Category Archives: Ecclesiastes

Tony Funderburk writes and sings about the rhyme and reason for your life found in the book of Ecclesiastes.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

News alert! Equality is a myth. You and I are not equal. And no one else is your equal either. Or mine. And we will never be equal. NEVER.

And that’s not a bad thing.

I’ve worked a lot of different jobs in my time here on planet Earth. The one vocation that stuck was singer songwriter. I’ve driven trucks, forklifts, tractors, motorcycles, all kinds of “cycles” and vehicles. And I’ve been a finish carpenter, a family photographer, a bartender, a construction detailer, a junk mail machine operator, and an awards jewelry maker (don’t ask). AND I’ve been a milkman, a college student, a hamburger flipper at McDonald’s. Plus, I’ve been a grocery store sacker and stocker, a “utility” guy at Sears (I gathered trash and bound it up in those giant bundles…after school and on Saturdays), a hay hauler, a sodbuster, and a paper boy. AND I’ve been a mortgage inspector, a furniture refinisher, and general handyman. Oh yeah, I’ve also been a copywriter, a jingle writer, a voiceover specialist, video editor, podcast creator and host.

And I’m probably leaving at least a couple out. But the only one that stuck for a long time was singer songwriter.

And that list proves equality is a myth.

Because the list of jobs you’ve had probably isn’t that many. Or, even if you’ve had that many, they weren’t the same. And even if, by some miracle, you had exactly the same jobs, you didn’t have them in the same order and for the same amount of time.

But, even beyond all that glut of information is the fact that I wasn’t even equal to myself. Much less equal to anyone else in those roles. Some jobs I did very well. Others I didn’t do well. And none of them made me who I truly am.

And that brings me to where equality is NOT a myth.

The value of your life. And mine. That’s where we’re exactly equal.

Because God created us. And because He’s eternal, He put that eternity into each and every one of us.

Well we’re equal when we’re born; so some famous men have said.
But there’s still some crazy notions in a lot of people’s heads.
They don’t want to face the future while they’re living in the past.
We’ve got to learn to live together and we’ve got to make it fast.
Do you think that God in Heaven would be proud of what he sees?
I think He wants us all to stop and get rid of this disease.

Stay tuned,
Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Regardless of my circumstances or status, I’m blessed to be alive. Because I’m alive. And I’m aware that I’m alive. And somewhere in my soul I know eternity is real. You could almost say the knowledge of eternity is written on the very heart of me. Hmm…wait a minute. Somebody DID say that, didn’t they? 

A few years ago I shared some thoughts on being blessed to be alive.

And I shared a bullet list about what I love about life.

  • smooth sailing,
  • trials and tribulations
  • growing up,
  • gaining knowledge,
  • gaining friends,
  • awards and rewards,
  • challenges and failures,
  • clouds and sunshine,
  • joy and laughter,
  • pain and redemption, and
  • words and music…

 

And life is not a two part journey…it’s a two place journey.

I hope you’re like me in that you’re an eager participant in both. Planet Earth is beautiful. And terrifying. Because it’s a broken reflection of God’s love and creativity. But the next place will be unfathomably kinetic, energizing, and joyous. Blessings beyond comprehension. And without end.

But not for everyone.

And that’s unimaginably sad. Because to enjoy life without end, all you gotta do is believe.

Not in dreams. And not in yourself. Not in a “force”. And not in the “law of attraction”. Not in internal spirits. And not in Mohammed, Confucious, Buddha, or even Allah.

Only in Jesus. But if that name offends you, the second place you live will fill you with unending torment.

And I’m only sharing this because I don’t want to see that happen to you.

You are blessed to be alive.
Keep that blessing in your heart.
And don’t let it slip away.
Every day’s a brand new start.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your device.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

To everything there is a season. And apparently there was even a time for a songwriter to get inspiration for a song from the Bible. And a time for that song to be played on the radio.

But the songwriter turned the words and the message into lyrics.

And it didn’t work, for the rhythm and melody, to just say “To everything there is season.” So, a hook was added. With the same word “Turn” repeated three times. And since the hook played such a significant role in the song it only made sense to make that the title of the song.

Turn Turn Turn

The song was written by Pete Seeger, a folk singer, who first recorded it in 1959. But that recording wasn’t a hit. Well, maybe Pete’s fans and family loved it. But it didn’t become a bona fide hit until 1965. And that’s when Pete left it to the birds.

