Category Archives: Luke

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

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Just because some authoritative power makes a rule doesn’t make the rule a good one, a just one, or a fair one. In fact, many rules, policies, and laws are downright bad. But you gotta think and ponder and examine to know which rules are good and which are bad. Before you decide to break rules you’d better be sure you’re on the right side.

But is that possible?

Short answer is yes.

But before you break authoritative rules, check yourself.

Maybe you have a lot of self-imposed rules for your life and/or the life of your loved ones. And maybe it would be a good idea to sit down, today, and re-examine whether they’re good ones or not. Here’s how you can know. If your rule shows your love for someone else, it’s a good one. If it doesn’t show love, or if it actually displays selfishness, it’s a bad one. That’s pretty much it. Simple. Right? Well, that depends on if you know HOW to show love.

So, do you?

If you’re not sure you’re any good at showing and sharing love, then I have another simple answer for you. Would you like the rules, you impose on someone else, imposed on you? If you conjure up a silly notion in your head for how someone else should live and treat you, are you willing to live that way and be treated that way? If not, you might’ve made up a bad rule.

I remember this subject came up in a conversation with a nice couple. I met in Tulsa, Oklahoma years and years ago. I was on the road full-time. And I got a booking at a nice hotel in that area. And that couple came in several nights while I was there. They heard a song I wrote, which I’ll share the lyrics to below. And on my break, we all talked about it.

In the end, we all agreed to come down to this: “If I don’t want that done to me, I shouldn’t do it to someone else.” Yeah, get together with the ones you love and talk over what’s going on. If you realize the rules aren’t working, somebody needs to say…

Let’s Break Some Rules

We play it all so careful.
We live within our means.
We don’t wear lots of jewelry or ninety dollar jeans.
We do our own repair work.
We water own lawn.
We’ve minimized the risks we take,
But now the thrill is gone

So let’s break some rules tonight…
Incite a riot in our hearts.
Let’s break some rules tonight…
Get someone else to play our parts.
Let’s create some tension;
Go out and grab some danger,
And they make say we look like total fools,
But at least for awhile…let’s break some rules.

We curse those Monday mornings
We gripe about our pay
We say we’ll make some changes
But it just can’t be today.

Chorus…

Well, who’s gonna do it if we don’t?
Who’ll make it better if we won’t?
I wonder…don’t it make you wonder?!

chorus…etc.

© 1987 Tony Funderburk (April 29)

(psst…if you wanna hear an old recording of this song, Tune in to The Power of God’s Love Podcast)

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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.

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Chronic stress and inflammation. What a lovely way to start a post. Right? Well, maybe it’s a bit on the trigger side of things. But let’s just say that’s the good bad news and I won’t leave out the good news. Sound good?

Consider these key things about with chronic stress and inflammation. Because stress:

  • Isn´t just mental
  • Damages your lungs
  • Weakens lung immunity
  • Increases airway inflammation
  • Triggers shallow, chest breathing (which means less oxygen and higher risk of infections)

But don’t let all that stress you out either.

Especially when you find out that God gives you a three word solution to chronic stress and inflammation. And you can find that three word solution seven times in the New Testament. In fact, all seven times are found in the Gospel writings. I’m sure you’ve heard that “the Gospel” is also known as “the good news.” So, this three word solution to stress is good news.

Just in case you’d rather not read that information directly from the Bible, here’s the solution:

Do not worry.

And I know a lot of people will say that’s a big case of oversimplification. But here’s the thing. It must be doable or Jesus wouldn’t have said it. Point. Set. Match.

One thing I used to do, back in my younger days, to relieve a lot of stress, was bicycling every chance I got. Across America’s heartland, in cities, in neighborhoods, and cool trails in the Rockies. I enjoyed it so much I wrote a song about the part of the bicycling experience when you get to enjoy coasting. That part is when you…

Freewheel

It’s another day in the land of everything
It’s another day to raise our expectations
We wanna work less hours and make a lot more money
It’s another day of stress and losing patience

Is it in our souls? Are we born this greedy?
Can we change our minds and keep our bodies soaring?
We can find a way to make it more than another day
There’s a finer way; a way that’s never boring

I wanna freewheel back to my own free will
I wanna pedal away at the speed of light
If we could freewheel back to our own free will
Maybe then we could see we don’t have to squeeze so tight
Freewheel!

