “fossil fuels.” And I also hope you realize that volcanos spew more into the atmosphere than all the “human-caused emissions.”

But if those reports truly care about your safety, then it shouldn’t be long before they warn everyone to stop growing pot. Yeah, according to some estimates, growing an ounce of pot indoors can emit as much carbon as burning a full tank of gas. “Hey, somebody shut this guy up. He’s trying to take away our natural medicine.”

You’re probably like me.

And you probably realize that a “spirit of fear” comes from a dark place. Because God gives a “spirit of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

So, you probably know that when it’s extra hot outside, you reduce your energetic outdoor activities. And you wait till Autumn before you ramp things up again. The same is true for the cold, dark winters. Wait for Spring.

And the next time someone tells you Earth is heating up, just ask, “Since when?” Don’t buy the lie of climate change. Because it’s YOU “they” truly want to reduce.

When the Truth is revealed, it transforms
And establishes reconciled norms.
And the people who care are both humble and rare,
Well-equipped to extinguish firestorms.

Stay tuned,

Posted on July 13, 2023 by TonyAugust 3, 2024

Ok, all seriousness aside. My brain thinks in rhymes. Not 24 hours a day. But certainly every day. My wife will tell you about (or rather ask you to save her from) my daily rhymes. She’s been with me over 30 years. And somehow she’s managed to stay reasonably sane. Despite all my iambic pentameter parameter

But my daily rhymes aren’t always cuddly and cute.

Yes, I’ve written plenty of those. Because I’ve created tons of music and books for kids. And, for some strange reason, the little rugrats seem to like cute and cuddly and funny stuff. Go figure.

Anyway…

A lot of brand experts will tell you how you need people to either love you or hate you. Because that’s proof you actually stand for something. And then you know the ones who choose to follow you, or hit the like button, or give you thumbs up, truly know what they’re getting.

So, I CHOOSE to do that with daily rhymes and reasons. And I emphasized the word, “choose,” because I’m very pro choice when it comes to actions in life. Uh-oh. That might sound confusing to the uninitiated.

No, I’m NOT pro choice when it comes to aborting unborn children. But I AM pro choice when it comes to the decisions you make in life. Because I know God did not create robots or automatons who can only do His bidding. And He did NOT mandate or preordain everything you and I (and everyone) would do throughout history.

Your Creator knows that in order for love to truly be love it has to be freely given. So, you and I get to choose to love Him or not. And we also get to choose what we do in this life. That’s why I added this next poem to my daily rhymes a few years ago.

(Fair notice…this is pro life stuff)

The Choice You’re Making Now

You’re standing on the edge of a decision.
You’re hiding from the eyes of future dreams.
You think you’re facing cold hearts and derision,
But this life isn’t always what it seems.

You’re drowning in the murky mass opinion.
You’re gasping for a breath of fresher air.
Denial of the truth makes you a minion,
Denial of a life means you don’t care.

Caught in a whirlwind, swimming in flames,
Counting the faces without any names,
And it’s the choice you might make now that blames
You.

You tell yourself it’s sweet emancipation.
But, sadly, you will just become a slave
To nightmares, lies, and selfish adoration
Of ideas reaching far beyond the grave.

Before erasing someone else’s chances
For life and liberty and happiness,
See how you get to choose your circumstances.
Why would you want them having any less?

Caught in a whirlwind, swimming in flames,
Counting the faces without any names,
And it’s the choice you might make now that blames
You.

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,

Posted on July 12, 2023 by TonyAugust 5, 2023

In the garden your mind shouldn't be left behind

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.

But you don’t go in the garden to lose your mind.

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
To clear my mind and soothe my soul.

That’s still not my favorite.

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.

In The Garden

I come to the garden alone,
While the dew is still on the roses,
And the voice I hear falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing,
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own;
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known. ~ C. Austin Miles

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Posted on July 11, 2023 by TonyAugust 4, 2023

Here’s a tough one, even for Christians. God is not currently in charge of this world. And again, Jesus tells us that. Three times! He WILL rule this world one day. But He currently does NOT rule. And the evidence should be as clear as the daily news.

