Category Archives: Luke

Tony Funderburk shares messages of faith, hope, and love found in the book of Luke

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Recently, I heard somebody say “It’s hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys.” And I thought to myself, “Then, you only have bad guys.”

Because “good guys” don’t happen by accident.

Matter of fact, there really aren’t ANY good guys. Allow me to explain…

Do you know the difference between good guys and bad guys? Is it the hat they wear? Or their clothes? Is it the cool weapons they use? Or maybe the car or space ship they drive? Nope, nope, and nope. It’s none of those things.

Good guys aren’t always good. And bad guys aren’t always bad. But you still gotta know the TRUE difference because you’re gonna have to choose which one you’ll be.

First, you gotta know what determines whether something or someone is good or bad. And I’ll let you in on a little (not little) secret. It’s not a “what.” It’s Who.

Nobody on earth gets to make up what’s good and bad.

Only God gets to do that.

He says something is good because it’s good for you. Something is good when it helps you. And when it helps you to help others. And something is bad when it hurts you and hurts others. Really bad things can cause people to die. And God hates that. So, He made some rules so we’d know how things are supposed to work. And He did it for our own good, because He loves us. Not because He doesn’t want us to have any fun. God knows what’s good for us better than we do. After all…He made us.

So, do you wanna be one of the good guys?

Then, it’s a good idea to find out what God says.

Don’t worry about being good every minute of every day. God knows you can’t do it. That’s why He sent Jesus. Because Jesus could do it. And Jesus lived a perfect life and paid the way for you to live forever. Imagine this. You can go to Heaven and live forever. And all you gotta do is trust that Jesus will get you there.

The really, really bad guys…the ones who don’t want to trust and love Jesus…don’t go to Heaven. And that’s their choice. God doesn’t want them to choose that way. But He won’t force them to choose His way. Because He knows that wouldn’t be true love.

So, now you understand the difference. Right? If not, let me know what you don’t understand. I’ll see what I can do to help.

The world if full of good guys and bad guys.
Sometimes if feels like bad guys win the most.
But you can be a good guy, a winner…
You’ve got the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

They’re never gonna leave or forget you.
They wanna live, forever, in your heart.
Then, you’ll always be one of the good guys.
And God will keep the bad guys far apart.

Stay tuned,

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Some people think there are many mysteries of life. Those people never seem to find satisfactory answers to their burning questions. I have. And it brings me everlasting comfort.

Maybe you think talk about everlasting comfort is just wishful thinking.

But maybe it isn’t.

And when I say “maybe it isn’t,” I mean, it isn’t.

I hope you’re not one of those who says true science never really finds the answers. Because seeking and processing new information can lead to answers. Not just endless questions.

But you won’t be able to make sense of anything, if you can’t know that you can know.

In fact, if you can’t truly know anything, you might even begin to question your own existence. And that’s a self-defeating whirlpool of thought. And so pointless. (real people actually do that, by the way)

If you can read this, you can think new thoughts. And if you can form pictures in your mind based on words, you can communicate. And even if you can only communicate questions, you exist. I promise.

More importantly, you’re not here accidentally. You’re a created being. Created by the living, loving God who created everything. He is the answer to all the mysteries of life. And He loves you if you’ll let Him. I recommend it. Because when you do, you’ll experience that everlasting comfort I mentioned earlier. Because He is the…

Everlasting Everywhere

I want the Everlasting Work Of Art;
Not just on canvas, but engraved in the heart
I need the Everlasting Scale Of Worth.
That’s the only Way to perfect peace on earth

Everlasting and everywhere…
He’s Everlasting and everywhere

I look for Everlasting holy clues
To steel myself through all this negative news
I dream the Everlasting wide-eyed stuff,
But I’m still aware that dreaming’s never enough

Chorus

You seek the answers to the mysteries of life
But how much truth can you handle
And as for me, well, there is only One Fire
That lights the flame on my candle

Chorus

I look to the Everlasting Guiding Star
To make my path straight as I travel so far
I sing the Everlasting song of man;
Teach us to understand our place in the plan

Chorus…inst…chorus…bridge…chorus…

modulate up and repeat

2 verses and choruses to end

© 1992 Tony Funderburk

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It’s sad how we humans insist on being our own kings and queens. Because we’re so temporary. I remember a song, from back in the 70’s, by Seals and Crofts. It’s a lighthearted little tune about a guy who admits he’s the “King of Nothing.” Since the control freaks at YouTube (Google) don’t allow video sharing anymore, you’ll have to find a video of the song. But I think you’ll enjoy it.