There’s another life in the land of everything
There’s another life, but with different expectations
We could push real hard from a new perspective
We could end the stress and regain a lot of patience

chorus

I don’t mean to say I have all the answers
But I don’t begin to say that I know it all.
I just wish that we could see through our illusions
But everyday we build a bigger wall.

chorus…inst…chorus…to end  © 1988 TF

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There I was again. A very young boy in a trance. Or that must’ve been how it looked to any adults who might’ve watched me when it happened. But it wasn’t a trance. It was just me, fascinated with the tiny particles I believed I could see. Maybe I was just affected by the numbers 3 6 9. As in, 369 Hz. But I think the particles I could see (and still do) weren’t just the product of a young imagination. I’ll get back to that shortly. But here’s a connected rabbit trail (no, silly, that’s not a reference to Easter).

3 6 and 9 are just numbers.

(side note: I say “just numbers” but numbers are powerful because you can’t use them up)

Anyway…

When you put them together and add the Hz to the end, that’s when the magic happens. And where I say magic, Nikola Tesla said it’s the “key to the universe.” Because he believed the 369 Hz frequency holds the secrets of energy, vibration, and resonance.

(‘nother side note: I totally disagree with the “key to the universe” reference, definitely not true)

Tesla, and I’m sure lots of other scientists, believed that energy, vibrating at different frequencies, provides the building blocks of the universe. And they believe the vibrations can be measured and quantified using numbers. And something I found very interesting, in an article I read this morning, is how they believe “One of the most important numbers in this context is 3.”

Those scientists will tell you that the number 3 “represents the basic structure of the universe, as it is made up of three dimensions, length, width, and height.” And they believe “these dimensions are what allow us to perceive the physical world around us.”

I get their point. But they’re wrong. Because the number 3 represents the Creator of the universe. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Yeah, I done went and dropped a Bible bomb on ya.

But Christians are the gate watchers. And we gotta keep it real ’round here.

So, here’s a snippet of how those studious students of science connect 3 with 6 and 9. The article I just read said this about them:

~ The number 6, on the other hand, represents the way energy is structured in the universe. It is the number of protons, neutrons, and electrons in an atom, which are the basic building blocks of matter. The properties of matter, like its weight, color, and ability to conduct electricity, depend on how these particles are arranged.

The number 9 is particularly interesting, as it represents the highest level of vibration in the universe. It is the number that all other numbers collapse into, as it is the final digit in the decimal system. This number represents the highest level of consciousness and spiritual enlightenment, which is why it holds such a special place in many spiritual traditions. ~

By the way, even though I disagree with energy and/or frequencies being the building blocks of the universe, I’m still fascinated by how the numbers connect so well with the Bible. Which, I’m sure, was not their intention at all.

And speaking of intention, I’ll get back to my initial intention. The reason I started this out with how the adorable Tony boy saw particles.

I remember staring, mesmerized, at the sky.

Not up toward the sun. Just through the sky that reached all the way down to my level. And I’d “see” sky particles. As though I could actually see the molecules of nitrogen and oxygen wiggling around in front of me. Sometimes I’d put my finger in the air to see if it affected the wiggling. I wasn’t sure if it did or not.

But I was absolutely sure I could see the particles.

That was WAY back in the middle of the 20th century. Before the dawn of human enlightenment (as so-called “brilliant minds” these days would prefer you believe). And there weren’t any transmission electron microscopes or TEMs. But there are now. And just the other day I watched a video that took me right back to my particles watching days.

I believe the video was part actual video and part virtual simulation. But what impressed me most was how it started with hair on a woman’s head. And it kept zooming in closer and closer. Then it zoomed in on a single strand. Then a single section of that strand. And the zooming went right down into the cellular level. All the way down to the point where it all turned to particles.

