Category Archives: II Corinthians

Tony Funderburk shares the rhyme and reason for life found in the book of 2 Corinthians

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If there is no God, then the sum total of all life on Earth is basically meaningless. It will come to no good end. And even if it did, how would anyone know it was a “good” end? What difference would one person’s opinion be from another? Who would determine good versus bad?

Here’s something I wrote about life on Earth over 15 years ago.

And I believe this will remain true:

“But we are not the sum total of our dollars, beauty, or “stuff.” We’re not the sum total of our monikers we wear through this life. We’re not the sum total of the varied opinions about us. Those don’t make us. And they shouldn’t break us. Here’s what I recommend…

  • Work to produce…not for the money.
  • Play to relax…not to escape.
  • Laugh to enjoy…not to cover up.
  • Love to give…not to acquire.
  • And live to be thankful…not to compare.

You are the sum total of where you position yourself for eternity.”

And all life on Earth still doesn’t amount to much without love.

The Apostle Paul wrote the Corinthian believers a lesson about life without love (spoiler alert: it wasn’t good).

If you dare to care, then share love.
Day and night it’s right to share love.
You were given a heart that could love from the start.
So right now, somehow, go share love.

If you love this message (or at least like it), let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

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It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I remember, as a young boy, I wished my own dad would give me grace for some things I did. And when he didn’t, I knew there was gonna be a high price to pay. And my own fanny would pay it. Because his rules were written in stone.

My dad was human. He made mistakes, as we all do.

I admit there were times I deserved punishment and certainly got it. But there were other times when dad would have done well to follow the word of God and show me grace and mercy. Especially if he used those times as a springboard of opportunity to share God’s word with me. But dad was human. And even if he had shown me grace, it wouldn’t have been enough to last forever. Only God’s grace can last forever.

By the way, God doesn’t have to give you grace. It wasn’t written in stone before the foundation of the world. And not on some hermetically God-sealed papyrus in an impenetrable safe where even He couldn’t change it.

And that’s part of what makes His grace so wonderful. He didn’t have to make it available. And yet He did. In fact, He sacrificed more than you and I will ever be able to imagine in order to provide grace to anyone who wants it.

Jesus took us from laws written in stone to grace written in His blood.

And, because He’s eternal, His grace is enough for the whole world.

Through the course of about 4000 years God watched His human creation mess up the world. Yeah, we did it over and over again. He made ways to patch things up and show us how much we need Him. But we just had to be our own kings and queens.

So, we make up our own laws. And we sorta try to keep those laws. Even though Jesus paid the ultimate price to free us from the burden of keeping laws that kill. Such sad and tragic irony.

That’s why the Grace found in the Christian life is so awesome.

God’s grace is enough to cover all the bad stuff you’ve ever done, are doing now, or will ever do. But there IS a catch. It’s not an automatic thing. His grace is available. But you gotta ask. It’s free, too. But you gotta ask. It will carry you through eternity and give you the forever life you can’t even imagine.

But you gotta ask.

So, if you haven’t already, put this at the top of your to-do list. Ask God to keep you alive forever. His Grace is enough to make it happen for you.

Gimme grace to last my lifetime…
Yes, the life that is with You.
I’m so thankful that you love me
And for what Your Grace can do.

If you also love the gift of grace, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

This is the day of the week known in some circles as hump day. So you know what that means. Yeah, Wednesday greetings from your favorite rhyme writer and Bible thumper.

But Wednesday greetings are just the tip of the iceberg.

Because, if you’ve followed along for any time at all, you know I’m gonna talk about something important to your eternal happiness. Or lack thereof, if you happen to be one of those knuckleheads who doesn’t believe that Jesus is the savior of the world.

Anyway… I’ll just dive into what I wanted to share with you. It’s something I shared a few years ago that still applies right now.

When you were a kid, did your dad work hard and still come home and play with you? Or spend some other sort of great quality time with you? Mine did. And there was never a moment, during those times with him, where I had to wait for him to check his messages, or text somebody, or watch a silly video. For one thing, smartphones and other digital devices didn’t exist back then. But even if they had, my Dad would have made sure we spent time together on more important things.

By the way, the more important things in life aren’t “things.”

Ask anybody who truly knows me, and they’ll say, “Yes, he is a techie guy.” In fact, as a pre-teen and teenager, my family called me “technical Tony”. They didn’t always mean it as a term of endearment. But that’s another story for another time. The point is…I enjoy technology.  I’m still fascinated by the latest, greatest mobile device or laptop. I think it’s all so incredibly cool.

But my digital tools aren’t even in the same league with the importance of my relationships. That’s why I say the more important things in life aren’t things. They’re your relationships with loved (and even liked ones). You gotta place an extremely high value on your relationships. You know why? Because here on Earth they don’t last long.

