Tony Funderburk Posted on by

It’s difficult to find more heartbreaking stories than those about the death of babies at birth. Or shortly before or after. And I’m sure you either know someone who’s experienced the loss or you have your own story.

But here’s one of those heartbreaking stories that’s even worse.

Because this story shows a total inability to think things through. A couple decided to kill their baby so that he wouldn’t have to “endure pain and suffering.” Words can hardly describe how messed up that is. And how do you get to the point where you believe you should kill your baby to save it from suffering? Well, I know how. Do you?

Anyway…

The story I’m sharing came off LinkedIn, a “social network” for business professionals. Yeah, that’s another weird part. But let’s skip that rabbit hole for now. And this woman felt “compelled” to share her story because of how heartbroken she was after the Roe vs Wade news broke.

Here’s what she wrote (her typos and bad grammar included)…

“Very rarely I post personal things on here but waking up to the news Saturday morning that Roe Vs Wade had been overturned is truly heartbreaking for women in the US. I feel compelled to share my experience to demonstrate the importance of choice.

I had an abortion in 2019 (this is me and my husband a week after the procedure still in hospital but alive). It was the most devastating and painful experience I had to go through. I was almost 14 weeks pregnant and at the anatomy ultrasound, the baby we wanted and who was so loved after years of heartbreaking miscarriages was not going to be compatible with life. We had to make the difficult decision not to have bub endure pain and suffering. My baby would have died later in the pregnancy or within minutes of being born.

The 40 minute procedure turned into 7 hours as I bled out and had it not been for the team of Doctors and specialists I would have died. I know that for a fact. They had to perform an emergency hysterectomy 6 hours in as that was the only way to stop the bleeding. If not, I wouldn’t be here for my husband and for my son. And as it turned out if the pregnancy had progressed I would have also died because we learnt I had placenta percreta. That I also know as fact. If I didn’t have choice, I wouldn’t be here.

I live with this loss and grief every day.

I carry it like a weight and that doesn’t disappear. But, I had the choice.

I really cannot understand how others can dictate a choice like this. How can others know the choices that are best for you as a women and best for your baby?

This decision will surely lead to abortions that are not under the care that I was. It will lead to complications carrying to full term that are devastating and out of our control. And that will surely lead to needless deaths.

I am hurting for the women who don’t have the choice I had. And those who could ultimately loose their life.

If this news has been triggering for you please reach out to (link removed because I won’t add support with a backlink to such a despicable organization) who have the tools and resources to support you.”

She and her husband are smiling in the picture she mentioned.

I have no doubt her experience was physically devastating (especially to the baby). But only a week after having the baby killed, and they were smiling. Weird.

And notice the weird wording: “the baby…was not going to be compatible with life.” Huh? That’s about as stupid sounding as it gets. And it sounds like something a pro “choice” doctor might tell a patient under those circumstances.

Then, the woman said the “baby would have died later in the pregnancy or within minutes of being born.” Why would it have not been better for the doctors to do everything they could do to save both lives? Even if it meant the baby would only live for a very short while. Why would that have not been better than opting to kill the baby “within minutes of being born?”

After that, this woman talked about how a 40 minute procedure took 7 hours. And that she would have bled out if it hadn’t been for those “doctors” and “specialists.” Now, I don’t know for certain. But maybe she wouldn’t have endured a 7 hour procedure and risk of bleeding out, if she hadn’t chosen to kill her baby.

Maybe.

Finally, one of the most disturbing sections was where she said, “This decision will surely lead to abortions that are not under the care that I was. It will lead to complications carrying to full term that are devastating and out of our control. And that will surely lead to needless deaths.”

It’s for sure there will always be women who choose abortion no matter how despicable and dirty and dangerous the “clinic” might be. Because hard-hearted women will put their own selfish motives ahead of the life of an innocent baby.

And yes, there will always be the risk of carrying to full term, for some women. And those tend to be out of the realm of human control. But there is basically no human endeavor that carries no risk. And the woman ended with the most ironic point. She believes, without having the choice to kill babies, those complications “will surely lead to needless deaths.

I guess killing her baby was a needful death.

Good news is…that little baby is with his Creator. And he’s loved beyond measure.

Bad news is…

I believe his parents’ eternal souls are in jeopardy. But I pray I’m wrong about that. Because if I’m not, they’ll experience heartbreaking stories, in their minds, forever.

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. (from the song “Choose Life”)

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You bought the lie. You did the same thing millions of others, in your situation, did. And you chose yourself over the life of an unborn baby. And you figured it would all be over once “it” was over. But has that proved to be true? Was it all “they” pumped it up to be? How is your life after abortion? I’m guessing that, if you’re genuinely honest about it, your answer is similar to the people in this video.

Sure, you bought the lie. But stop trying to make the payments.

You didn’t commit the unpardonable sin if you chose the abortion option. The unpardonable sin would be to deny that Jesus is your Creator. And the only one who can save you from yourself. Imagine living the torment those people in the video described. And then, to eventually die and “exist” in a one-person universe for all eternity. That would be infinitely worse.

It’s easy to escape. Simply acknowledge what all of creation clearly illustrates. There IS a God. You’re not Him. And He has the power and life of eternity in Him.

Clearly, there are at least 3 victims for every abortion. The baby. The mother. And the father.

For the unborn baby there is no life after abortion. Not here on Earth. But for the mother and father, there’s the potential for a forgiven, abundant life. You can choose to stand for life and helping others to choose life. Or you can choose the nagging, gnawing internal (and eternal) torment.

The Bible says life and death are set before you. And it says “choose life.” So, choose now, and…

Take A Stand

If you take a stand and you stand for the Way,
You might never be rich.
But no gold here beats the treasure in Heaven,
And you’ll know which is which.
Angels are gonna rejoice,
And we’re gonna get to see how
The Lord will judge the ones who wait.
So better take a stand right now.

