Freedom isn't free. So I write about the fight.

Posted on May 17, 2025 by TonyMay 17, 2025

The means corrupt the end and rip off your friend

The old expression says “the means justify the ends.” But I’m here to tell you that just ain’t true. Not when it comes to stealing other people’s money. And stealing other people’s money is the means your government uses to carry out your so-called “good intentions.” I heard Milton Friedman say it like this:

“Bad means corrupt good intentions.”

Now, THAT is true. As an elderly pastor friend of mine used to say (he’s no longer on Earth), “truer words were never spoken through falser teeth.”

Anyway…

I hope you know about the means your government uses to play benefactor.

Yeah, too many people DO know and still don’t care. Because as long as they can “feel good” about themselves, helping “those less fortunate,” who cares how it’s done. The main thing is, it gets done and all those people don’t have to get their hands dirty. At least that’s what they think.

I talked about this kind of stealing a few years ago. Here’s a snippet of what I said back then. And it is still as true as ever.

~Remember where your benevolent government got the money in the first place.

They stole it from taxpayers. Because government isn’t business. Just in case you thought it was, it’s important to know and understand government makes no goods for sale. It provides no services. And at best, it merely distributes information. Or more likely misinformation.

If it sounds like I’m bitter about it, there’s a good reason. Because I am. America was once a shining example of how freedom helps people flourish. But once the people realized they could “vote” for money to be taken from some and given to others, the genie was out of the bottle.

And we’ve never been able to get the genie back in.

And the genie is a meanie.

I’ll hammer this point in place one more time. Your government isn’t giving you anything even if they put a gazillion dollars into some sort of “stimulus package.” Because the only reason they have a bunch of bucks to spend is…they took it from you in the first place. So, they’re really only giving back what they shouldn’t have taken in the first place.

By the way. I’m not anti-tax. But I AM anti tyrannical tax. And a tax rate of 10% or higher is tyrannical. Anything on those levels is stealing. And God forbids stealing, in the ten commandments. Because stealing takes lives.

And if you are OK with more taxes, than you are OK with stealing from your friends.

And here’s a little rhyme to highlight the point.

If you love your neighbor as yourself, don’t steal.
The reason for this is a pretty big deal.
Even if you don’t believe in God, it’s true.
His enduring Truth is still for me and you.

Get my Tony’s 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.

Stay tuned,

Posted on April 15, 2025 by TonyApril 15, 2025

Voyager 1 is simple and not even a dimple

1977. I remember that year like it was, well, day before yesterday. But it was almost 50 years ago. Wow. And that’s the year NASA launched Voyager 1 into space. And that little spaceship is still traveling through space. In fact, I just read a cool, short blurb about it. The headline said…

Voyager 1: A Time Capsule Still Exploring The Cosmos

They followed that up with…

Over 15 billion miles from Earth, Voyager 1 runs on 69 KB of memory, an 8-track tape recorder, and code written in FORTRAN. It’s controlled using 50-year-old blueprints and takes 22 hours to receive a single command.

Why it still works?

Rugged, radiation-hardened parts
Simple, reliable design
Backup systems
Engineers who think like it’s 1977

And they finished up the blurb with “A true marvel of human ingenuity.”

Then, they showed a rendered picture (because there aren’t photographers snapping shots of it) of Voyager 1 superimposed over a backdrop of the Milky Way.

And as I checked out the picture, I thought about what the “great minds” of aerospace, in their ongoing search for extraterrestrial intelligence, would say if something that simple wandered into Earth’s orbit.

No doubt, they’d be all a-flutter. And they’d rave on about finally finding proof of other intelligent life “out there.”

Because they’re goo goo gaga over a spaceship in the cosmos.

But the cosmos?

Not so much. Naw, it’s just a big bunch of space to explore. Oh sure, they love to bandy their big numbers around. This is 2 trillion light years away from that. And the speed of light is 299,792,458 meters per second. And how the largest black holes in the universe are more than 70-80 billion times bigger than the sun.

But those YUGE numbers are mostly to reinforce their big bang skewed idea that there MUST be other intelligent life “out there.”

And that’s ironic, since the cosmos, itself, is the evidence.

Yeesh.

Little Voyager 1 runs on a fraction of one megabyte of memory. That’s tiny. The whole spaceship wouldn’t even be a fraction of a dimple in God’s smile. But people are amazed at how it can still operate all those miles from Earth. And they’re so impressed with engineers who could design such an amazing thing.

And that awestruck amazement runs through brains that are exponentially more complex. Brains so complex they can run a system of systems, your body, even while you’re asleep and not even consciously aware of it.

But that’s just the start.

Because your body lives on a planet ideally suited for human life. And that planet is part of solar system that runs consistently and dependably through the galaxy.

