tolerance and diversity Archives

Posted on May 2, 2026 by TonyMay 7, 2026

I lived in a one bedroom one bathroom garden level apartment in Lakewood, Colorado for a couple of years. I finished up the 80s there. And I started out the 90s there. During my first summer, in that complex, I noticed oodles of rainbows after the almost daily short summer rains. And that inspired me to write a song called Rainbow City.

The only recording I have of the song is an MP3 demo version. And when you hear it (and listeners of the power of God’s love podcast can hear it), you’ll notice two voice styles. Because I had intended to make it a collaborative project with another singer. And I wanted to send the demo to him with a different voice, so he could hear where his part would be.

That never happened. So, I just ended up with a funky little demo. And I thought about that old song today as I watched the sun finally emerging after two days of heavy rains here along the Emerald coast. I don’t really see rainbows here like I did in Colorado. And I miss that.

So, I guess that got me feeling nostalgic and I figured I’d share the lyrics to…

Rainbow City

Why does everybody worry?
Spend so much time fretting and fussing
And you’re bound to end up grey.
Why is everybody faithless?
Detour yourself into the night
And you can’t enjoy the day.
Where is everybody going?
We’re escalating and elevating
And still no ground is gained.
Where can people find an answer?
They put away for a rainy day,
But it already rained.

Don’t you see? We’re living in Rainbow City.
Don’t you know? We own that pot of gold.
Can’t you tell? We’re livin’ in Rainbow City.
Can’t you feel, and come in from the cold?

How can anybody profit?
Give of your hand and not your heart
And no one’s world can change.
When will anybody listen?
When all the deer and the antelope
Lose their home out on the range?
Why does everybody forget?
Their little brick and glass domain
Can’t shield them from the fire.
>I wish that we could all be happy.
>I know we should and maybe we could
Put our faith a whole lot higher…repeat chorus

I know it’s cold out there…I’ve been to that empty place,
But you can be warm inside…the light can shine on your face.

All these years later, the so-called lgbtq movement has attempted to hijack the meaning of rainbows. But, as a Christian, I know it will always be a covenant God made with us. He said He would never again flood the entire earth. And that the bow in the sky, after a rain, would be a sign of His covenant with us. Now, that’s a beautiful use of beautiful colors. Too bad some try to pervert it.

In the end, that won’t work out well for them.

If you support the modern day take on what a rainbow means, you should connect with me. And one good place to start is right here…

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Posted on April 10, 2024 by TonyApril 27, 2024

No problem, no problemo. Oh yeah? Well, here's the memo.

My brother and I had a two-week booking in Erie, Pennsylvania. And we had just arrived. We unloaded our music gear and clothes and took them into the hotel. But I left a few boxes and assorted items in the back of my pickup. Because it was our first night in town. And we were tired from a long drive. Plus, the truck was parked inside the hotel’s “secure” lot for guests. So, no problem, right?

Yeah, no problem for a certain scumbag.

The next morning I went down to my pickup to go somewhere for lunch. And, as I approached the pickup, I noticed the hatch lift to my topper was open. Not a good sign. When I went around to look, I found papers and all sorts of things torn and tossed all around. Some of my personal property, including a can with a substantial amount of coins, was gone. As you might guess, I was livid.

Side note: synonyms for livid (and they all apply): furious, angry, infuriated, irate, fuming, raging, seething, incensed, enraged, angered, beside oneself, wrathful, ireful, maddened, cross, annoyed, irritated, exasperated, indignant; informal mad, boiling, wild, seeing red, hot under the collar, up in arms, foaming at the mouth, on the warpath, steamed up

If you’ve never felt violated like that, consider yourself fortunate. When someone crosses the line of your property, even if it’s in the back of your car or pickup, that’s already a violation. But when they steal what you’ve worked hard for, that’s an exponential increase to the violation.

And, in my case, it was even worse than that.

Because, of course, nothing was ever recovered. And my insurance wouldn’t cover it because they said I hadn’t properly protected my property. So, property lost. Lividity vented. And lesson learned.

But one of the reasons I brought this up is because of how many Americans don’t seem to even feel the slightest bit violated by criminals crossing our property lines. And so many Americans aren’t livid about how much of our money is stolen, by our own government, to give to those criminals. It’s demented, despicable, and devoid of intelligence.

Trillions of dollars in debt. And yet, somehow, politicians find a way to take YOUR money and give it to criminals. Yes, criminals. Every single person who crosses property lines (aka: the border) without going through the gate, is a criminal.

