Articles that reference the book of Matthew

Posted on May 15, 2021 by TonyJune 17, 2021

Express your beliefs like the super-rich chiefs

If you were a “climate change” advocate, or some sort of “global warming” proponent, what would be the best way to express your beliefs? Show of hands? OK, Susie. What do you think the answer is? “Um, buy a half a billion dollar yacht?” That’s right, Susie. Of course, that’s only for the super-smart, super-rich people. But you’ve got the right idea.

Express your beliefs by doing the opposite.

For example, if you believe vehicles that use gasoline and petroleum also cause our planet to overheat, you should buy the largest vehicles you can find. And if you can’t find one large enough, have one custom made. After all, why deny yourself the pleasure of spending all that hard-earned dough.

And if you believe we’re using up all our planet’s resources too quickly, then you should definitely buy the largest house…no, I should say, mansion…you can find. And if you can’t find one large enough, have one custom made. After all, why deny yourself the pleasure of spending all that hard-earned dough.

Of course, I’m just being sarcastic. Because, like I said, the super-rich are super-smart. They’d never do such things. Because they super-care. They’d never spend their money in a way that harms mother earth.

Well, that’s true, unless you count just about every super-rich person out there.

For example, Jeff Bezos, chief excruciating officer of Amazon, will apparently soon be taking delivery of one of those half a billion dollar yachts little Susie mentioned. And according to an article I read about it, his yacht will be large enough to have a smaller “rescue yacht” on board.

I believe it’ll take more than a little fuel to operate that beast.

But I could be wrong. Maybe it’s totally electric. And totally emissions free.

And maybe there really are magical fairies, leprechauns, and unicorns.

Yeah, Mr. Bezos is just one example of the many super-rich hypocrites.

And Jesus, who created Heaven and Earth and all living things, had harsh words for hypocrites. When you look up the word “hypocrites” in the New Testament, you’ll see what I mean.

Just so you know where I stand on the topic of wealth…

I’m for it.

But far too many pursue wealth for its own sake. As they pretend to want to help their fellow man. And yet, how much does it help your fellow man to hear you talking about dwindling resources and the impending doom of climate change, when you buy gigantic houses and yachts?

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites. For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.”

Disagree? Feel free to express your beliefs in the comments.

Do you see the pattern form
How the wrong becomes the norm?
Say Yeah! Say Yeah!
Would you like to stop the ride?
Could you dare to take a side?
Say Yeah! Say Yeah!

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Posted on March 6, 2021 by TonyMarch 21, 2021

Peace or liberty, if I can choose just one for me.

Which is more important? More essential? And more vital to human endeavors? Peace or liberty? If you chose peace, go sit down in the back of the class and think about what you just did Mr. Man. Or Missy Miss. Because when, in the course of all human events, did peace throw off the shackles of tyranny?

Now, it would certainly be primo if we didn’t have to choose between peace and liberty.

But, just in case you hadn’t noticed, we don’t live in a perfect world. And there has, so far, been no rapture. So, there’s a whole lot of non-peace stuff going on. Even right here in the good ol’ so-called U S of A.

And I say “so-called” because America is anything but united. But guess what? In a Way, that’s a mighty good thing.

“What?! Division is a good thing?! What kind of crazy talk is this?!”

It’s the kind of “crazy talk” your Creator talked about. Yeah, He backs me up on this whole peace or liberty thing. And you don’t have to take my word for it. Because it’s in His word. He actually said He didn’t come to Earth to bring peace. In fact, He said He came to bring a sword.

But not because God doesn’t want you and me to have peace. But because He requires us to choose. And the Truth of His word (aka His sword) can divide fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, friends from friends. The Truth does that.

I wrote a song about it, which is included on my Amen collection of songs, and gave His sword another name. Not because I think it’s better. But because it fit the rest of the lyrics to…

The Master’s Knife

Don’t be thirsty;
drink from the Living Water
Don’t be hungry;
eat from the Bread Of Life
Don’t be weary;
you’re stronger when you serve
Don’t be defenseless;
carry the Master’s Knife
(repeat)

Even when days last forever
And when the nights bring no comfort
Know that the One who created
Lived and then died for your hurt

repeat chorus twice

Anguish won’t end,
if you trust your own hearts
What matters most
is who’s living within
Turning your backs on the facts is a farce
Give up your life
to the One who became your sin!”¨* Jesus *

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Posted on September 11, 2020 by TonySeptember 11, 2020

September 11, 2001 - the typical coward's hit and run

In the nineteen years since September 11, 2001 I don’t believe I’ve ever written anything about it. And I’m not really gonna dwell on it right now either. Because just about everything that could be said about it has been said. But I do want to make the easily observable claim of how it was a cowardly hit and run. Typical of people who hate God and hate anyone who loves God.