And the galaxy moves consistently and dependably through the universe. A universe (aka: the cosmos) that is observably stable enough to contain everything in it. A universe that’s the ultimate sign of intelligent life. And design.

Design ALWAYS points to a designer.

I’m not foolish enough to look at the big, beautiful sky, day or night, and say there is no God and that it all happened by chance. Sadly, most people ARE that foolish.

I know just about all my listeners and readers aren’t that foolish. So, I urge you to not give up on those who are. Because their eternal souls depend on us sharing the hope of the power of God’s love. And the power of that love made eternal life available to all.

If you’re like a little Voyager 1, traveling through the vast space of non-believing or skeptical people, remember, you have WAY more than 69 kilobytes of memory to draw from. You can use your incredibly complex brain to tap into the infinite source of Life. So, ask God to help you increase your knowledge, understanding, and wisdom.

Then, remember, you are…

In This World But Not Of It

I’m in this world but not of it.
I like this life but don’t love it.
My Savior rises above it.
I’m in this world but not of it.

This world can beat me up.
But this world is not my home.
I have a finer place where I will forever roam.

This world’s no easy street.
This world is not so nice.
It costs a lot to leave, but my Father paid the price.

So: (Chorus)

This world has lots of love,
But this world is filled with hate.
One day it won’t be so, and so I can hardly wait.

This world has moans and groans.
This world has aches and pain,
But soon even this shall pass, Jesus the King will reign.

Chorus…inst…chorus 3 times

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Posted on April 12, 2025 by TonyApril 12, 2025

3 6 9 and these numbers are yours and mine

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 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.

Stay tuned,

Posted on April 5, 2025 by TonyApril 5, 2025

It was in the story of The Good Samaritan. And it’s been right here in the good ol’ U S of A for my whole life. And even further back than that. Yeah, the apathy is all around.

And the apathy grows colder and colder now.

I wrote about it in a harsh song about 34 years ago. And the lyrics are more true now than then.

Cold Hard Truth

You face the future like a heart attack.
Your palms are sweaty; you’re a jumping jack.
Can’t believe the world has come this far,
And still we’re living on a dying star.

You put your faith into the promised land.
You feed the dog and still he bites your hand.
Maybe you decide you have no choice,
But you just need to learn to raise your voice.

Be unrelenting like the tiger’s tooth
And face the cold hard truth!

We hear the speeches; see the banners wave.
They sell the dreams of all the lives they’ll save.
But in between the lines are pretty lies.
They seem so right behind that straight disguise.

No reason it can never happen here.
This is the place and time to face your fear.
Financial plans end up rhetorical.
The errors made aren’t simply clerical.

Be never-yielding like the tiger’s tooth
And face the cold hard truth!

Spoon-feed the apathy and watch it grow into the cold hard truth,
And if you never care, then you will never know…
It’s such a cold hard truth…cold hard truth!

You see the party junkies everywhere.
Behind their buzz you’ll find a long, blank stare.
Their windows shut; another right goes by
Without them ever realizing why!

Live for the weekend and the gin and vermouth
And face the cold hard truth!
Endangered species aren’t the only ones who face the cold hard truth.
We’re gazing straight into the paper guns

Through all the cold hard truth…cold hard truth!

instrumental…repeat chorus….end

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Posted on April 4, 2025 by TonyApril 6, 2025

I woke up this morning and saw the same stories in the news again. Too many fires. And too many people with questions. And not many who shared how Living Water is the answer. So, you know what that means.

Too many more fires to come.

But this ain’t about too many fires burning down forests, prairies, or houses. It’s about a focus on problems when you should be focused the solution.

A long time ago, if you wanted to tell God something, you had to follow a bunch of rules. And if you wanted God’s help with your problems, you had to ask a high priest to let God know your request.

But then Jesus lived, died, and rose from the dead to make a way to change that. Now, you can pray to God anytime and every time you want, and He’ll listen. It doesn’t matter how many fiery problems are burning across your landscape right now. Because Jesus, who called Himself the Living Water, can help you put them all out.

He loves to hear from you, by the way.

So, try this idea.

Talk to God today and ask Him for some peace and quiet. Then, be still and listen for His word. I should say, that last part works if and when you’ve been in His word and His word is in you. If that’s not quite how it is, then grab yourself a Bible and read Paul’s letters. You can find them way over in the right side of the book. He wrote 13 of them. And they’re the ones from Romans to Philemon.

Paul certainly knew a thing or two about too many fires.

He was beaten with rods. And he received 195 lashes on his back. He was stoned. Shipwrecked three times. Dangerously adrift at sea. Thrown in prison, where he almost died, several times. And he listed a bunch of perils:

waters
robbers
my own countrymen
the Gentiles
in the city, and
the wilderness
in the sea, and
among false brethren

Wow. Every way he turned. But those weren’t the only issues. He also dealt with:

weariness and toil
sleeplessness often
hunger and thirst
fastings often
cold and nakedness, and
the other daily issues like his deep concern for all the churches

But Paul understood how prayers put your focus on the solution.