If you take a stand and you stand for the Truth,
You could lose a good friend.
But if you lose the whole wide world
And keep your soul, you win in the end.
All eyes are gonna look up.
All knees are gonna bow,
And when that time comes it’s too late.
You gotta take a stand right now.

If you take a stand and you stand for Life,
People might laugh and make fun.
And Jesus didn’t say it was gonna be easy,
But you’ll be with Him when this life is done.
No more livin’ like this;
By the sweat of your brow,
And if you want God’s paradise,
You better take a stand right now.

© 2008 Tony Funderburk

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“Since light travels faster than sound, some people appear bright until you hear them speak.” I love that quote, with the little twist. Because there’s more than just a little ring of truth to it. Yeah bright beginnings don’t always lead where you think they will.

Matter of fact: We ALL had bright beginnings.

You were born with a life of bright possibilities ahead of you. At least if you were born in a reasonably free country or society. But then you messed up. A lot. And how do I know?

Because, the same is true for me. And the same is true for everybody ever born.

Yeah, humans don’t need any tutoring on the art and science of messing up. You might say it just comes naturally. You are your own worst enemy. Same here.

So, what’s the solution to this problem? Or is there one?

Well, the solution comes supernaturally. Or maybe it’s more accurate to say it came, in the flesh, 2000 years ago. And even more accurately, your Creator came, in the flesh, 2000 years ago, to fix your mess-ups.

And mine.

Now, to me, that sounds just about as awesome as it gets. God made a way to live with Him forever in paradise. And He personally paid for it all. You might say He made the ultimate sacrifice. And the Bible absolutely says that.

Sadly, the monstrous majority of people on Earth couldn’t care less. And each day their risk of eternal despair grows larger and closer. But they live as though they’ll “pass” into “a better place” one day. And that day is somewhere way off in the distance. But is that true? Well…

Maybe. Maybe not.

Will the sun rise in the morning?
Will the temperature be hot?
And will skies be blue and sunny?
Well, maybe…maybe not.

Will the songbirds all be singing?
Will the breezes blow a lot?
And will leaves lift up their laughter?
Well, maybe…maybe not.

Will some words of wisdom visit?
Will the books all have a plot?
And will we read some happy stories?
Well, maybe…maybe not.

Will the world go on forever?
Will the getting all be got?
And will we all be nice to others?
Well, maybe…maybe not.

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I bet you can remember this dialogue from “Back To The Future.” Doc tells Marty, “If we don’t fix this, you may never get back home!” And Marty answers, “Whoa, Doc, this is heavy!” Then, Doc, being a logical thinker, replies, “Weight has nothing to do with it, Marty.” Fun stuff. Back when they still made movies to be fun. But I didn’t bring this up to talk about movies.

What do diamonds and dishes, clothes and clubs, and hobbies and habits all have in common?

This is all heavy stuff.

And I have very recent first-hand knowledge and experience with a bunch of that stuff. Because Elgielene and I moved from our longtime home, in Colorado, to the Emerald Coast of the south. And she’d be the first (after me) to tell you we’ve got some heavy stuff. Because she and I moved it all ourselves. Just us.

But what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Right?

Anyway…

I’ve mentioned, before, how the stuff of this world can weigh you down in more ways than you might imagine or consider. And here’s what I’ve noticed.

The more space you have, the more stuff you need. Or at least the more stuff you think you need. It’s true. Because, if you live in a tiny studio apartment, it’s difficult to accumulate too much stuff.

But a 5 bedroom house? That’s a whole ‘nother story. The sky’s the limit. Or at least the ceiling of all those rooms. And the more stuff you have, the more stuff you gotta manage. And the more stuff you manage, the less likely you are to manage the really important stuff in life.

And I’m talkin’ about the non-physical stuff.

Like, your relationships. And your own spirit.

And your God.

Yeah, all that stuff keeps you looking down.

But you really need to look up. Because up is where God is. And where God is, you can find joy and peace and love and hope. He’s the source of all that truly matters. And the only source of all that lasts forever.

So, consider those things again for a minute.

You don’t think about joy, peace, love, and hope and think, “Whoa, this is heavy stuff.”  Because they don’t weigh anything at all. And they don’t weigh down your heart, soul, and spirit.

So they won’t weigh YOU down either. In fact, they’ll lift you up. High above and far beyond all the worldly stuff you’ll ever accumulate or burn through.

If you’ve never considered God at all…do it today. You’ll discover the Truth that will set you free from the heavy stuff. That’s my wish for you right this very minute.

So be patient; be wary.
Sing songs, and be merry.
Then focus your attention
On more than this world’s dimension!

(from the song, “Worldiness”)

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While I was doing some work this morning, online, I discovered some great nuggets of Hillbilly wisdom. At first I was gonna share which ones were my favorites. But, heck, I like ’em all.

And the picture that went along with the text is a big part of what made me read through. Because it was an old guy with long and gray hair. He sat on a tree stump and held a large, single-shot rifle. So, I figured if there was anyone who fit the bill, this was the guy with…

Hillbilly Wisdom

  1. Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight, and bull-strong.
  2. Keep skunks, bankers, and politicians at a distance.
  3. Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
  4. A bumble bee is considerably faster than a John Deere tractor.
  5. Words that soak into your ears are whispered, not yelled.
  6. The best sermons are lived, not preached.
  7. If you don’t take the time to do it right, you’ll find the time to do it twice.
  8. Don’t corner something that is meaner than you.
  9. Don’t pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he’ll just kill you.
  10. It don’t take a very big person to carry a grudge.
  11. You cannot unsay a cruel word.
  12. Every path has a few puddles.
  13. When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
  14. Don’t be banging your shin on a stool that’s not in the way.
  15. Borrowing trouble from the future doesn’t deplete the supply.
  16. Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t never gonna happen anyway.
  17. Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
  18. Silence is sometimes the best answer.
  19. Don‘t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none.
  20. Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.
  21. If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
  22. Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
  23. The biggest troublemaker you’ll ever have to deal with watches you from the mirror every mornin’.
  24. Always drink upstream from the herd.
  25. Good judgment comes from experience, and most of that comes from bad judgment.
  26. Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot easier than puttin’ it back in.
  27. If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
  28. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
  29. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
  30. Most times, it just gets down to common sense.