OK, here’s where I go all particlelicular (I made up that cool word) on you. I believe you and I ARE made up of particles. But I don’t believe energy is what holds the particles together. Otherwise, it would make sense for live things to disintegrate immediately when they die. But they don’t.

So, I believe all the particles are held together by information. But information doesn’t create itself. And it’s childish to believe it does. No, the information comes from the source of information. God. Who also happens to be the source of life and light. And He installs that information into DNA particles.

And maybe that’s partly how a little boy could see sky particles.

I didn’t say it IS how. It’s just a maybe thing. But maybe the idea of particles can help explain how Jesus could suddenly appear to His disciples. And then, suddenly, disappear too. Maybe He manipulated the particles to move back and forth between Heaven and Earth. And maybe that’s the Way for the 3 6 9 combination to make a lot more sense.

Numerologically speaking 3 is the number of God. 6 is the number of man. And when you believe in and trust God, He dwells in you. Then you’re seen in Him when you get to Heaven. So, the combination of 3 plus 6 is…everybody together…9. Very good! Now, put those particles, that make up your hands, together, and give yourself a round of applause.

Thanks for humoring me as I made my way from Tony boy to TEMs. Now, off ya go.

But before you do…

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading 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.

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This world is getting darker and meaner every day. And there are fewer kids doing wholesome kid stuff with each passing year. But I think you’ll find that the sights and scents of a flower garden can still attract kids almost as much as they attract bees.

So, stop what you’re doing and make the most of it. So what if you had an appointment. Be a little late. So what if you’re on the way to work or the kids are on the way to school (which I recommend is in your own home). What you can teach them in a single, precious moment can have eternal benefits. And that trumps the daily routine any time.

With each passing year you have fewer chances to make a difference.

Here’s the main reason you and the kids should stop and smell the flowers. Because it’s a simple, effective connection you and they can make to your living, loving God who made the flowers. He’s the Creator who spoke words and all the universe exploded into existence. That’s powerful stuff packed into each flower. And right down to the very fragrance that wafts up into your nose. I call it…

The Scent of Heaven

Take a look at the colors in a flower.
They’re as beautiful as anything you’ll see.
And God knows just exactly what they all need
To bring joy and delight to you and me.

Even more than the best and brightest flower
God loves you every moment of the day.
So the next time you stop and smell a lily
Take a minute just to thank the Lord and say…

“Lord I love to smell the lilies of the valley
And the roses, lavender, and lilacs too.
I love to know they come back every springtime.
Best of all I know the flowers came from You.”  © 2015

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Do these sound like masculine traits? Decisiveness, assertiveness, and confidence? I think they certainly SHOULD sound like masculine traits. And I believe those traits can be instilled into boys in ways that help them develop leadership skills.

Let me ask you this? Do you think that’s happening in America these days? I don’t. At least not as a rule. Only as the exception. The general rule has turned to females in charge of little boys. And a majority of those little boys have turned into pasty-faced, video-playing mama’s boys who act way too feminine.

And that brings me back to why a boy needs to develop leadership skills?

Well, here’s some reasoning I read in a bullet list somewhere online. It said, “Boys who are taught to lead with integrity and respect can become leaders in their communities, workplaces, and families, promoting positive change and setting examples for others.”

Yeah, OK. Nothing particularly wrong about that. But it uses two overused clichés. “Promoting positive change.” And “setting examples for others.”

And I exiled those two phrases to cliché status because they don’t actually say anything. For example, what one person might call “positive change” another person might say is too crazy to even consider. And what kinds of examples should be set for others? Who gets to determine what they should be?

I’ll tell you who, here in the FunderSphere, gets to say what positive change is and what kinds of examples should be set. Mister Tony. That’s who. Uh-oh. Did I just put myself in charge of what’s right and wrong? You bet I did. But before you go ballistic, berserk, and bonkers on me for doing something so unthinkable, let me use some of my hard-earned leadership skills and ‘splain it just a step or two further.