I don’t care if it’s a family of four who want “a better life.” And I don’t care if it’s a guy who “just wants to get a better job so he can take care of his family.” When you enter someone’s property without an invitation, you ARE a criminal!

But no problem. Right? Or, should I say, “no problemo?” It’s just people moving from one place to another. Hey, I’ve done that a lot of times. And each one of those times was to set up something better.

So, what makes me think I can move around to different parts of the world and others can’t? Nothing. I never said that. But the difference is, I didn’t cross somebody’s property lines illegally. And I didn’t steal money from other people in order to make my move.

Yes, I’m better off than a lot of people in the world.

Because I was born into a country where I was at least free enough to pursue my dreams and goals. But even if I wanted to go live somewhere else in the world, I’d be sure to follow their rules for entry and citizenship. As long as they didn’t violate basic human rights to life and liberty, no problem.

So, there you have it. From feeling violated in Erie, Pennsylvania to an eerie violation of our national sovereignty. Do I know how to rant or what?!

Speaking of ranting. Here are the lyrics to a song I wrote after the incident in Erie.

Never Neverland

Sometimes this world brings my bad side out.
I get so mad I could scream!
I wonder why can’t we all be friends.
Live and let live and share the dream.
So much depending on tomorrow.
Heaven only knows where tomorrow goes.
Why must we beg and steal and borrow?
A temporary fix; an empty bag of tricks.

And it’s just like the drifting of the sand,
Living in Never Neverland.
Where the mind is always quicker than the hand,
Living in Never Neverland.

Sometimes I need just to air things out.
Let the sun shine on my face.
Then maybe I’ll keep emotions in check.
And I’ll still trust the human race.
So much at stake; so much to lose now.
Can’t we understand and open up our hands?
There’s so much more we could be doing,
If we would only do what we’re intended to.

Repeat chorus…inst…ad lib chorus to end

Why linger in Neverland. Instead, get all my really refreshing Rhymes and Reasons the easy way. Just jump on the The TRUTH. And I’ll send them directly to your inbox. Do it now, and you’re only a couple of clicks or taps away from some complimentary songs and some other surprises: https://www.TonyFunderburk.com

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Posted on December 16, 2023 by TonyDecember 16, 2023

I’ve never enjoyed writing pro life songs. And I wish none existed. OK, I said it. And I’m not taking it back.

But I’ll explain why I’m so anti pro life songs.

Because I’d much rather write songs about all the glorious things of God’s creation. You know; love, flowers, whimsy, and everything else that delights your senses and sensibilities.

But every day it’s easy to look around and see:

Christians who don’t even know some of the simplest things God said in His word about the blood of the innocent
politicians who waffle on the sanctity of human life
celebrities who use the same ol’ worn out clichéd reasons like “life of the mother” or “woman’s right to choose”
bloggers and other writers who simply don’t do the research

It all motivates me to think of another way to sing about it. My current circumstances prevent me from doing a lot of other things about personhood for preborn babies. But I can write songs about their plight. Then, I can post them here on TonyFunderburk.com AND on iTunes, YouTube, LinkedIn, Gab, Twitter, and even on YuckBook.

And I know that ne’er-do-wells, who don’t judge, despise me for it.

Even though they scream about, and virtue signal their tolerance celebration of diversity.

And to them I say, “Put it in your pipe, with your glaucoma medication, and smoke it.”

But if you don’t disagree with me, please support me. And other musicians, pastors, bloggers, politicians, and anyone else who recognizes the God-given right to life and personhood of everyone from biological beginning to natural end.

Help us to not write any more pro life songs. Or create “pro life legislation.” Or write pro life stories.

It’s a shame any of those things ever needed to exist. Because it’s a worldwide shame abortion exists.

Show the world you’re pro-life. It’s one of the glorious things anyone can do. Even you. Will you give it a try today? I’d love it if I could focus on happy blog posts, songs, stories, and podcast episodes.

Until that time, here’s one I wrote to showcase the personhood of unborn babies.

Personhood

You should thank your Mom cause she thought of you as a person.
From the very start she was calling you her daughter or her son.
And though life isn’t easy; our Moms still believed we would make it.
Now some call life a choice, but it’s still a precious life.
We can’t take it.
We can’t forsake it!