 

There you go. Which one(s) float(s) your boat? Or are you like me and you just plain like all the hillbilly wisdom?

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It’s funny (odd, not humorous) what you can stumble upon, or across, when you do an online search. For example, I wanted to share some sad information today, and I had an idea for a different way to do it. So, I typed in my search phrase. And most of the results I found were about a Japanese manga series called “Death Note.”

Yeah, I didn’t know what a Japanese manga series was. But it didn’t take long to figure out how it’s just another broken part of this ever-increasingly dark world. Here’s a short storyline excerpt…

“An intelligent high school student goes on a secret crusade to eliminate criminals from the world after discovering a notebook capable of killing anyone whose name is written into it.”

I know you’re eager to go watch the Death Note series now.

But skip it. And let me explain the reason that death note reference even comes up in the first place.

A friend of mine died a couple of days ago. In recent years we weren’t close friends. But I know Darryl was/is a strong believer. who suffered with multiple physical issues for a long time. So, I know he’s relieved to suffer no more.

He and I might have been almost the exact same age. His birth date was two weeks before mine. But my birth was considered about two weeks late. Point is, Darryl and I grew up and lived our lives in the same time frame.

And Darryl and I also sang together. A couple of times. In the church where I led the Sunday praise and worship for about three years. He had a nice, baritone voice. And he definitely loved singing about his love for Jesus. So, it was an honor to share the stage with him.

Darryl was also steadfast in his stand against all abortion. He understood the death note that rings out daily in Planned Parenthood (and other) “clinics.” And I believe he now understands, fully, that he stood on the right side of that issue.

It’s weird to talk about someone you knew in the past tense.

But it’s always great when you know you’ll talk to them again in the future. And I know I’ll see Darryl again one day. Where there will never be death notes again. Because death will be…

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.

© 2014 Tony Funderburk

But maybe you’re one of those people who doesn’t have that sense of future security. And maybe you think you’re just headed toward total nothingness. If so, I recommend you dive a little more deeply into the mountains of evidence for a never-ending life in paradise.

At the very least, you’ll have hope that billions of people on Earth don’t have. And at the very most, your hope will rewarded with an eternal, loving relationship with the One who made you.

What have you got to lose?

Uh…everything.

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If we could just change the heart of one gun, wouldn’t a total assault rifle ban be worth it? And, NO, that sentence doesn’t NOT contain a missing word typo.

Yeah, an assault rifle ban is definitely the cure for deadly shootings.

Because “woke” people say so. And if THEY say so, then it’s got to be so.

Like this guy’s post I saw on a so-called “business social media” site. Here’s part of what he said about assault rifles. And I’ll post it the way he wrote and formatted it…

“NOBODY HAS THE RIGHT TO OWN ASSAULT RIFLES or any other mass shooting killing machines. The Second Amendment Must be Repealed and Replaced. It is Dumb, Dangerous and Deadly. The Right to Bear Arms has become one giant euphemism for selling as many guns as humanly possible. We have a gun problem, folks. The US has an addiction to guns the world has never seen before. And like with any addiction, until the problem is acknowledged and addressed, the bloodshed will continue. The US is 4% of the world’s population and owns 40% of the world’s guns.”

First, yes we DO have the right to own assault rifles. But, NO, we don’t have the right to murder people with them. The second amendment is merely an acknowledgment of your God-given right to protect yourself. So, when you say you want the amendment “repealed and replaced,” you also say you don’t care what God says about self-protection.

And the “right to bear arms” is certainly not a “euphemism for selling as many guns as humanly possible.” As I said, it’s a God-given right. Because you have the right to protect yourself and your loved ones or neighbors.

We most certainly do NOT have a gun problem.

Here in America (and the rest of the world) we have a heart problem. It’s not a new problem. In fact, it goes back to the very first years of human history. And God says, “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings.”

The guy who wrote that social media post pretends to care about “the bloodshed.” But I wonder how much he cares about the bloodshed of 4300 innocent babies, every day, right here in the good ol’ USA. And not one of them lost their life due to a gun.

He did say one thing I liked, though. “The US is 4% of the world’s population and owns 40% of the world’s guns.” Thank God we can still say that. But for how much longer?

Here are some lyrics from a song I wrote over 30 years ago: Cold Hard Truth

Prophetic? Maybe. True? Definitely!

We hear the speeches; see the banners wave.
They sell the dreams of all the lives they’ll save.
But in between the lines are pretty lies.
They seem so right behind that straight disguise.

No reason it can never happen here.
This is the place and time to face your fear.
Financial plans end up rhetorical.
The errors made aren’t simply clerical.

Be never-yielding like the tiger’s tooth
And face the cold hard truth!

© 1991 Tony Funderburk

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I read (and thoroughly enjoyed) this quote from a page full of so-called “stupidity quotes.” It’s from the English author and humorist, P.G. Wodehouse, who lived from 1881 to 1975. And he wrote, “He had just about enough intelligence to open his mouth when he wanted to eat, but certainly no more.”

Stupidity quotes, like that, are everywhere.

Especially from “woke” people who fit Mr. Wodehouse’s description to a T. Take this quote, from Facebook, for example. Whoever wrote it (and I couldn’t find anyone who claimed it) attempted to make a comparison between getting a gun and getting an abortion.