Kings and Queens of nothing take on many forms.

I don’t get the attraction to zombies and skulls, these days. But, like I’ve said many times, movies and videos and TV shows don’t tend to reflect my preferences. So, I guess I’m in the minority. But somebody tell me. What’s the big attraction with dead people walking around trying to eat live people? Kind of a sick attraction, to say the least.

Life is beautiful. Death is a curse. I remember a verse in the Bible, “why do you seek the living among the dead?”

But millions flock to the “dark side” of life.

They don’t seem to notice that there’s no chance of that lasting forever. Everyone who ever lived, throughout human history, died. And none of them ever came back, as walking corpses, to chase down and devour living humans.

Maybe it’s like Jesus said in the book of John: “...the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.“

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could simply start loving the light? Yeah. And wouldn’t it be great if everyone decided that the possibility of eternal life in paradise was cooler than being a zombie?

And wouldn’t it be great if we’d all simply “do unto others as we’d have done unto us?”

But I guess that’s too simple-minded. and, I guess it’s too difficult to overcome disdain for our fellow human beings. So, I guess there’s no chance at all of avoiding the powerful destruction found in the book of The Revelation. But you know what?

I’ll bet God wishes all that destruction wouldn’t come true.

I’ll bet He wishes we’d all understand we’re kings and queens of nothing.

And I’ll bet He wishes we’d stop looking for the living among the dead.

Stay tuned…

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“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” You’ve heard that more than once I bet. And it sure applies to Christian doctrinal differences. Because I see it more and more, with each passing year, how Christians put words and actions into God’s mouth and hands that He didn’t (and doesn’t) do and say. In other words…

There’s a ton of what you know that just ain’t so goin’ on out there.

Like the messed up idea that God predestined everything that happens or has happened or ever will happened. And how that means everything happens for a reason. And that we just need to remember it’s all “part of God’s plan.” Like I said, that’s messed up. So, to that I say, no.

And then how about this whole messed up idea of Christians forgiving everybody? Yeah. You even see people interviewed on TV after a loved one was murdered. And they’ll say things like, “I know God wants me to forgive him (the murderer), but it’s not easy.” Or they just go ahead and forgive the murderer and feel good about themselves for doing so.

That’s messed up, too. And to that, I also say, no.

Of course, the most ubiquitous case of what you know that just ain’t so is “Judge not.” Also known as “don’t judge” or “I’m not judging you” or some other form you’ve probably seen and heard.

And the irony is…the Christians who say we’re not supposed to judge will get very judgmental toward any other Christian who’d dare to judge someone. I’m sure they mean well (don’t touch that sarcasm dial), but they truly either haven’t read Paul’s writings, or they just forgot.

It’s really important to get these things right. I wrote a song about ’em. Here are the lyrics.

A Thousand Times No

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.
No no a thousand times
I said, No, no…a thousand times no.
No no a thousand times.

Should you freely give forgiveness?
The Bible tells you so.
But what if someone’s unrepentant?
How does that one go?
Should they get to live in sin
And skip the judgement day?
Take a look at the Revelation.
What would Jesus say?

No, no…a thousand times no.
No no a thousand times
I said, No, no…a thousand times no.
No no a thousand times.

And who are you to judge?
Your eyes can clearly see
That you’re no holier
Than him or her or me.
So, should you shut your mouth
And skip the words of Paul?
Did he misunderstand
The Lord’s enduring call?

No, no…a thousand times no.
No no a thousand times
I said, No, no…a thousand times no.
No no a thousand times.

© 2010 Tony Funderburk

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Back in my school days, there was a spunky and long song with a chorus that said, “Bye bye Miss American Pie.” It was written, performed, and recorded by Don Maclean. And lots of people thought the song was about Buddy Holly when it said, “…the day the music died.” But Mr. Maclean says maybe, maybe not.