No wait. Make that The Byrds. And it was December 4, 1965 when the song went to number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Hey, what a coincidence! This is December 4th, too. (wry grin from me as the crowds roll their eyes)

According to the research I did, the song topped the chart for three weeks. And that’s pretty cool since it’s the number for God…just in case you’re interested in Biblical numerology.

Now, here’s what I’m gonna do. I’m gonna share the lyrics…well, actually the inspiration words for the song. And I’d like you to pay close attention. Because, remember, these words were written by King Solomon and inspired by God. And some of it isn’t about peace, love, and joy.

To everything there is a season

And there’s a time for every purpose under heaven.
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to plant,
And a time to pluck what is planted;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
And a time to build up;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;
A time to cast away stones,
And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
And a time to refrain from embracing;
A time to gain,
And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
And a time to throw away;
A time to tear,
And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your player.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool tShirt

Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

OK, I’ll admit it. I’m human. And at least a part of me doesn’t like to be told I’m wrong. Sure, I’m the only person in the world who feels this way. Yeah, right. But the truth is…Truth needs to (and will) win out over feelings. Even mine. If and when they disagree with Truth. So, that’s why it’s crucial to be able to take criticism and rebuke. Otherwise, you get up each day and sing the song of fools. And each new verse is the same as the first.  

Play

Get The Rhyme and Reason PodcastDelivered to Your Device Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

Song of fools is lost in whirlpools

That’s not you I hear singing the song of fools…is it?

“Honey, I think Tony just insulted my singing.”

Not the voice. But maybe the content of your character.

No, I’m just kidding. At least for the vast majority of the people who read and listen to my ramblings and writings.

But I’ve heard there are a few of you out there…over the far horizons and beyond the bounding bends…who think you don’t need to listen to someone wise. Or that it’s just a silly idea some old white-haired guys with long beards and wrinkled faces made up a long time ago.

OK, you can think that if you want. But you’re gonna miss out on opportunities beyond your wildest, earthly imagination. Or you might, if you don’t hustle up some humility before it’s too late.

Because, like I’ve said lots of times before, it’s a limited time offer.

Sing a humble song now. Or hum a horrible tune later.

One leads to a downward spiraling whirlpool. And the other is caught up in a wonderful whirlwind.

They make the words up as they go along.
Each time they sing it, it’s a different song.
Their music follows no melodic rules.
So dissonance destroys the song of fools.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered (free) right to your player.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself a not cool tee

Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Do you know which color is right?

Black and white issues, in the world, aren’t so black and white. And the main reason I say that is because I’ve never met an actual black man or woman. And I’ve never met an actual white woman or man. But I’ve seen lots of different shades of brown, tan, and beige. And I’ve never had a problem figuring out which color is right.

Which color is right? Red, yellow, black, or white?

So, “Which color is right?” is a trick question.

Because they’re all wrong. Unless you’re trying to pick a color for the trim in your house. But if you’re talking about human beings, they all tend to be wrong. And there aren’t any “good” colors.

Here’s an excerpt from something I wrote five years ago. Notice how it totally fits today’s news…

“Sadly, many people who claim to be “non-judgmental”when it comes to the color of a person’s skin are some of the first to bring skin color up when a heinous crime has been committed. I’m sure you’ve heard, over and over in the news, how white cops are killing black people. Or how blacks are attacking whites. And so on and so on. The point is”if you’re gonna be non-judgmental when it comes to skin color, why wouldn’t you just report one human being committing a crime against another? Why would you even think to make it a racial issue? If someone murders someone else, I don’t care what the skin colors were (other than to hunt down the perpetrator). I care that a precious life was snuffed out at the hands of a murderer.”

And here are some lyrics to a song I wrote even further back in 1987. Race/color was just as much an issue way back then as it is today. There’s nothing new under the sun. And humans will never make enough laws to change hearts. Because laws aren’t love.

Colorblind

Look in the mirror tell me what do you see
A person who’s as normal as a person can be
You watch your money right down to the last dime
You know that life’s a struggle but you’re gonna make the climb
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all keep the pace
Instead of having to be judged by the color of our face”
And be colorblind”let’s be colorblind

Well we’re equal when we’re born; so some famous men have said
But there’s still some crazy notions in a lot of people’s heads
They don’t want to face the future while they’re living in the past
We’ve got to learn to live together and we’ve got to make it last
Do you think that God in Heaven would be proud of what he sees
I think He wants us all to stop and get rid of this disease
And be colorblind”let’s be colorblind

inst”

Colorblind; it’s just a state of mind
Why on earth can’t we believe it
Colorblind; a gift we give ourselves
So why on earth can’t we receive it and be colorblind”let’s be colorblind