Every thing here is temporary. For example…

Getting back to my Dad. He worked hard. For most of his working life he was a milkman. And this was back in the days when a milkman would deliver dairy products door-to-door. I remember going to work with him on a LOT of Saturdays. So, when I say he worked hard, I know what I’m talking about from personal experience. We got up around 3 a.m. to be at the dairy plant in time to have his truck loaded and on the road by 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. At the dairy plant, I remember hauling a heavily loaded dolly into a cold storage area in his milk truck that was stacked with cases of gallons, half gallons, and quarts of milk, juice, butter, and more.

Dad worked two routes each week. One was his Monday, Wednesday, Friday route. The other was Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. He delivered milk in some neighborhoods in Texas near NASA. In fact (as a side note) several of his customers were some of the first well-known astronauts.

Another side note (and true story) Dad made sure, on one of those Saturdays I was with him, I got to personally hand deliver a half gallon of ice cream to Neil Armstrong. For those of you born in this century…Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon. And little ol’ me handed him a container of Dutch chocolate rocky road ice cream! (I think that’s what it was)

Wow…talk about an astronomical rabbit trail. Anyway. Even on those long Saturdays, when I was helping Dad deliver milk, he spent lots of time with me. Not just telling me what to do, but also having conversations about the more important things in life. Things like what I was learning in math, science, and language classes. Other things like family and where I was going someday when I die. Yeah, even that. Those one-on-one times with my Dad were priceless. And I wouldn’t trade a second of them for all the cool technology in the world.

Dad died when he was only 51.

There were tough times with my Dad, too. He was a strict disciplinarian. And when I failed to do the right thing once in a while, sometimes there were serious consequences. But those times never overshadowed the times Dad spent with me showing me how to use tools and work on lawnmowers, bicycles, and even my first car. Or the times he spent building (yes, building) go-karts for my brother and me to test drive and blast around the block.

Dad even showed us how to fly kites using our saltwater fishing rods and reels. He’d throw the football with us, in the street, during football season. He taught us the finer points of throwing a baseball with either hand. I remember even getting him to play tennis with me when I started up that sport in high school. And I remember it was the first sport where I could beat him. Guys might identify more with me on that…how it feels to beat your dad at anything for the first time. Right?

My Dad was only 20 years older than me. So, he’s now been gone more than half my life. And I still think of him and so many of those special moments almost daily. I always will.

I’m not sure if he knows, right now, how important a role he played in my life. But I AM sure he knows, without a doubt, what the more important things in life are. He was (and is) a Christian. So, I know my Dad is “present with the Lord” right now. And Dad has experienced, firsthand for over 32 years, the ultimate relationship. It’s an awesome and incredible HOPE I have…to know I’ll see him again someday. And to know we’ll be eternal brothers in the presence of the one, true, living, loving Creator.

Interrupt temporary with eternal.

Take a pause as you go through your day today. When you check your texts, instant messages, social media accounts, YouTube and Instagram videos, and even your eCommerce stats. Look up. Look around. Pay attention to the ones you love. Talk to them. Embrace. Laugh. Enjoy the time. They won’t be here forever. You won’t either. Be you’ll all be somewhere forever. Talk about that. And be sure where you’re going. It matters more than any other message you’ll receive from any other source.

Are you good to go? Great. Then I’ll finish these Wednesday greetings with a request.

Be sure to share with your friends, family, and anyone you care about. Don’t keep this good stuff all to yourself. Tell them to…

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaldelivered to your inbox for free.

I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

The ruler of this world is destroying it a little more each day.

So, I hope you’ve given your heart to Jesus. And…

  • I hope you’ve trusted He died and rose from the dead for your sins.
  • I hope your hope is in the one true, living, loving Creator of the universe.
  • Plus, I hope you’re willing to lean on God’s understanding rather than your own.
  • And I hope He rules and reigns in your heart.
  • But I also hope you can look around and clearly see this truth:

God is not the ruler of this world.

God blesses every person on earth every day. Every breath you take is a blessing. Every sunrise you see…every morsel you eat…etc. And in spite of every potential point of evidence pointing to the one true, living, loving God, the vast majority of humans thumb their noses, shake their fists, and turn their backs on Him. God’s not turning their backs…they’re doing it. They’re responsible.

And yes, if enough people, called by God’s name (Christians) humbled themselves, seeking God and His wisdom, then He not only could but probably would heal our land.  I’m not a pessimist, but I don’t see the tide turning in that direction. Instead I see Christians giving in and giving up on almost every single issue important to God.

Yes, God’s ways are higher than ours.

But they’re not lower. He tells us not to do evil so that good may come of it. And how much more should He, being a righteous, Holy Father, not do evil that good may come?