“How about we treat every young man who wants to buy a gun like every woman who wants to get an abortion? Mandatory 48 hour waiting period, parental permission, a note from his doctor proving he understands what he’s about to do, a video he has to watch about the effects of gun violence, and an ultrasound wand up the a** (just because). Let’s close down all but one gun shop in every state and make him travel hundreds of miles, take time off work, and stay overnight in a strange town to get a gun. Make him walk through a gauntlet of people holding photos of loved ones who were shot to death, people who call him a murderer and beg him not to buy a gun. It makes more sense to do this with young men and guns than with women and health care, right? I mean, no woman getting an abortion has killed a room full of people in seconds, right?”

There are so many stupid parts to that stupidity quote, it’s challenging to know where to start.

So, I’ll shoot some thoughts out there one sentence at a time.

First, not every person, who wants (or needs) to buy a gun, is a “young man.” But still, “every young man who wants to buy a gun” must meet some significant requirements. There’s age, licensing, and training. Then there’s the background check. And that’s to determine whether or not the “young man” is…

  • A drug user
  • An individual who has previously been convicted of a serious criminal offense
  • Mentally ill
  • A fugitive from justice
  • Someone who has renounced citizenship
  • An illegal alien
  • A person who has been dishonorably discharged from the armed services
  • Someone who has restraining orders issued against him/her
  • Anyone previously convicted of domestic violence

 

Sounds way more stringent and restrictive than what young girls, who go into Planned Parenthood for an abortion, are required to do. And it sounds that way because it IS.

In fact, in some areas, a young girl doesn’t even have to tell her parents she’s going in for the abortion. Plus, many young girls are taken to Planned Parenthood (and other abortion mills) by older “men” who got them pregnant. And many times, all they have to say is why they are there. And that’s to spend money to murder a baby. No big deal.

Wow, I’ve only addressed the first sentence from that stupid quote.

The next sentences, from the quote, illustrate how almost all so-called “pro-life” laws are just regulations that don’t stop  abortion. Because whoever wrote the quote can’t demonstrate where abortion is halted. He (or she) can only show what the requirements are. And a young girl/woman can still fulfill the requirements and still kill her baby.

Next, how about the sentence that says “It makes more sense to do this with young men and guns than with women and health care, right?”

There’s that stereotyping again. “Young men and guns.” Mighty stupid assumption. And then, to follow that up with the moronic (and ubiquitous) “women and health care” nonsense. Women AND men, who claim abortion is health care, literally have only enough intelligence to open their mouths to eat. But no more.

Because, they’re likely to follow up the health care nonsense with something else even more idiotic. Like, “I mean, no woman getting an abortion has killed a room full of people in seconds, right?”

Hmm…maybe not a room full of people. But most certainly a womb full of people. In fact, every single time an abortion is completed, a human being is murdered.

Every. Single. Time.

All this being said, there’s good news out there today. I got an amazing text this morning, from an awesome abortion abolitionist couple. It said that Oklahoma just became the first state in America to ban all abortion. Wow. Just when I thought “What good could possibly come out of Oklahoma?” (inside joke)

It’s proof positive you should never lose hope. Because hope, based ON the Faith and IN Love, is rewarded by the one true, living, loving Creator of Heaven and Earth. Either here and now, or in paradise forever.

I love the way His promise won’t forsake me.
And there’s no end to where His Grace will take me.

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There’s nothing like roses to remember what’s important. And what’s important? Truly important. Everlastingly important. I’ll give you a hint in this link. It’s the last word in the sentence.

I’ve mentioned, before, how I was a singer songwriter in Nashville back in 1992-93. I spent a lot of nights on stages around the city in what they called “songwriters in the round.” And I was almost always the only keyboard player on showcase nights.

One of those nights was more memorable to me. Because I shared an offbeat song of mine with a key signature played mostly on the black keys. And a guitar-playing songwriter, who sat behind me on stage, commented to the audience that he really liked it. He also pointed out how my song wasn’t played in the “usual country song keys.”

It was a particularly nice compliment to me because I thought his songs were great. So, I definitely respected his ear for composition and way with words.

It was a song about using roses to remember what’s important.

And the lyrics show how couples miss the mark when their selfishness kicks in. Of course, roses (or some other favorite flowers) are a beautiful peace offering. But they’re certainly no lasting substitute for what’s important. So, if you’re gonna buy flowers, be sure they include communication and a willingness to work on understanding what caused the issue.

But, back to my song. The host for that night’s songwriters in the round presentation agreed with the guy behind me. And he had me play it again. Probably means nothing to you. But it was mighty cool to me.

You can listen to the song in episode 136 of my podcast. And here are the lyrics.

Singer songwriter, Tony Funderburk's song "Roses To The Rescue"

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Can you think up a song of joy to sing or whistle or hum when things don’t go well? Do you look up and keep your eyes on the Prize even on the bad days? Or do you let your circumstances dictate your actions? Is your joy based on you and your physical possessions? I hope your answer is “no.”

You have a Creator who loves you so much He made a way for you to live forever with Him. But He didn’t make “many ways”. Jesus is the all-inclusive ONE Way to eternal life. He is also the “stumbling block” to anyone who believes they can make their own way to Heaven. So, if you’re considering becoming (or you already are) a minister for God, remember the 28 marks of the ministry and the 1 “narrow gate” you must go through. Are you willing?