September 11 (aka 9/11) proved how foolish Islam is.

And I just read a clip where a muslim American soldier recalled that day in 2001, and said “Why did the terrorists have to be people who claimed to follow my beautiful Islam ? In hindsight it probably wasn’t the right sort of thinking.” Yeah, that guy is probably one of the many muslims who believes theirs is a religion of peace. And that’s as uninformed as Christians whose favorite Bible verse is the “judge not” verse.

But the main reason Islam is foolish, at best, and evil, at worst, is because there is no allah.

The allah found in their so-called holy book was a figment of Mohammed’s despicable imagination.

“Uh-oh, honey. Tony’s gone completely off the deep end this time. He’s talkin’ trash about somebody else’s religion.”

OK, I’ll ease up. And I won’t share any more details of Mohammed’s life. Especially not his incest or pedophile side. Who’d wanna hear something so gross anyway. Right? But it might be worth your time to look up information on the guy. Because it shows how his so-called religion creates rapists, murderers, and hit-and-run, cowardly terrorists.

And on this September 11, 2020, I hope you’ll pause for a minute and thank the one, true, living, loving God of creation for His love. And for the mountains of evidence that prove Jesus was and IS who the Bible says He is.

It’s important to believe who you believe in.
It’s important to have faith and hope and trust.
Because you’ll exist forever and forever
As a saved soul or a tortured soul of rust.

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Posted on August 2, 2020 by TonyAugust 2, 2020

Thank you letter and yes I'm getting better

A thank you letter

It’s weird (and annoying) how my mind works (or doesn’t) sometimes. And what I’m talking about is how I’ve been meaning to get to this thank you letter every time I’ve opened my text editor for a week. But instead I’d write and talk about something else. And now another week has passed without me saying it. So…

Here’s the thank you letter you deserve.

And for those of you who might have landed here for the first time, I’ve just gone through a balloon sinuplasty surgery. And that was after dealing with a respiratory issue for over two and half years. But it took that long to figure out what was going on. So, it has been more of a struggle than I ever imagined I’d endure when it first started back in 2018.

That being said…a lot of people have prayed for me. And that means more than you’ll ever know, this side of Heaven. Because I know wherever two or more are gathered, in prayer, God is there. And I know He hears our prayers.

So, thank you so much for adding me to your thoughts and prayers. I’m honored and humbled to think how many people did that.

And the good news is, I believe I’m on the mend now. Since the problems included my lungs, it will still be some time before I get back to my normal self. But I believe I can do it now that my head is clear and able to fight off infections.

Now, what I’m really looking forward to is getting my singing voice back. Because I wanna start writing and singing songs to help you stay up and motivated. For the ongoing battles of life. And the ongoing struggles against a world that increasingly doesn’t want people like you and me around.

So, let’s stay strong, and let’s smile.
And let’s commit to being here awhile.
And let’s be well, and let’s pray
For the strength we need as long as we stay.
We’ll be fine, and we’ll win
Because we know who’s living within.
Yeah…we’ll win.

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Posted on May 24, 2020 by TonyJuly 29, 2020

Conversation in a song and a couple of words I'll pass along

A conversation in a song stayed
in the back of my mind

The technical definition of a fugue, in music, is: “a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.” I like to think of it, simply, as a conversation in a song. Either with different instruments, or with voices. And an example of that is a song, from the musical “Guys And Dolls”, called “Fugue for the Tinhorns.”

They had a conversation in a song…about a horse.

It’s been so long since I saw the movie, but I can remember this song from “Guys And Dolls.” And Stubby Kaye, a fairly round guy, sang the main part, with a couple of other guys jumping in. Here’s their conversation:

I got the horse right here

The name is Paul Revere

And here’s a guy that says IF the weather’s clear

Can do, can do, this guy says the horse can do

If he says the horse can do, can do…can do.

The only reason I bring up the movie and the song is because of those two little words. Can do. They’re part of a song I recently wrote called “I Can Do.” It’s part of an optimistic collection of songs I’ve been putting together for a licensing project.