Nothing evil in this world is of God. If you, being a loving father, wouldn’t murder or cause murder to happen, how much more so for your Holy Father? God is not orchestrating the evil deeds of this world. That would make Him an evil ruler of this world, and He’s not that…nor will He ever be.

I know, on the surface, it sounds like blasphemy to say God is not in control of this world. But I’m repeating what Jesus, Himself, said…three times at least: John 12:31  John 14:30  & John 16:11  Another verse, to that point, is found in 1 Corinthians 14:33 – God is not the author of confusion. He did not write, speak, or command the confusion we currently see in our world. And yet another verse indicating there is another ruler of this world is 2 Corinthians 4:4 where Paul writes “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded.”

God has given His authority over, for a time, to the “ruler of this world” and to us. That’s why you see the world in the horrible, despicable shape it’s in. And it’s just like in the time before Noah…the world became so wicked that God was sorry He had made man. If they were just a part of His divine and chief orchestration, why would He have destroyed them…simply more of the perfect plan?

Absolutely not!

Which is more important to God: Prophesy…or love?  Understanding…or love?  Knowledge…or love? Faith…or love?  Charity…or love?  I’m sure you each know the correct answer.

So when you see love exhibited in this world…in particular through the Body of Christ…you can KNOW it’s of and from God. When you see evil, hatred, rampant sexual misconduct, adultery, homosexuality, sodomy, stealing, covetousness, drunkenness, drug use, extortion, etc…you can be sure it’s not of or from God, but it IS of and from the current ruler of this world.

God does not, and never has raised up pagan rulers or kingdoms. God never does evil that good may come of it. And to raise up a pagan ruler would be evil.

God allows chance and circumstance to affect our lives…as you’ll see in 1st and 2nd Samuel and the Gospel of Luke. God’s the quintessential risk taker. He wishes that none should perish, but He also knows that to give us our “self-control”, means that to hate Him must be an option. He is willing to risk the hatred of many to cherish the love of the few. Praise God!

One day Jesus will come back and be the ruler of this world…first for a thousand years…then forever. When that happens, there’ll be a world of evidence of His rule. There will be justice. There will not be anarchy. There will be loving logic and rational reason. And there will not be mass confusion. But there will be peace on earth. Would you like to see that day?

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotionaldelivered to your inbox for free.

I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

 

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

My Dad worked hard. And for most of his life he worked milkman hours, back in the days when a milkman delivered dairy products door-to-door.

I remember those milkman hours first-hand.

Because dad took me with him on a LOT of Saturdays. So, when I say he worked hard, I know what I’m talking about from personal experience. First, you get up around 3 a.m. to be at the dairy plant way before daylight. Because you gotta have the milk truck loaded with cases of gallons, half gallons, and quarts of milk, juice, butter, and more. Then, you hit the road by 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. in order to deliver to customers before breakfast.

Dad worked two routes each week. One was his Monday, Wednesday, Friday route. The other was Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday. He delivered milk in some neighborhoods in Texas near NASA. In fact (as a side note) several of his customers were some of the first well-known, “right stuff” astronauts.

And that brings up another side note (and true story).

Dad made sure, on one of those Saturdays I worked with him, I got to personally hand deliver a half gallon of ice cream to Neil Armstrong. For those of you not born in the 20th century…Neil Armstrong was the first man to set foot on the moon. And little ol’ me handed him a container of Dutch chocolate rocky road ice cream! (I think that’s what it was)

Anyway…

Even on those long Saturdays, when I was helping Dad deliver milk, he spent lots of time with me. And not just telling me what to do. We also had conversations about the more important things in life. Things like what I had learned in math, science, and language classes. Other topics included boats, fishing, family, and where I was going someday when I die. Yeah, even that.

Those one-on-one times with my Dad were my favorites. And I wouldn’t trade a second of them for all the cool technology in the world.

Dad died when he was only 51.

There were tough times with my Dad, too. He was a strict disciplinarian. And when I failed to do the right thing once in a while, sometimes there were serious consequences. But those times never overshadowed the fun times with him. He also showed me how to use tools. And work on lawnmowers, bicycles, and even my first car. He built (yes, built, not bought) go-karts and mounted lawnmower motors to power them up. And my brother and I would test drive them around the block. Sometimes successfully. Sometimes not so much.

Dad also showed us how to fly kites attached to the line on our saltwater fishing rods and reels. He’d throw the football with us, in the street, during football season. He taught us the finer points of throwing a baseball with either hand. I remember even getting him to play tennis with me when I started up that sport in high school. And I remember it was the first sport where I could beat him. Guys might identify more with me on that…how it feels to first beat your dad at anything. Right?