Give an unborn baby personhood
There’s nothing more important we can do!
Give an unborn baby personhood.
50 Million persons beg us to…they beg us to! (much more now)

We can read all the judgements, and continue to build our big plans.
But there are lives in the balance, and the choice is right in our hands.
So do we sit idle? Or is there a way we can stand tall?
Can’t we stand for life? Or do we really stand for nothing at all?
And let the innocent fall?

If human life is just sown by chance, then
Nothing we know could be bad or be good.
If we’re just embryonic particulate matter,
Then we could know there is no personhood…
But we hope and we pray
And we live for the day,
When our love becomes broad
In the image of God…

~ Chorus ~

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Posted on September 5, 2023 by TonySeptember 5, 2023

I stumbled on this little blurb, this morning, as I did some research. It was about a fairly well-known book. And it said: “Might Is Right or The Survival of the Fittest” is a book by pseudonymous author Ragnar Redbeard, generally believed to be a pen name of Arthur Desmond. First published in 1896, it advocates amorality, consequentialism and psychological hedonism.” (They left out the Oxford comma. Not me.) And it immediately made me think the opposite. Right is might. Because it IS…with a caveat.

Right is might when it’s really right.

And that sort of statement drives relativists up a (tolerant and diverse) wall.

But what sounds mightier? An eternal life in paradise with the one, true, living, loving Creator of us all? Or an amoral, consequential, and psychologically hedonistic life of about 70 or 80 years?

“I pick door Number 1, Bob!”

The trouble lies where obfuscation of truth (and THE Truth) thrives. And that’s everywhere people prefer feelings over logic. And self over sacrifice.

So, when you stand up and say there is such a thing as absolute truth, seething anger rises up from the masses like the dark smoke when lava meets the sea.

But here’s the thing.

When I say there IS a Creator, and that He provided only one Way to eternal life, I’m either right or wrong. No gray area. And if you say the opposite of what I say, you’re either right or wrong. No gray area. Technically we could both be wrong. But we can’t both be right. And I submit that I’m right.

And, in this case, right is might. Because it acknowledges the source of life and truth. But words mean things. And ideas have consequences. If I’m wrong, the consequences are just eternal darkness. But…

What If I’m Right?

You think it’s wrong to talk of only one Way.
Live and let live is something you always say.
How could there be a God who no one can see?
When bad things happen, you say “Where can He be?”

You want some proof; maybe a word or a sign
That our existence could be all by design.
I say the proof is in the feel of a song.
But it’s invisible so you say I’m wrong.

But what if I’m right? What if it’s true
All of these things I’ve been sayin’ to you?
What if you die and it’s not the end?
What if your life is nothing you can defend?
You think I’m wrong, and that I don’t walk in the light,
But what if I’m right?

So many people living inside a dream
Making a choice that even God won’t redeem.
I say choose Jesus because this life’s not long.
You say it’s nonsense, and you tell me I’m wrong.

But what if I’m right?

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Posted on June 27, 2023 by TonyJuly 15, 2023

I don’t know why it is. But fat, old guys seem to be the typical Harley riders. And before you look for the page turn or delete button, I’m not gonna ramble on about fat, old guys on motorcycles. I’m sure you’ve seen your share. And you’d probably like to talk about almost anything else.

So, good. How about fat, old guys walkin’ down the street?

And even worse than that, they’re walkin’ down the street naked. Now, that’s not your typical scene. Except, it IS starting to get a whole lot more typical. And it’s happening with the approval of large crowds of men, women, AND children (although I doubt the kids had any choice in the matter).

This past weekend (6/23-6/25) a Bud Light sponsored, so-called “Pride Parade” in Toronto (that’s in Canada, for the geographically challenged) included nudists. It wasn’t the first parade to include them. And I’m sure it won’t be the last. In fact, I suspect they’ll be included in more and more parades as the tolerance and diversity wing of the so-called “justice system” sees nothing and knows nothing.

I’m deeply saddened for my country and continent. Because America was the last ray of hope for morality and respect for God. But that ray is flickering out. It used to be that morally bankrupt people preferred the dark of night because of their despicable behavior. But now, they proudly parade around in the daylight.

I read a report that said, “Another video emerged showing another act that occurred happened in the parade: participants in drag danced with their breasts exposed to the audience.” And the report continued with, “Other videos show a group of naked men playing and rinsing themselves off alongside a fountain surrounded by kids. Meanwhile, a stage, clearly adorned with Bud Light branding, featured scantily clad dancers wearing fishnets, nipple stickers, and strange sock-like masks.”