Because no one is good but God.

And since that includes me, I look for real truth. I found real Truth when I was only 13. And every time I’ve zig-zagged away from that Truth, I knew it was me who moved. Not Truth.

So, when I want to share actual, man-building truth with kids (at least the male kids), I go to the Manufacturer’s manual. And I look for the solid answers there that are always right. Always on target. And always based in God’s love for anyone who loves Him.

Then, I take those answers I find, in the manual, and I convert them into easy-to-understand nuggets of knowledge and insert them into Christian books for kids, rhymes, songs, and videos.

Here’s a short, to-the-point example:

There’s a life inside of you, and it comes from God,
And He wants you to live and to always enjoy
And remember He made you the person you are,
Yes, a girl is girl and a boy is a boy.

And that ain’t never gonna change no matter how much haters try to change it.

Now, take a second and join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my books and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy. Then, I’ll do my best to encourage you to sing a new song with the power of God’s love.

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You’re probably never gonna grab a needle and thread and sew anything. So, on the surface, maybe what I’m about to say won’t interest you at all. But bear with me.

Because I’m gonna connect a needle and thread to God.

“I call that mighty bold talk for a one-eyed fat man,” you say, quoting a line from True Grit.

OK, setting my fragile feelings aside, after that snide remark from the peanut gallery, I’ll continue for the sake of the mind that seeks wisdom and understanding.

Let’s say you get a crazy notion to grab some notions, needle, and thread and tackle an easy sewing project. But, as you look around your crafting area, you can’t find a needle. Fear not. Worry not. I have the solution for you, oh intrepid one.

D.I.Y.

Yep. Make your own needle. What’s that? You think that would be too difficult? And it’s too silly to even consider? Well, then you obviously haven’t researched the subject. Or else you’d see how easy it is. As in these instructions I found this morning.

“An essential tool for hand sewing is the humble sewing needle. While sewing needles can be purchased very cheaply, there is something deeply satisfying about crafting your own from scratch. If you’re short on time, here’s the quick answer to making your own sewing needle: Select a thin, straight piece of steel wire. File the tip to a sharp point on one end and insert into a needle blank (wood, plastic, or bone). Sand any rough edges. Make an eye hole on the blunt end and thread your needle!”

Voila! Presto! And Shazam! I told you it would be easy.

And that info came straight from the internet. So, they couldn’t say it if it wasn’t sew. Uh, I mean, so. Now, I could share the more complex, 11-step instructions on how to create your own sewing needles. Seriously. I could. But, as I mentioned earlier, I doubt you’re ever gonna sew anything from scratch. Especially if scratch includes making your own needles.

Anyway…

The reason I brought it up in the first place is because of how tiny those handy little devices are. Yeah, needles can be extremely tiny. So, the hole where you slip the thread through (aka: the eye) is even tinier. In fact, it’s so tiny that sewing machine manufacturers came up with a way for the machine to thread a needle for you. It’s ingenious. Elgielene sews. And I’ve watched the process in action. It’s fascinating. And fast.

If you’ve ever tried to thread a needle, you understand the value of that.

But I didn’t just bring up needles and thread to talk about how small they are. Or even to talk about sewing for that matter. Nope. I brought it up because God says it’s “easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

And I thought about all this, earlier this morning, after I re-read four lines of poetry I wrote a while back. And I wrote the four lines in response to some social media discussion about Jeff Bezos and his yacht.

The little boat is named “Koru.”

It’s 417 feet long. If you like sports comparisons, that means it’s as long as a football field PLUS another 117 feet.

An article I read said that’s a “Māori phrase” for “new beginnings.” Which I think is a little bit ironic. Because I don’t think Mr. Bezos realizes how much he’ll need a new beginning one day in the not-too-distant future. I hope he changes his status before it’s too late. Because, even though his head is totally shaved, he ain’t ridin’ that yacht through the eye of a needle.

Coffee on a yacht is better than not
Having either a coffee or yacht.
And on second thought, if one must be not,
Give me coffee and not the yacht.