We share the stars and the world keeps spinning round
We share the sun, and it never lets us down
Why can’t we share with all the peoples of the earth
Because colors don’t determine what another person’s worth
I’d love to see it but perhaps I never will
“˜Cause the devil’s doing damage and it’s hard to keep him still

© 1987 Copyright Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab some Merch

Or how about some music for kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Grasping for the wind

Have you ever tried to grab yourself a good handful of wind? Simple. Right? Yeah, hardly. OK, now imagine you’ve literally been given the keys to the kingdom. In fact, you’ve been made the king (or queen) of the kingdom. And you got all the riches and authority that came with it. You start out all bubbly and you tell everybody, “I have attained greatness, and have gained more wisdom than all who were before me.” But before you get to the end of your life that great feeling turns to, “And I set my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is grasping for the wind.” Wow, what could turn things around so harshly?

Play

Get The Rhyme and Reason PodcastDelivered to Your Device Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

Grasping for the wind is like falling out of a plane with no parachute.

And anytime you’re gonna take a leap…whether it’s out of a plane, or into faith…you need a parachute. At least if you wanna have any chance of survival. The parachute for the plane is like bulky baggage you gotta carry. The parachute for faith is as light as a thought.

But thoughts can weigh heavy on you, too. Figuratively. And the king I described, before, was a real king. Solomon. Former king of Israel. Son of David. You remember David, right? The guy who killed Goliath, the giant Philistine. Anyway…you could say Solomon was given more than just about anybody before or since. And yet he considered most of his life to be all in vain. Talk about sad.

If you’ve never read about Solomon, check him out. You’ll discover an amazing example of how to become a miserable failure. And that’s in spite of being given more wisdom and riches than anybody. I hope you’re holding and not grasping…

You Can Hold

I don’t wanna be grasping for the wind
When the days of my life come to an end.
I believe I can stem the rising tide
With the Spirit I have living inside.

Under Heaven, it’s said, there’s nothing new.
But the word of God proves that’s just not true.
Maybe everything in this world is old,
But there’s more than this world that you can hold.

(to be continued)

© 2020

Jump on the The TRUTH, and join a growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Music and Arts
and how they’re like pudding

Don’t worry. I’m not gonna share an old Bill Cosby jello pudding commercial with you. But I was just doing an internet search for the term, music and arts, and it got me thinking. Yeah, I know…that’s dangerous. But hey, even I think sometimes. Sure my head hurts afterwards. But it’s probably worth it. Anyway…

Play

Get The Rhyme and Reason PodcastDelivered to Your Device Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

Music and arts love in hearts

So, how are music and arts and love like pudding?

Easy, Speed Racer. I’m getting to it.

Think about your favorite song. Or your favorite work of art. Get it front and center in your mind. Can you see it? Or hear it? Good. Now focus on some of the details. Listen to the individual instruments of your favorite song. And even the individual notes if you can tunes into it even more.

Notice how the notes take you up and drop you down? And the beat moves your fingers and your feet. Pretty cool, right? Just listening to something can cause movement. Almost irresistible movement.

Now, picture your favorite painting. Or photograph. Or even a sketch. Can you see it? OK, focus in a little more. See the brush strokes. Maybe you can see where the pen or pencil moved along the paper. And maybe you can even see where the ink or paint or lead of the pencil skipped or faded.

And what does the art do to your emotions? There’s no doubt about it. You feel something just by gazing into the picture. Right? Maybe it speaks to an experience in your life you love to remember. Or would like to forget. But whatever the feeling, you like the art because it moves you from inside.

Now, about your favorite music and art, and…

It all had a non-physical beginning. Because no song or painting began as a song or a painting. They started as thoughts. But where do thoughts originate? Evolution certainly doesn’t account for it. If it did, why doesn’t every grain of sand and every molecule of oxygen use logic and reason. And feel emotions?

No other creature on earth has the depth of logic, reason, and emotion as we humans. And that’s because we’re the only ones designed in the image and likeness of the logical, reasonable, living, loving Creator of Heaven and Earth.

Because He loves, we can love. And because the ultimate Creator cares about us so much, we have intangible, creative thoughts. Like music and arts. God wrote those, along with eternity, in our hearts.

So…the proof is in the pudding. (See? That’s why I started out with pudding.) And your favorite song and your favorite painting are two more examples of how life has Rhyme and Reason because God made you.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Discover my books on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Grab some of my Christian or music-themed Merch