My Dad was only 20 years older than me. That means he’s now been gone longer than he was around during my life. And I still think of him and so many of those special moments almost daily.

I’m not sure if he knows, right now, how important a role he played in my life.

But I AM sure he knows, without a doubt, what the more important things in life are. He was (and is) a Christian. So, I know my Dad is “present with the Lord” right now. And I’m confident that Dad has experienced, firsthand for almost 40 years, the ultimate relationship. It’s an awesome and incredible HOPE I have…to know I’ll see him again someday. And to know we’ll be eternal brothers in the presence of the one, true, living, loving Creator.

That’s why I encourage you to interrupt temporary with eternal.

As you go through your day today…as you check your texts, instant messages, social media accounts, YouTube and Instagram videos, and even your eCommerce stats…take a pause. Look up. Look around. Pay attention to the ones you love. Talk to them. Embrace. Laugh. Enjoy the time. They won’t be here forever. You won’t either. Be you’ll all be somewhere forever. Talk about that. And be sure where you’re going. It matters more than any other message you’ll receive from any other source.

I hope you’re tapped into the power of God’s love. Because there ain’t no other security that even comes close.

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

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Put a few drops of peppermint, or peppermint and lemon, into a diffuser (with filtered water). And I think you’ll love how those scents can open up your sinuses and clear your head.

Anyway…

It’s so cool, how diffusers vaporize the oils and water. And they do it so quietly. But the end result is so pleasant and so powerful. A whole room can transform as you breathe in those aromas. It’s one of life’s little pleasures.

I guess those are some of the reasons why Paul (in the Bible) metaphorically described Christians as diffusers. I’m not making that up. Here’s what he said…

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

That should clear your head about who you are.

I know it does that for me. And it makes me feel like my 3200 articles, well most of them, are like essential oils. And I’ve diffused “the fragrance of His knowledge” in my own way. Through Rhyme and Reason.

Hmm…maybe I should start my own brand of diffusers. What do you think?

But there’s a catch to letting God use you to diffuse the fragrance of His knowledge. Just like some people are allergic to certain plants and their oils, most people find the fragrance of God’s knowledge offensive, too. Paul talked about that this way…

“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life.” Sounds kinda like a life and death situation, doesn’t it?

Well, here’s a reasonable rhyme about that…

The fragrance of knowledge is essential.
Diffuse it. Don’t keep it confidential.
To some, it’s like roses. Some turn up their noses.
Your results will be quite consequential.

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

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

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I woke up this morning and saw the same stories in the news again. Too many fires. And too many people with questions. And not many who shared how Living Water is the answer. So, you know what that means.

Too many more fires to come.

But this ain’t about too many fires burning down forests, prairies, or houses. It’s about a focus on problems when you should be focused the solution.

A long time ago, if you wanted to tell God something, you had to follow a bunch of rules. And if you wanted God’s help with your problems, you had to ask a high priest to let God know your request.

But then Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead to make a way to change that. Now, you can pray to God anytime and every time you want, and He’ll listen. It doesn’t matter how many fiery problems are burning across your landscape right now. Because Jesus, who called Himself the Living Water, can help you put them all out.

He loves to hear from you, by the way.

So, try this idea.

Talk to God today and ask Him for some peace and quiet. Then, be still and listen for His word. I should say, that last part works if and when you’ve been in His word and His word is in you. If that’s not quite how it is, then grab yourself a Bible and read Paul’s letters. You can find them way over in the right side of the book. He wrote 13 of them. And they’re the ones from Romans to Philemon.

Paul certainly knew a thing or two about too many fires.

He was beaten with rods. And he received 195 lashes on his back. He was stoned. Shipwrecked three times. Dangerously adrift at sea. Thrown in prison, where he almost died, several times. And he listed a bunch of perils:

  • waters
  • robbers
  • my own countrymen
  • the Gentiles
  • in the city, and
  • the wilderness
  • in the sea, and
  • among false brethren

Wow. Every way he turned. But those weren’t the only issues. He also dealt with:

  • weariness and toil
  • sleeplessness often
  • hunger and thirst
  • fastings often
  • cold and nakedness, and
  • the other daily issues like his deep concern for all the churches

But Paul understood how prayers put your focus on the solution.

And he knew when you focus on all the fires (issues), you just end up with too many fires. So, I hope you’ll follow my suggestion and stop listening to and reading what everyone, who gets their unwise wires crossed, says about it. Forget about all the sky-is-falling people running their potty mouths, full time, about the bad news of the day.

Because the Good News is as close as your thoughts.
And you’re not just one of those programmed robots
Who can only see the fires that result from those crossed wires
Used so foolishly by ignorant crackpots.

Stay tuned,

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