But, who am I to judge?

After all, if I don’t wanna watch, I can just not go. Or change the channel. Yeah, I could just move on with a “nothing to see here” attitude. But there’s one catch. Jesus said to “love your neighbor as yourself.” And I love myself enough to take eternal life where I can find it. So, I want my “neighbors” to experience it, too.

Of course, I won’t even try to force anyone to believe in eternal life AND that it can only be found in Jesus. I couldn’t make them do that even if I DID try. But I’ll never give up recommending it to them. And I’ll never give in and simply tolerate their despicable behavior. They certainly don’t tolerate my Christian faith. And that’s the height, width, and depth of their hypocrisy.

Naturally (and I use that word because it fits perfectly) the tolerance that’s “preached” in “pride parades” has no actual boundaries. So, as more and more sin is accepted, it gets more and more depraved.

Fat old guys (and women, and young ones, too), parading around naked in front of children is bad. But, if that behavior is left unchecked and unpunished, to quote BTO, “you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

Here’s a slightly humorous side note:

The web page, with the report of this awful news, included some ironically humorous bullet point ads. I copied them and pasted them, verbatim, here:

“Urologist: Enlarged Prostate? Do This Immediately (Genius!)”

“Big Belly? Take This Before Bed And Lose Up To 52 lbs In 10 Days”

So, I guess even naked, fat, old guys (and/or those who cheer them on) have health and vanity issues. One day, if they don’t turn to God for help with their hardened hearts, they’ll wish for the days when they only had belly fat and prostate problems.

I long for the day when I won’t feel compelled to speak out against men and women who prey on, and even murder, little children. And I look forward to an eternal future when none of those people who hate God will ever trouble me, or anyone who loves Him, again.

AND I know that day is coming. Because, even right here in the middle of an overflowing ocean of darkness, the Light of God’s love, shines with inextinguishable power. For anyone who cares to see it.

Worldliness; don’t let your joy turn into heaviness!
Worldliness; don’t let it rob you of your righteousness!
Draw near to God and He’ll draw near to you!
Worldliness will never do what He can do!

Stay tuned,

Be sure to get the Amen Songbook and Journal. The paperback version is on Amazon, so free delivery to Prime members. There’s a link in the book where you can download all the songs in the Amen collection.

https://app.box.com/s/iu1v6wq04ail8ays371zouebsnnanew3

Posted on June 24, 2023 by TonyJuly 12, 2023

Alabama is one of those states in the so-called Bible Belt. So, it might surprise you to hear that even in small towns, in Alabama, police have to deal with perverts. Yeah, even in public shopping areas. In broad daylight (is there a such thing as narrow daylight?)

Small towns, in America, are no longer much different from big cities.

For example, check out what police said in this headline from one of those small towns:

“…dozens of people are victims of man who sexually pleasured himself in public stores.”

But, in the very first sentence, under that headline, there’s a clue as to why perverts are doing these things on a huge scale. The news article said…

“Police say dozens of people across our area are victims of 23 -year-old Marcus McKillion. He’s charged with public indecency after they say he performed various sexual acts in public places. He was arrested today and taken to jail. Tonight, police want to jeep him behind bars. So far, 2 victims have come forward. Investigators believe there are more. They say they need more victims to come forward to keep McKillion behind bars.”

Do you see the clue?

Police need “more victims to come forward to keep McKillion behind bars.” Yeesh. I gotta break that down a little bit. Because there are some layers to that irritating onion.

Keeping perverts behind bars does not solve the problem. And they have “2 victims” and plenty of video evidence. And that’s enough to hand down a serious sentence on this perv. You don’t need “more victims” to prove the crime. So, this 23 year old perpetrator/perv should have already faced his charge, heard his sentence, and experienced his punishment.

But we don’t have an actual justice system in America.

We just have a system that pads the pockets of lawyers and judges and other “law system” workers.

So, we not only get perverted perpetrators, but we get repeat perverted perpetrators. Yeah, the headline I shared is from this week. But the scumbag was also “taken into custody” back in May for doing the same thing in a Walmart. AND there’s evidence he did the same thing back in January. Another police department sergeant said “He had exposed himself to a victim. There are multiple videos, and it is despicable and disturbing.”

The article added that there have been “Dozens of victims in 5 months.”

But a police chief said, “So, it’s my intent to prosecute every single case that we can make on him, and we can only do that if the victims come forward.”

Do you see how stupid that sounds? How stupid that IS?