I know you literally hear, in just about every Christian circle, that you need to “trust God’s plan.” Or that you just might not understand what He’s doing because His ways are higher than ours. Sorry (not sorry) if this offends you, but that’s childish theology. And it’s time to put away childish things.

Your righteous, loving Creator does have A PLAN. But He did NOT plan the course of history.

And He will be in charge of this world again one day.

But He did not make infinite plans for the infinite potential of directions billions of lives could go each and every day. God is infinitely more brilliant than that. He’d never design men and women, in His image and likeness, only to have to plot out their every move. That would be what marketers call “make work.”

No, God did something far more amazing and glorious.

He designed us to be able to think. And work. And build things. On our own brainpower and brawn. Because He’s the ultimate, dazzling, loving father. It brings Him joy to see what you come up with. At least until you come up with ways to ignore and even remove Him from your life.

And my assertion is that when you tell unbelievers that everything in this world works according to God’s plan, you give them good reason to ignore and remove Him from their lives.

Someone else is currently in charge of this world. In fact, Jesus called him the “ruler of this world.” That certainly sounds like someone who’s in charge. Right? And that someone wants you to blame God for everything. And the world is more than willing to do just that.

Don’t be like the world.

Be like Jesus and as He designed you to be.

Everything is for a reason,
God is in control.
Everything He turns to good
For His higher goal.
So do you want to thank Him for
Destruction and despair?
Is He the author of confusion?
You see it everywhere…
No, no…a thousand times no.

(from my song, A Thousand Times No)

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Posted on July 10, 2023 by TonyJuly 30, 2023

Social media noise from all the girls and boys

It’s mostly just social media noise. And not actual conversation. Oh sure, I suppose if you grew up in a home where everyone yelled at each other at the same time, and called it conversation, social media seems just fine with you.

But for those who prefer meaningful dialogue, it’s just social media noise.

And I know that even the best communication can get noisy sometimes. But it shouldn’t stoop to the profanity and vulgarity you can find on most all social media platforms with even half a glance.

I talked about this same thing over 10 years ago. And the points I made are truer now than ever. I said this:

The trouble I see with online social media tools is they too often become a soapbox, a bully pulpit, a digital megaphone. And the message too often becomes argumentative, pointless, and in the long run directionless. This phenomenon doesn’t play favorites with nobody’s and has-been’s.

No, it readily affects the rich and famous, the political, the powerful, the pundits. It binds the bold and beautiful people. It needles the nerds. And it frequents the freaks.

Why?

Well, think about it. Isn’t it more fun to sit at your computer (like I am now) or smartphone or tablet and say whatever you want without having to listen to someone butt in with their rant or their rave? I mean, c’mon. Who wants to actually listen anymore. If people really wanted to listen, they might use their phones to talk with other people. Instead, they text, play games, and watch videos.

But back to the main point.

Social media noise happens because people prefer to talk. Or, in many cases, that should be rant. But either way, the sound of their own voice is much more appealing than listening to others. Of course, it’s difficult to listen to others when they regurgitate the party line. Or they insist the world is flat. Or that vaccines are for your health.

Anyway…

I’ve never preferred “media” over actual person-to-person interaction. And, by interaction, I mean where everyone involved gets to speak, listen, and learn.

I love media as much as the next person, and more than most. In fact, I use some form of media every day. But the real “social” part is mostly gone now. That part we used to call “visiting with friends.”

Yeah, I know a FaceTime call can give you some, well, face time. But it ain’t the same as breaking bread (or slicing grass fed beef these days) with someone in person. There’s just no digital substitution for that.

Well, the glow of the sun is starting to show at the horizon. So, time to get some work done before I go see how much the social media noise is cranking up today.

Your sense of humor doesn’t make a bit of sense to me
And your rebuttals; well they’ll only get you sympathy
You don’t play fair, but I don’t care
You ain’t got nothin’ over me!
You’ve got a problem with your social and emotional
You think you read me, but your literate ain’t functional
And you’re no sage so act your age
You ain’t got nothin’ over me!

(from my song Ain’t Got Nothin’ Over Me)

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