And he knew when you focus on all the fires (issues), you just end up with too many fires. So, I hope you’ll follow my suggestion and stop listening to and reading what everyone, who gets their unwise wires crossed, says about it. Forget about all the sky-is-falling people running their potty mouths, full time, about the bad news of the day.

Because the Good News is as close as your thoughts.
And you’re not just one of those programmed robots
Who can only see the fires that result from those crossed wires
Used so foolishly by ignorant crackpots.

Stay tuned,

P.S. Your email address connects you with download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away. Fun for kids AND not too cutesy. So grownups enjoy it, too. Subscribe, today.

Posted on March 25, 2025 by TonyMarch 25, 2025

If you wanna get somebody to do whatever you tell them to, whenever you want them to, then fear is the key. Because somebody’s who’s afraid of you or what you might do to them is so much easier to control.

I learned how fear is the key way back in the 7th grade.

Because I was what, these days, you might call a nerd. Or a geek. Or gearhead, dork, or wonkhead. Doesn’t matter. They’re just words. And I was in what they called “accelerated” classes. Because I took some tests in grade school that said I was too brainy for the normal school lessons.

So, they put me in those classes. And “normal” kids called me those names.

Fun stuff. Good times.

Anyway…

The name calling sort of led to why I mentioned how I learned fear is the key to controlling people. Yeah, there were a couple of guys in one of my normal classes who got their jollies from bullying me. And I was the kind of guy who preferred to avoid confrontations. Because I was at school to learn. Not fight.

But none of that mattered to the bully boys. They sat behind me so they could smack me in the head if I even thought about not letting them cheat off me. One guy was a smart aleck who was basically the same size as me. But the other guy was a big dude.

They’d whisper how, if I didn’t let them see my answers to test questions, they wait for me after school, and…well, maybe you can imagine. I sure could.

So, I’d accommodate them. Most of the time. But sometimes I’d do something to get out of showing them my papers. And then I’d make sure to take a different way home after school. And that went on most of my 7th grade year.

But in the 8th grade something happened that changed my whole outlook. Be sure to ask me what that was.

I think you’ll get a kick out of the story.

Anyway, here’s another example of how fear is the key to control. Check out these climate change headlines:

The evidence in support of these predictions has now begun to accumulate so massively that meteorologists are hard-pressed to keep up with it.
A study released last month by two NOAA scientists that the amount of sunshine reaching the ground in the continental U.S. changed by 1.3%
Telltale signs are everywhere…the thickness of polar ice…animal migration
Global temperature must now stand alongside nuclear war as a likely source of wholesale death and misery for mankind

Can you say #Yikes?

But here’s the thing. Those headlines were all about global cooling. Yep. The Earth wasn’t getting hotter. It was getting cooler. And many goofballs predicted an ice age where the whole Earth, and most or all of the people, would freeze to death.

Unless “we do something now.”

But guess what that means. OK, no need to guess. Because I’ll tell you. It means somebody wants more money from good people who work hard and raise kids and make the world a better place. And they know fear is the key to getting you to go along.

But here’s the key to not falling for THAT key. Trust God who says “do not fear.” Plus, God promises that global warming, or cooling, or so-called climate change won’t end the world. So, here’s what I say to kids (or their owners) whenever I can:

God is great, and God is strong.
And He made all there is.
So don’t fear this fearful world.
Remember, champ, you’re His.
If He says a thing is so,
Then you can bet it’s true.
Trust His promise to us all.
And trust Him to come through. © 2015

And there’s no need to fear missing out on any issue of my Tony’s Daily Devotional . Add your email address and get lots of fun stuff delivered right to your inbox. 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 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away. Fun for kids AND not too cutesy. So grownups enjoy it, too.

Stay tuned,

Posted on March 12, 2025 by TonyMarch 12, 2025

At my desk and feeling Shakespeare-esque

So, I’m sitting at my desk. And I found this in-depth review of my website. Part of it said:

Tony Funderburk’s website paints a picture of a man who is:

Boldly Convicted: Unapologetic about his Christian beliefs, he uses his platform to proclaim his faith and values.
Creatively Versatile: As a writer, musician, and illustrator, he blends media to craft a unique, engaging experience.
Emotionally Authentic: His heartfelt content reflects a genuine desire to connect with his audience.

In short, https://www.TonyFunderburk.com is a cozy, faith-filled corner of the web. And a space where Tony, the “#1 Righteous Rhymester,” shares his preacher-poet perspective through rhythm, rhyme, and relatable stories. Made for those who enjoy God-centric content with a playful twist.

Yeah, that defines why I’m at my desk alright.