See if these words inspire your song of joy…

1. in much patience
2. in tribulations
3. in needs
4. in distresses
5. in stripes
6. in imprisonments
7. in tumults
8. in labors
9. in sleeplessness
10. in fastings
11. by purity
12. by knowledge
13. by longsuffering
14. by kindness
15. by the Holy Spirit
16. by sincere love
17. by the word of truth
18. by the power of God
19. by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left
20. by honor and dishonor
21. by evil report and good report
22. as deceivers, and yet true
23. as unknown, and yet well known
24. as dying, and behold we live
25. as chastened, and yet not killed
26. as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
27. as poor, yet making many rich
28. as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

If that checklist got you going, let me know. Because, if it did, you’re made of the right stuff.

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I just watched a video about wolves re-introduced into Yellowstone (The park. Not the show.) And the video producers showed how much those wolves changed the ecosystem. Yes, nature is amazing. And connected. But here’s how the person who shared the video described it…

“🦩Ecosystem restoration hinges on supporting nature 🍁create a balance⚖️; biodiversity richness and ecological integrity With more balance between predator🦑 and prey,

Everything 🗻is connected🤝🏻……❣️”

Just in case you can’t see all the crucial emojis (*eyeroll*) they include a flamingo, a maple leaf, scales, a squid or octopus or something to represent “predator,” a mountain, handshake hands, and a heart exclamation point.

Anyway…

The video included text so you could see the wildlife AND read the story.

And each step of the story showed how nature IS amazing.

They talked about how the wolves helped reduce the deer population. And that helped increase vegetation. And that helped solve erosion problems. Then, with more plant life, different animal and bird species returned to the area. Like beaver and eagles. And so much more changed for the better.

So, the video ended with a statement that said “share this if you think nature is incredible.”

But what videos like that almost never say is “share this if you think our Creator must love us incredibly to give us such diversity of beauty and life.”

And that’s something I find incredulous.

Because all that “biodiversity richness and ecological integrity” is far too complicated and connected to be the result of random mutations.

Of course, you can exercise your own will and choose to ignore science and where it points. But, as for me, I can appreciate how amazing nature is, but LOVE the one, true, living, loving God who created it all.

And I know He’s giving us time to consider His offer of eternal life. But I can’t imagine how much longer He’ll have patience for the world’s fascination with the creation instead of Him. Matter of fact, it seems likely the world will come to a blazing end way sooner than most people would ever dream.

In awe of all creation and how it all could be
The fairy tale illusions increase with every year.
The wrinkled plans expand…exponentially…
Until one day, perhaps, a duck becomes a deer…yeah, right. (from “Fast Forward”)

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Ask yourself this question right now. “Am I doing right now?” Pardon me? What’d you say? You think it doesn’t sound like a question. Oops. You’re kinda right. I forgot one little swoop of punctuation. I meant to say, ask yourself this question: “Am I doing right, now?” And if you are, ask yourself why.

Yeah, you read that right. If you’re doing right, ask yourself why.

Because who cares? And, for that matter, who even knows what right is? Right? Because if he can be a she and she can be a they, then right is only what you believe it is. Right?

Uh…no. That would actually be a big, fat negatory. Because there IS a way to know what’s right. And you and I both know the difference between right and wrong. In fact, 99.999% of all the people who have ever lived know  (and knew) the difference.

But it’s no big deal. After all, it’s not like the fate of any of your fellow human beings relies on you knowing the difference between right and wrong.

So, make yourself happy. Do whatever feels right to you. And enjoy it like there’s no tomorrow. Because there actually might be no tomorrow. And that’s never been truer than now, in America, with all the fools and hypocrites in charge of the so-called government. Yeah, just read the short poem below. Relax. Smile.

But don’t forget to share. Because there might be somebody else out there who needs to realize it’s OK to do whatever feels right. And wouldn’t it feel right and good to help them feel right and good?

You betcha.

Don’t worry about how every person has to face death one day. And don’t fret about whether or not there’s anything after death. Leave that to tomorrow. Because, like Scarlett O’hara said, tomorrow is another day. And your life is all about tomorrow. And since you never really get there, who cares? Party on!

This Minute Is

This minute is your minute.
Go ahead and jump in it.
One sparkle and one twinkle
One snowflake and one sprinkle.

Be sunny and be cheerful.
Skip worried and skip fearful.
Keep smiling and keep living.
This minute is for giving.

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Dreamers are waiting for good things to happen that might never happen. Because the world, as we know it, could end at any moment.

So, keep this in mind. You’re a wonderful design, a unique creation of God.

And you’re not exactly like any of the other 7 billion people on the Earth. So, whether you’re asleep or awake, your dreams won’t be exactly like anyone else’s either.

But so many dreamers are waiting for someone to explain the dreams.

Your mind puts together a mish-mash of things you did during the day. And they don’t make any sense. So, they’re just for fun. And if you’ve ever dreamed about flying high above the trees or clouds, you know what I mean. In real life you can’t do that, but in your dreams it’s so much fun. Right?

Sometimes I like to do what I call shade tree dreaming. And quite a few famous inventors had some of their best ideas under a shade tree. Or in a swing. Or in a chair at a desk with their eyes closed.

If and when you decide to give yourself time to daydream, be sure to take the time to write down your best ideas. There’s a good chance you won’t use them right away. But you never can tell when they’ll come in real handy. And maybe not just for you.

Way back when, I wrote a special poem to dreamers. Because I woke up that morning after one of those silly mish-mash dreams. And I hope it encourages you to dream the dreams that live only in your special mind.

Dream The Dreams

Waking up from silly dreams
Isn’t silly as it seems
Because dreamers are what makes the world go ’round.
With those pictures in your head
As you rise up out of bed
You might find the thing that needed to be found.
You might dream of flying cars
That go cruising through the stars,
Then design a brand new turbo rocket ship.
You might wake up from your sleep
With an awesome way to keep
People safer when they’re going on a trip.
What if you could dream a dream
That, to some, could sound extreme.
But your idea helped to ease a lot of pain?
Well, put on your dreaming hat
‘Cause we need more dreams like that,
And they’re waiting to be dreamed inside your brain.
If you’re eager to create,
And you find you just can’t wait,
And your dreams are overflowing from your ears,
Take a breath and write ’em down,
With a smile and not a frown.
Then your dreams become ideas you’ll have for years.
When you dream, don’t think it’s odd.
Dreams are thoughtful gifts from God.
They can help to give your weary mind some rest.
So relax and dream away.
Every day’s a brand new day
To begin to dream the dreams that you dream best.