Now, maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok, let’s change that. Get to know more about me and my worldview. Join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And bask in daily, delightful flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

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When it comes to truth, most politicians would rather not. I hope that’s not true, when it comes to YOU. And I hope you don’t leave yourself in a compromised position when it comes to life and truth.

Because compromise can sear your soul when it comes to you.

That doesn’t make you a special target. Compromise can sear any soul who gives in to it.

And, for the sake of easy-to-understand clarity, I’m not talking about the compromise you make on which music to listen to, or which curtains to buy, or which appetizer to order. A little compromise, in those kinds of decisions, can make life more pleasant.

But when it comes to life and truth, compromise should sound like profanity to you.

Eight years ago, around this time of year, I wrote an unpopular opinion post. Sure, I know. I write those all the time, and that’s why the number of people connect with me is small.

Anyway…

The reason my post was so unpopular was because I dared to say you shouldn’t vote for Hillary or Donald. I said, “I understand not wanting her for a president. But I’d like you to consider something much more important…the issue of life.”

But, as I suspected, my recommendation fell on mostly deaf ears.

And I read comments like:

“I’ll just hold my nose and vote for Trump.”

“Well, when these are your choices, you have to pick the lesser of two evils.”

“Sure, he’s not completely pro life, but he’s closer than Hillary. And he loves this country.”

“If you don’t vote for one of the 2 parties’ candidates, you’re throwing your vote away.”

Yeah, that last comment came around a lot. But nothing could be further from the Truth. Because you NEVER have only two choices in elections and politics. There’s ALWAYS a third option. Always.

The third option is to not compromise the Truth. Jesus is that Truth. And He told his followers that if someone does harm to the “little ones,” it would be better to be thrown into the sea tied to a large stone. Yikes!

Of course, we’d never do that now.

We’re much too caring, civilized, and loving. So, we reward child abusers and molesters with a lifelong studio apartment, three meals a day, and all their needs met.

But, back to those silly little presidential candidates and their ideas on what’s good for America.

If your presidential candidate compromises on the issue of life (our first and foremost God-given right), then what issue(s) do you suppose he or she won’t compromise? Budgets? Spending? Foreign policy? Entitlement programs? All of the above?

Let’s say, for the sake of thinking things through a little further, there was one candidate who compromised on all the financial and foreign policy issues. But let’s say that candid wouldn’t budge on the right to life of every human being. And that includes the whole life, from conception to natural death. You could still make a compromise and vote for that candidate.

Because no office holder can live up to a perfect standard. Nobody can.

But if a candidate comes right out and says (and they all do) they’ll compromise on how many unborn babies to kill, that one issue disqualifies them. Period.

It’s better to obey God and let the chips fall where they may. And Jesus said (in red letters) “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to Me.”

Look at that statement carefully.

Jesus used words purposefully and meticulously. He said “one of the least.” He didn’t say “some” or “part” or “all.” And He said “one of the least of these.” And you can’t get any more “least” than unborn babies. When you take the compromising position that it’s OK to abort even one unborn baby, you disqualify yourself from having any wisdom.

And what America needs, in a leader, is wisdom. Not just somebody who can beat the opponent.

I know there are Christians who struggle with this issue of life because of their own past.

But, when it comes to YOU, remember that Jesus died for ALL your sins. And He wants you to use wisdom to help others see further down the road than you did. Just because you made poor decisions in your life doesn’t mean you can’t use and share God’s wisdom with others who might be struggling with the same decisions you once faced.

And one way you can help them is to show them you will no longer compromise on the basic human, and God-given, right to life.

And remember, God hopes you’ll stand up for His Truth.

He’s much more concerned about your eternal soul than who is elected president.

Elections, presidents, and even countries and nations will pass away. But God’s word will never pass away. And He says it’s never right, for any reason, to shed innocent blood.

So, consider whether or not your vote will leave you compromised with God’s word. And consider whether or not your vote endangers the eternal soul of your candidate.

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.

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