The article also said

“Right now, McKillion has 2 misdemeanor charges for public indecency, which means he’s eligible for bond.” The police chief said, “People who commit these type crimes have a high tendency to do them again.” Uh…ya think?

Then, get this, the authorities admit, “There’s a lot of these videos that depict very explicit things that he was doing in public… the videos were showing that he was more brazen per video there are victims that are victims of more than just indecent exposure.”

And THEN there’s the big “I” word: “IF that’s the case, he says, sexual assault charges could come out of this case.

Police officials said, “If you saw something, don’t stay silent.”

And I say, since you DID see something, punish the perv.

Public flogging to start. And escalate as needed.

Ironically, the vast majority of people in America will say I’m hard-hearted. And they’ll call me a bigot or racist because I’d dare to call for the public punishment of a flagrant pervert. And they’ll say stupid stuff like “Who are you to judge?” Or “You don’t know the whole story.” Or pick your regurgitated sound bites.

But I predict that, if my suggestion doesn’t become the norm (and I’m under no delusion that it will), you can expect small towns to become reduced reflections of big cities. The process started long ago.

Do you think we should just accept that sort of behavior as we shop in local markets?

After all, the man who’s “pleasuring himself” in front of you (and even in front of your kids) is just doing what’s right in his mind. Yeah, come to think of it, who am I to judge? Well, I’m a son of the one, true, living, loving God of creation.

There’s that, for starters.

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Posted on June 6, 2023 by TonyJune 16, 2023

Adult entertainment act was just sidetracked

It’s crazy weird. But most people still believe there are some people qualified to “make law.” And nothing could be further from the truth. I have a quirky, murky sign of a turkey who illustrates what I mean. And it has to do with something called the “Adult Entertainment Act.”

Adult Entertainment Act might be the right name for it.

Because it sounds like it comes out of the third ring of a three-ring circus. And it’s all an act. A dog a pony show (sorry to insult dogs and ponies, my favorite two animals). It’s just distractions to make voters believe some sort of positive changes have been enacted. Sadly, the rug is continually pulled out from under the very people who supported the distractions.

The Adult Entertainment Act was “enacted” by the state of Tennessee, recently. And it was put in place supposedly to ban “drag shows and adult cabaret entertainment for children.”

I have no issue with a state banning that kind of entertainment. Especially when it involves children. But I can just about guarantee there were already so-called “laws” on the books that, if enforced, could shut those kinds of venues down. Why make more? Just so you can give it a more modern name?

But, not to worry. Those kinds of so-called “laws” are just Gollum versus Smeagol theater.

Just in case you doubt me, consider this. A federal judge, who was appointed by Donald Trump, has “struck down” that Adult Entertainment act. Gollum gee. Hardly seems fair. And get this. Judge Thomas Parker, the so-called “judge” published his “opinion” (yeah, that’s solid-as-a-rock stuff there).

That “opinion” said Tennessee’s Adult Entertainment Act is an “unconstitutional restriction on free speech under the First Amendment.” He’s a “judge” from the “U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee.” And he made sure the district attorney there could not enforce the so-called “law.”

Does that makes you mad?

Don’t worry. The “law” only applies to Shelby County in Tennessee. That’s where Memphis is. So, the ban is still in effect in all the other counties. For now.

So, what lesson can be gleaned from all that?

Well, obviously it’s that the home of the blues, Memphis, must be somewhere near those famous crossroads the famous old blues singers sang about. I know there are those who’d tell you the crossroads are in Mississippi. But my guess is, there are more and more crossroads every day. So, it’s gettin’ easier, all the time to go down there and make a deal with da devil.

I remember when adult entertainment was safe. Because it was family entertainment. Families could watch the old black and white TV shows, together. And most of those shows included mostly adults who entertained and amused. Without the need for covering kid’s eyes or ears.

Most American families appreciated what was then called “common decency.” Men didn’t feel empowered and entitled to walk around, in front of kids, naked or dressed like painted ladies. Not real men anyway. Thankfully, real men still don’t feel that way. But there are too few of us.

And there are even fewer who’ll say enough is enough.

Maybe that’ll change. I hope so. But right now it isn’t looking promising.

Stay tuned,

Share this link with everybody you know, so they can jump on the The TRUTH (My regular emails about the essentials of life, AND some music and other good stuff, for Fa-Ree)

Tony Funderburk

Your Life Has Rhyme And Reason Because God Made You