© 2013 Tony Funderburk

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It was rainy day in Colorado. Just about this time of year, it was a cool mid-spring rain. But then the sun came out. And you should’ve seen the vivid full spectrum rainbow that popped out. That happens a lot in Colorado. 

What colors are in a full spectrum rainbow?

Violet. Indigo. Blue. Green. Yellow. Orange. Red. And the seven colors are typically listed from the shortest wavelength the human eye can see to the highest. That’s from around 400 nm to 700 nm.

And something I love and find interesting is how the number “Seven” comes up so often in the world. Seven colors in a rainbow. Seven steps, or notes, in a musical scale. And, of course, seven days in a week. My guess is (and it’s not really a guess) seven is an important number in the Designer’s mind.

Yeah, that’s the kind of thoughts that run through my mind as I check out the beauty in nature. And it was that sort of thinking that inspired me, that rainy day, to write a song with a double entendre. Here are the lyrics. 

Rainbow City

Why does everybody worry?
Spend so much time fretting and fussing
And you’re bound to end up grey.
Why is everybody faithless?
Detour yourself into the night
And you can’t enjoy the day.
Where is everybody going?
We’re escalating and elevating
And still no ground is gained.
Where can people find an answer?
They put away for a rainy day,
But it already rained.

Don’t you see? We’re living in Rainbow City.
Don’t you know? We own that pot of gold.
Can’t you tell? We’re livin’ in Rainbow City.
Can’t you feel, and come in from the cold?

How can anybody profit?
Give of your hand and not your heart
And no one’s world can change.
When will anybody listen?
When all the deer and the antelope
Lose their home out on the range?
Why does everybody forget?
Their little brick and glass domain
Can’t shield them from the fire.
I wish that we could all be happy.
I know we should and maybe we could
Put our faith a whole lot higher

repeat chorus

I know it’s cold out there…I’ve been to that empty place,
But you can be warm inside…the Light can shine on your face.

inst…repeat chorus

© 1990 Tony Funderburk

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For those who are loved and appreciated, mothers live on far past their time here on Earth. Today, May 8, 2022, marks the second Mother’s Day without my own mom to call. She died about 90 days before last year’s Mother’s Day. But she lives on in the memories of those of us who love her.

I’m sure your mothers live on, too.

Whether they’re still with you or not. Right?

When I talked with my mom, during the second half of 2020, the topic of Heaven came up. And it was one of our Sunday phone conversations. I remember how I said she wouldn’t be my Mom in Heaven. I told her, “Just think…in Heaven, you’ll be my sister forever.” And she said something like, “Now, wait a minute. I’m always gonna be your mom.”

(she knows better now)

And I can only imagine what all she’s seen and heard in the past year. But no doubt, has a much clearer and vivid understanding of what Paul said to the Corinthians about Heaven. Because Mom has been “caught up into Heaven.” And she’s heard “inexpressible words.” But she’s able to fully understand them now.

So, on this second motherless Mother’s Day in my life,

I know my Mom would like all you moms to know there are plenty of us who appreciate how you…

  • Withstood the months of pregnancy
  • Withstood the pains of childbirth
  • Fed your babies when they cried at 3 a.m.
  • Fixed “boo boos”
  • Kissed away pain
  • Hugged away frowns
  • Cooked breakfasts, made lunches, and prepared dinners
  • Washed clothes even after laundry was all done
  • Taught truth, hope, and love…and readin’, writin’, and ‘rithmetic
  • Fought tangled hair, torn pants, and missing shoestrings
  • Remembered birthdays with just the right proportion of chocolate icing to vanilla ice cream
  • Listened to stories of triumph, tragedy, and utter despair (mostly from teenage girls)
  • Made or bought costumes for every goofy event imaginable
  • Went to plays, sporting events, and music presentations…cheering for that one child who was obviously the natural born talent
  • Brought the “something borrowed” or “something blue” to the bride-to-be just at the right time
  • Danced the mother/son dance with the groom who had been her dragonslayer only “weeks ago”
  • Made special homemade desserts for the kids and grandkids when they came over for Thanksgiving
  • Brought an elegant grace to the process of aging
  • Made us believe there’s a forever, a God who loves us, and a knowledge that we’ll have eternity in paradise

 

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This might be breaking news to some. But there are differences in opinions for why you can see fossil gaps in the strata around the world. Yeah, I’m not sure why someone would disagree with the idea that those gaps imply (at the very least) we not have gotten here through an evolutionary process.

About 8 years ago, I called those fossil gaps, missing links.

Here’s some more of what I said…

“In fact, the links are so numerous we can call them missing chains. Even when scientists study the best preserved fossils found in amber they discover there are no transitional fossils found anywhere. There are missing links between invertebrates and vertebrates, between fish and amphibians, between reptiles and mammals, between reptiles and birds, and between primates and other mammals.”

Makes sense. Right?

But some are able to make sense of the fossil gaps. And they figure out ways to defend their evolutionary worldview no matter what. Of course, if and when a Christian does that, he’s called dogmatic or bullheaded. But a Darwinist is merely looking “closely at the evidence.”

Here’s an example of one of those Darwinists I found this morning.

