I know that you know that words can be deceiving. When I was a kid, we had a rhyme to thwart something somebody might say about us. It went like this: “Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words will never harm me.” But people are even meaner these days. And they have more complex weapons. And words can be deceiving you in … The rest of the story…
Category Archives: Tony Funderburk
Norwegian Wood, by the Beatles. Scarborough Fair, by Simon and Garfunkel. We Are The Champions, by Queen. And even She’s Always A Woman, by Billy Joel. Those songs all have something in common. Do you know what it is? Well, I won’t make you guess. They’re all performed in 6/8 time. And 6/8 time is one of the best for heart-felt emotion. 6/8 time … The rest of the story…
They’re everywhere. In almost every household. Certainly in every politician’s office. And in the heads of most every kind of person there is. From young graduates to old tyrants. Big plans. For good. And not so good. And downright evil. Big plans and dreams are fine. If you’d like to achieve and receive awards, scholastic achievements, and trophies, there’s nothing inherently wrong with that. … The rest of the story…
How about this expression? “The bad apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” You’ve heard that, right? Hmm, maybe that’s acorn. Or lemon. Doesn’t matter. The point’s the same. But there’s another expression, too. “One bad apple don’t spoil the whole bunch.” That, of course, originated from the Jackson Five, where the wise and glimmering guru of pop, EmJay began his journey. But I … The rest of the story…
It’s a mean world. Every day you see and experience the cold, hard truth in this world. Whether you like it or not. And whether you prefer to think positive or be negative. Doesn’t matter if you’re a glass-is-half-full person or glass-is-half-empty person. It’s the “new normal.” But this new normal is anything but new. If you’ve been alive here on planet earth for … The rest of the story…
Berhane was a musician who died over 40 years ago. And he was buried in the same village where he was born, only 36 years before that. According to a report I read he was laid to rest with a Bible open to Psalm 23. And the report also said that he had been “baptized in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church and accepted Christ … The rest of the story…
According to search engine “suggestions,” a very popular search term is “Kanye West net worth.” And sadly, for the hip-hop rapper, it’s way less than it was. Poor dude is only worth about $400 million now. But don’t worry. Because fans want to make him a billionaire again. Gotta get that Kanye West net worth back into the $B column. But why do fans, … The rest of the story…
It’s not a new cop show. Nope. The Grace and Glory I’m talkin’ about is found in the one story that makes ALL history possible. And this is true whether you believe in the God of the Bible or not. Because your belief, thankfully, doesn’t provide or diminish grace and glory. And that’s because grace and glory are fully contained in the one person … The rest of the story…
It’s on November 19, 2022. I’m talkin’ about National Adoption Day. And November is still National Adoption Month. You might not know there are over 115,000 kids in foster homes waiting for a permanent home. Right now. And the “National Adoption Day” organization has already helped over 75,000 kids find homes. Here’s why Adoption Day is so important. Because you’re adopted. So, if you’re in a … The rest of the story…
Here it is. Halloween 2022. Showed up like a fruit cake on Christmas. And just as delightful. But I don’t wanna ruin your special day, if you’re a fan. Because I have nothing against kids getting lots of healthy candies from companies who look out for their best interest. Go for it, kids! Make Halloween 2022 a record year for bags of candy. Because, … The rest of the story…
Real, and true, inalienable rights come from God. And all those so-called “laws” that so-called “lawmakers” make, almost daily? Well, they’re childish gibberish hung from a foolish wish. And they’re subject to subjectivism and/or the whims of a so-called “organic” government document. But even that document acknowledges that true rights come from God. Every person has the right to life, liberty (self-protection), and the … The rest of the story…
I’ve heard it said more times than I can remember that if you don’t vote for one of the 2 parties’ candidates, you basically throw your vote away. Nothing could be further from the Truth. I capitalized Truth for a reason. Because most politicians wouldn’t know Truth even if it was in the bestselling book of all time. And even the ones who do … The rest of the story…
So. You grew up, left your parents’ house, and went out on your own. Great. You’re not a kid anymore. And that’s exactly as it should be. What’s that? You still have to deal with your inner child? Well, here’s some free, unsolicited advice. Kick that inner child to the curb. Yeah. You read that right. Kick that inner child out of your head … The rest of the story…
I’ve enjoyed Dr. Seuss books since I was a kid. In fact, I’m sure his rhythmic and whimsical writing inspired many of my writings for kids. And I’ll even admit that in a court of law if needed. But that still doesn’t stop me from sharing what I’m about to share. You might call me Mr. Grinch after this. But it brings me no … The rest of the story…
From here to Timbuktu. You’ve heard that expression or something like it. Right? Well, I’m not gonna give you a history lesson on where the expression originated or if it’s even a real place. But it DID inspire a toy store in the Denver area. And so, Timbuktu also, in a roundabout way, inspired a song. It’s one of the 10 fun and silly … The rest of the story…
Throw away your daytimer (does anybody have one of those anymore?). Toss out your to-do lists, your notes to self, your calendar apps, and your reminders. Because everything has already been painstakingly planned out for you. You just need to get your research hat and glasses on. And discover the details of that plan. And how they apply to you. But there’s a snag … The rest of the story…
The tax system in the USA will eventually destroy the country. I’ve said it before. And I’ll admit it again. I’m a procrastinator. At least when it comes to giving up money to a system that has a metaphorical gun to my head (and I wouldn’t be surprised if and when it’s a real gun). I always put off the whole tax filing thing … The rest of the story…
Imagine, for a moment, that you’ve set up a move in day for your nice, new house. Or apartment. Condo. Doesn’t matter. It’s just about perfect. It has precision appliances, digital climate control, two car garage. And basically all the amenities you could ever want. There’s just one catch. On move in day you discover your neighbor hates you. In fact, your neighbor hates … The rest of the story…
If it ain’t got a beat, then it just ain’t no treat. Of course, I’m talking about that ever-popular writing style known as sonnet poetry. And man is it ever manly! In fact, that’s the main ingredient to stylish poetry and prose. Manliness. But, before I harp on that, check these facts about sonnet poetry. First, it’s got da beat. Well, purists might call … The rest of the story…
A social media friend of mine shares some amazing photography. The colors are often so brilliant and high resolution they almost jump off the screen and directly into my brain. Lately (for obvious reasons) many of the pics are focused on Autumn. One of them, that popped up only yesterday, was titled Nestled in Nature. And I’m a huge fan of alliteration. So, I … The rest of the story…