One thing’s for sure. The bye bye certainly fits Buddy Holly’s last day.

And the only reason I bring it up is because Buddy Holly’s last day was February 3rd, back in 1959. It was also the last day, on planet Earth, for Ritchie Valens, and “The Big Bopper,” J.P. Richardson.

From what I’ve heard and read, the whole tour for the collection of 50’s bands, was a disaster in the making. They all had to drive lots of miles between appearances. And it was all during what one reporter said was “one of the deadliest winters the Midwest had seen in decades” And I can tell you, from experience, how awful it can be to drive through Iowa and the Midwest in the middle of winter. (ask me about my truck on I-35 one howling night)

But the show must go on.

So, the bands kept making it to each “gig.” And what ended up being the last show, for some of them, was in Clear Lake, Iowa. People who were there said it was something they’d never forget. So, I guess Buddy and the gang were fired up. And that’s good.

Because after the show, the doomed musicians got on a small, chartered plane. And it crashed not long after takeoff. So, fans around the world had to say bye bye to some big names in rock-n-roll.

And whether or not American Pie mentions them, they found out, in an instant, how quickly your soul can be removed from your body.

That’s more important to know than anything else you’ve got going on in this world. Because you and I are eternal beings. But our bodies only last so long. And circumstances you never dreamed of can change the whole direction of your eternity.

So, be sure you sing a new song
With the Word that you can take along
Through the years that forever brings
And way beyond all these earthly things.

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Imagine you’re a sheepherder. I know it’s a stretch. But go with me on this for a couple of minutes. OK, you’re a sheepherder out in a field at night. And all is calm. All is bright…clear sky, big stars. And you start to get a little sleepy and your mind starts to wander. Somewhere deep inside your thoughts is some sort of memory about something to do with shepherds and angels. But then you lean back on a tree and conk out.

Then, you start to dream about shepherds and angels.

And a deep voice…like a movie narrator’s voice…maybe it’s Liam Neeson or James Earl Jones…speaks these words:

“Now there were, in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Then, your head drops to your chest.

And you wake up as your whole body jerks. And you take a quick look around. All the sheep are fine. Just an occasional baa baa. Nothing to worry about. No sign of coyotes or other predators. But…

Over your shoulder you notice a bright light.
And that’s strange because this is a moonless night.
So, you turn and you stare, and there’s no bright light there.
But the words in your dream help you feel alright.

Stay tuned,

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So-called Black Friday deals are popping up in online advertisements everywhere. And if you still watch “regular” TV (we don’t here in the FunderBungalow), you’re probably seeing tons of them, too. And there is so much subtle and blatant hypocrisy involved, it boggles the mind.

Black Friday deals are distractions.

And, by the way, there is only one good reason why this day exists. But the vast majority of people either don’t know what that reason is…or they couldn’t care less.

I’ve never done the numbers, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if someone could show how much better deals can be found on plenty of other days of the year. Maybe my friend, Greg, who’s a deal-finding pro, could shed some light on it. Hmm…I’ll have to ask him.

Anyway…

Why did I mention “distractions?” Because when you consider what a mess America is in (the rest of the world, too), I believe looking for Christmas gift “deals” is at least a little silly. Especially in these tyrannical times when you’re supposed to “social distance” yourself even from your friends and relatives.

But what’s even worse is how the yearly feeding frenzy for bargains has always distracted from the real reason this day exists. And if you think the reason is the Hallmark version of Christmas, you missed the point.

Because that version of Christmas puts the focus on human experience.

And that removes the focus from why Christmas even exists.

The only reason Christmas exists is because your Creator was willing to become a human being. And even more than that, He was willing to live a sinless life and suffer through the most horrific Black Friday.

But that’s not even on the radar of many, if not most, business owners. Because they either don’t care or truly never knew. I’d say most don’t care. As long as buyers gobble up their “deals” and put them in the black.

But one day there won’t be a Black Friday for anyone. And then it’ll be too late to find out how it all got started. And why. So, my recommendation is to look into it now. While there’s still time. Ignore my advice at your peril.

Christmas is the one day when God became a man,
When peace on earth began…and ended so fast.
But Christmas is the one day when hope can rise again
Inside the hearts of men. So why can’t we make it last?

Stay tuned,

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