“Whilst each layer has different organisms from the previous and succeeding layers, it certainly looked like there were family resemblances and this cried out for some kind of explanation. Darwin’s theory placed all of the data from fossils and from living organisms into a coherent pattern, which fitted very well with the evidence, without being able to identify a precise mechanism. That mechanism was discovered once the basics of DNA were understood and now, with the help of computers, it has become possible to unravel the entire genome of many living species and, the fact that they are all genetically related has become entirely obvious. This is not to say that there is no room for debate and very passionate disagreement, but simply that the principle of evolution has been accepted by anyone who has looked closely at the evidence.

Why are there such big gaps in the fossil record?

This is simply because the process of fossilisation is extremely rare. An animal dying on an open plain will likely be eaten and its bones scattered. What is left will rot or crumble and nothing will be left for fossilisation. In a very short time there will be no evidence for its existence, apart from chemical residue, which will eventually dissipate too. Deep sea animals will sink to the bottom when they die and are unlikely ever to be located.  An ordinary human burial preserves bodies a little better but, depending on such issues as soil type, temperature and moisture, most will decay within a few centuries and it is unlikely that many will become fossilised –  a process which, in any case, takes many thousands of years.”

You might wanna go through that last paragraph again.

See if you can tell where the writer’s own words refute his Darwinist, evolutionary worldview. But his explanation supports the Christian, God-designed, worldview much better than evolutionary fossilization.

But I’ll let you decide for yourself. Because I might have a hidden agenda. Like trying to get you choose life. And live forever in paradise. And I certainly wouldn’t want to positively sway you toward all that unnecessarily.

If your chain is missing links
And your cup is missing drinks,
Then I have to say methinks there is a snag…
‘Cause we need all of the parts
Before drawing up the charts…
Or we’ll feel it in our hearts, it’s just a gag.

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I know this may tarnish my image as a world-class cool singer songwriter forever, but I’ll say it anyway…

I’m not cool at all.

Because I’ve never done “recreational” drugs. Not even pot.

See? Not cool at all. Right?

Yeah, I can practically hear my subscribers scrambling to find another much cooler singer songwriter to follow. So long everyone. All I ask is that you don’t tell anyone else what you’ve read here today. Let them decide, for themselves, if I’ve got any street cred cool.

Of course, this all brings up the obvious question. Or at least one of them.

Why did I never do drugs? (for anyone who might still be here and reading)

Well, I can’t take the credit. Because that goes to God. Thankfully I connected with Him when I was 13. And I wanted to do things, and live life, in a way that pleased Him. I wish I could say I succeeded all the time. But my life was far from it.

During my teenage-mind-of-mush years I did pretty well. At least well enough to stay away from the drugs that could have changed who I was.

Then, I became a professional musician and singer songwriter.

And believe me, when I tell you, I had lots and lots of opportunities to partake in free pot and cocaine.

In fact, I remember a “gig” of mine in a very popular spot in Atlanta, Georgia. A nice looking girl came up to me when I was on break, and said “follow me.” I said OK and followed her into another room where she pulled out some cocaine and offered me some. It was weird. I said “no thanks” and that I had to get back to work. There were other offers of free cocaine over the years. Thankfully I never accepted.

There were also lots of times when guys would compliment my voice and repertoire. And you might not believe how many times they’d shake my hand and leave a doobie in it. Yeesh. If they only knew how I’d go flush it down the toilet. 

Back in the 80’s those circumstances happened a lot. So I wrote a song about it. You can hear it in the The Power of God’s Love Podcast, Episode 185. And here are the lyrics…

Christian singer songwriter, Tony Funderburk, shares his song "Fly By Night"

 

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Joel Osteen is a fool. He’s not the only fool. Not by a long shot. But he’s one of the biggest. Because he’s in charge of one of the biggest churches in America. And he’s telling (translate that to selling) lies. And one of the biggest lies is found in the title of his “bestselling book,” Your Best Life Now.

Breaking News! You do NOT have your best life now!

Well, maybe I should quantify/qualify that assertion.

If you choose to reject Jesus (and it IS your choice), then you might be having your best life now. Because it’s the best you’re ever gonna experience. Throughout eternity. But the rest of your eternity…the really, really, really, really, really long part…will not even be good. Far from it. As far as the East is from the West.

So, do you insist that a Christian can enjoy their best life here on Earth?

Then, I wonder if you’ve actually read Paul’s letters in the Bible.

Because if anyone should have ever had an awesome life, as a Christian, it was Paul. Read his letters. You’ll discover a man more transformed than maybe any other. And you’ll see how he went from persecuting those who would dare follow Jesus, to being the Lord’s most devoted servant.

That’s why, several years ago, I shared his description of living for the Lord. The subhead in The New King James version of the Bible calls this passage Marks of the Ministry. See if they sound like a best life now:

1. in much patience
2. in tribulations
3. in needs
4. in distresses
5. in stripes
6. in imprisonments
7. in tumults
8. in labors
9. in sleeplessness
10. in fastings
11. by purity
12. by knowledge
13. by longsuffering
14. by kindness
15. by the Holy Spirit
16. by sincere love
17. by the word of truth
18. by the power of God
19. by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left
20. by honor and dishonor
21. by evil report and good report
22. as deceivers, and yet true
23. as unknown, and yet well known
24. as dying, and behold we live
25. as chastened, and yet not killed
26. as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing
27. as poor, yet making many rich
28. as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.

Paul had all 28. And possibly more.

Yet, he had so much love and assurance for his Savior that he could still sing joyful songs in the midst of it all.

What about you? Are you able to think up a song of joy to sing or whistle or hum when things don’t go well? Do you point your eyes upward, keeping them on the Prize?

Say yes, please.

Or do you let your circumstances dictate your actions? And is your joy based on you and your physical possessions and your bank account?

Say no, please.