Apparently positive words and music are “a thing” when it comes to ads, certain movies, and other places where songs are included. Go figure.

And I figure, since I’m basically a positive guy, why not write a bunch of positive songs and put ’em all together?

Sounds good, right? Or should I say, sounds positive?

Anyway…here are some of the lyrics to “I Can Do.” And if you’re a The Power of God’s Love Podcast listener, you’ll hear some of this in this episode.

I know the morning sun will shine,
And so, I’ll draw another line.
I’ll keep a box of all my most important things
Inside my heart where they can be
A constant song of joy to me.
I love the sound of optimism when it sings.
I can do”what I need to. I know it’s so. So, I can do.

One last thing…I didn’t write my latest songs to promote the power of positivity. Because there’s no actual positive power apart from the Creator of music. In fact, when you focus on your own power, and leave God out of the equation, you won’t go far.

But you can look into it and see how right I am about it, or you can ignore it at your peril.

Your choice.

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Posted on April 20, 2019 by TonyMarch 2, 2025

Resurrection Day 2019

This episode of Rhyme and Reason is based on something I wrote back in 2017. And subscribers to the podcast will hear my Resurrection Day song called “The Way”. I’m including the lyrics below. In the recording I also acknowledged my buddy, Greg, and his reference to the zombie apocalypse that already happened. Tune in to get the Bible reference he shared to prove his claim.

And I sent a shout out to my cousin, Becky, in Oklahoma. Her mom, my aunt, died earlier this month. Becky sent me the nice memorial flyer which looked like quite the Funderburk affair. All the casket bearers were Funderburks, and even the pastor was a Funderburk. I’m telling you…you better watch out when you’re around Funderburks, souls could get saved and go to Heaven.

I hope you have a blessed, happy, and healthy Easter and thank you so much for tuning in to my Resurrection Day Rhymes and Reasons.

The Way

And it came to pass one day on a mountain far away
That a soul was taken and a life forsaken
Because someone had to pay

For the heart of all mankind.
There was no untarnished mind.
So one life was spent Who was innocent,
But He left His Word behind…

Forgive them for they know not what they do.
Redeem them and I give My Blood to You.
We can rise up
No matter how much the guilt might weigh.
He said…”I am the Way!”

Now so many years have gone
And we love with blinders on.
How we tolerate is a form of hate.
Where’s the Rock He stood upon?

For the Truth is absolute and it’s foolish to dispute.
It confounds the wise but it opens eyes,
And it saves the destitute

Chorus

Now don’t turn to the left don’t turn to the right.
Just run straight to Him with all your might!

inst…chorus to end

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Posted on September 18, 2018 by TonyAugust 3, 2024

I’ve Got Things To Do

I wouldn’t mind stopping all of the wars.
I’d be a diplomat,
If I could know for sure in my heart
That it was simple as that.
But peace will have to wait.
I can’t just change my life around.
I’m in the middle of something
That has me helplessly bound.
I’ve got things to do.
And I’ve got places to go.
I’ve got people to see
And savings to grow
And though I don’t know how to see this through
I know for sure I’ve got things to do.

I wouldn’t mind spreading love in the world.
I’d work it every day.
I know that someone’s life can be changed.
When you give love away,
But love will have to wait;
We’re gonna have to hold that thought.
I’m on a merciless mission…and though it hurts a lot

I’ve got things to do.
And I’ve got places to go.
I’ve got people to see
And futures to grow
And though I don’t know how to see this through
I know for sure I’ve got things to do.

I’m sure someone will come along
Who could easily fit the bill
And when they do, I’ll lend my support,
If I can ever get over this hill.

I’ve got things to do.
And I’ve got places to go.
I’ve got people to see
And dreams to grow
And though I don’t know how to see this through
I know for sure I’ve got things to do.

If you get the sense that those lyrics above describe you, it might be time to sit down and prioritize your to-do list. And even more important than knowing what to do, and when, is knowing Who gave you the ability to do.

Your to-do list should have an eternal perspective.

It would be a crying shame if you accomplished everything important on every to-do list you ever made…only to find out it was all for nothing when you died. That can happen if you put YOU at the top of your priorities.

So…what’s on your to-do list now?

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Tony Funderburk

Your Life Has Rhyme And Reason Because God Made You