You have a Creator who loves you so much He made a way for you to live forever with Him. But He didn’t make “many ways”. Jesus is the all-inclusive One Way to eternal life. He is also the “stumbling block” to anyone who believes they can make their own way to Heaven.

So, if you truly wanna have the best possible life, the one that lasts forever, you’ve got a choice to make.

Choose LIFE.

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In your own mind, do you think you can truly understand the universe? And I mean all its vastness, emptiness, and mysteries? I don’t believe you can.

Because, in your own mind, there’s a tendency toward imagination.

Imagination is great. I love to use it to create word pictures. But, when you spend too much time in your own mind, it can lead to brain melt-down. Or total brain freeze. And either way can lead you away from Truth. And whether the world likes to admit it or not, there’s so much Truth in the universe. Dependable. Factual. Truth.

But here’s a key point. The truth IN the universe does NOT come FROM the universe. Because it’s a vast, mostly empty, mostly mysterious creation. The universe never created anything, much less itself.

So, the truth IN the universe is discovered in how it’s designed. With precision. And amazing functionality. And the design is so dependable that humans have been able to steer ships (on land, the sea, and in the air) by the position of stars.

In your mind you might come up with some magical ideas and stories for how that happens. But, in the real world, it can be summed up in the word “design.” Uh-oh, there’s that word again.

So, how in the world (and why) does all this apply to pondering the mysteries of the universe? Well, if the universe is the source of life and truth, it really doesn’t matter what you make of it. Because it’s an IT. And that means it doesn’t matter if you’re right or wrong. Your opinion will be just as good or valid as anyone else’s.

After all, you’re just as valid as anyone else. Right?

And if you say the source of truth is the vast oneness of the universe or the inner force inside the good hearts of people who “love everybody,” then you’re right. And if someone else says the source of truth is the cumulative efforts of “wise men” meeting together in a room of ornate wood carvings and stoic books, then they’re right. And even if everybody totally disagrees, everybody’s right. Right?

(buzzer sound)

Wrong! (gasp among the crowd and whispered voices ask “did he say wrong?”)

Yes, wrong. Because we can all be wrong. Or some can be right and some wrong. But we can’t all be right. And I say you and I can make sense of the universe because it’s designed by God. And He’s greater than all the ingredients in the universe.

Of course, I’m right. Right?

But what if I’m right? What if it’s true
All of these things I’ve been sayin’ to you?
What if you die and it’s not the end?
What if your life is nothing you can defend?
You think I’m wrong…that I don’t walk in the light,
But what if I’m right?

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Love is greater than the stupid hater. And I need to clarify that assertion.

Because I’m not saying that everyone who hates is stupid. At least, not all the time. And I still need to clarify.

Because this whole “hate is bad” thing is so discombobulated nowadays that people have completely lost the ability to hate correctly. Uh-oh. Is that an open can of worms I see?

OK, here’s why I say love is greater than the stupid hater.

And I don’t just say that love is greater than hate…like “everybody else.”

Because there truly IS a difference between a stupid hater and (wait for it) a wise hater. YES, you CAN be wise AND hate. If you’re a Christian, I know you don’t disagree. Right? But if you’re not a Christian, you might it’s hateful of me to even bring up the subject of hate and put it under a positive light.

But, here’s the thing.

God hates.

And if it’s justifiable for God to hate (and it is), then it’s also justifiable for me (and you) to hate. Not all the time. And not for any reason you “feel like.” For example, all the loving, tolerant world of diversity promoters. Their so-called “love” is so filled with hypocritical hate they can’t see straight. Literally AND figuratively. And they harbor a cauldron of hate in their heart for Christians who would dare say there’s a such thing as wise hatred.

Here’s something I wrote about it over seven years ago…

The hatred of the world is virtually palpable these days.

It grows from ignorance and selfishness. It abounds in the minds of many who claim that hatred only exists in others. That’s the definition of hypocrisy. Unfortunately hypocrisy tends to be invisible to the hypocrite. And that’s partly how the hatred of this world grows. OK…now that I’ve opened this article with so much peace, love, and joy…

…let me give you the positive part of the news. God’s love is greater than all the hatred of the world. His love overcomes and endures forever. His love made a way for you to live forever, too. Now that’s awesome news!

Here’s an example of God’s love toward you. He made you a person with your own will. You’re not one of His robots who can do nothing except His bidding. This is important to realize because it means you get to choose whether or not you want to live with God forever. He loves you and wants to show you eternal paradise. But He won’t force you there if you don’t want to go…another glimpse into His love.

If you succumb to the hatred of the world…

…you may find yourself doubting God even exists. Your worldview becomes biased according to what only your five senses can tell you. But which of your five senses contain love or hate? Which of your five senses contain your thoughts?

I encourage you to re-think your decision to turn your back on God if you have. As long as you have breath in you (and your mental faculties) it’s not too late to change your mind and accept His love. He’s made it easily available. All you gotta do is…ask…and you WILL receive it.

Do it before the dark and dreary hatred of the world chews you up and spits you into hell.

Now, go and use your new hate power, today. But use it wisely, Grasshopper. Because, remember. Love is greater.

Give Me The Whole Jesus

Oh give me love…give me justice…
Give me Grace and the strength to endure.
When the world comes against me,
Give me Your Spirit steadfast and sure.

Yes, Give me words…give me courage…
Give me time and a powerful voice.
And when many still may hate me,
Give me Your love and I’ll always rejoice.

Give me the whole Jesus;
The whole Good Lord…
The One who shields the child…
The One who wields the sword.
Give me the whole Jesus
Son of God and man…
‘Cause only Jesus saves…
And only Jesus can! Only Jesus can! Only Jesus can!

Then give me dreams…give me wisdom…
Give me peace at the end of my days.
And give me life…everlasting…
In Your world and in Your higher ways.

Chorus

© 2010 Tony Funderburk

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