Because I care about YOU. And I care about what’s gonna happen to you. Not just today. Every day. And that includes all the days that flow into an endless future. Because you DO have an endless future. And eternal life and death are yours for the choosing. So, I suggest this:

Choose Life

Well you hid your heart in a so-called safe place,
And you locked your love in a big, black box,
And you had no hope,
But you built your brave face,
And you ran your rat race…through the tics and tocs.

Well, the bluebells bloomed in ideal intentions
As you tilled the truth into lifelong lies,
And you dug in deep making many mentions
Of your pretty pensions…always alibis.

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.

When your daydreams die and you feel half-hearted,
And your love is lost in a soulless sky,
Try to train your thoughts when your brain’s bombarded
By the stuff you started, learn to love the lie.

If you wanna talk about it, I’ll probably right here at my desk. Email me.

Speaking of email, your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Daily Devotional . It comes directly to your inbox so you 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 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

Stay tuned,

Posted on March 10, 2025 by TonyMarch 10, 2025

Happy about it much more than without it

There I was, in my grandparents’ living room. It was a hot, Oklahoma summer day. And my Dad and Uncle were putting a weird-looking box through a window. I didn’t know what it was, at the time, because I was only about five years old. But my grandmother sure looked happy about it. I could tell she thought that box was a good thing.

Turns out she was happy about it because it was cool.

No. I mean actually cool. Not just cool like something you like is cool. The big box in the window pushed cool air into the house once they got it hooked up. What I didn’t know then was that my Dad and Uncle installed an evaporative cooler. Also known as a swamp cooler. And, wow, it made a big difference in how it felt in that living room.

By the way, that was a bunch of decades ago. Yeah, believe it or not, summers were mighty hot way back then. I’m not kiddin’. Oklahoma summer days could easily reach 100 degrees on a regular. Basis. Hmm…kinda like now.

Yeah, as it turns out, the Earth’s climate has been changing for just about as long as anybody has ever kept a record of it. And they’ve kept records for thousands of years.

You might not believe me, when I tell you this. But for most of my long life we called all that so-called “climate change” seasons. Seasons changed every year. And everybody was happy about it. Because every season has its own magic. Nothing to fear. It ain’t gonna kill you.

But you don’t have to take my word for it.

Here’s what your Creator says about our planet.

While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.

And here’s something I wrote about this climate change thing

God is great, and God is strong.
And He made all there is.
So don’t fear this fearful world.
Remember, champ, you’re His.
If He says a thing is so,
Then you can bet it’s true.
Trust His promise to us all.
And trust Him to come through. © 2015

Your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Daily Devotional . It comes directly to your inbox so you 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 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

Stay tuned,

Posted on March 6, 2025 by TonyMarch 11, 2025

Each passing year flowers show the Truth here

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

Your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Daily Devotional . It comes directly to your inbox so you 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 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

Stay tuned,

Posted on February 27, 2025 by TonyFebruary 27, 2025

Be aware, everywhere, who is and ain't there

Be aware. Be very aware. At all times. And in all places. Especially if you’re a female, a child, or a weakened old person. Because you best believe there are scumbags out there who are aware of who’s not aware.

So, once again. Be what? Yeah! Be aware.

Years ago I wrote a short story about a young boy who wasn’t the least bit aware. And the story shows what he had to go through as a result. Of course, this is the kind of story that leads to lots of child trafficking and missing persons in general. I hope this never happens to you.

It was a very hot summer day. But Curtis didn’t mind. He was standing in front of the ice cream freezer at the grocery store. Holding the door open he felt the fresh, cold air blow through his short, blond hair. He remembered his mom telling him to stay close, so he slammed the freezer door and turned around.

“Mommy, this feels good,” he chirped. But Mommy wasn’t there. He froze like a vanilla popsicle. “Where’s my mommy?” he thought. Oh no!

Suddenly Curtis ran to one end of the aisle. He looked left. He looked right. No Mommy. He saw those big, gray boxes where grownups slide stuff and put their money in. No Mommy. He ran to the front door of the store and looked outside. No Mommy. He ran all the way down the aisle with the yellow bags of potato chips he loved. He didn’t even see them. And when he got to the other end…no Mommy.

He remembered Mommy saying, “Stay close, Curtis.”

He sure wished she was close right now. But she was still nowhere in sight. Then he saw a woman by the big, green watermelons with a red shirt on. Mommy was wearing a red shirt. He flew across the floor as fast as his short legs could go. As he got to her he yelled, “Mommy!” But it wasn’t her.

“Are you lost, little boy?” asked the lady in the red shirt. Curtis just shook his head and took off again. This time he ran past the shelves with that purple cough medicine he hated. He didn’t even care. Mommy wasn’t there. A man behind a glass window pointed his finger and said something. But Curtis didn’t stop. He just knew Mommy had to be here somewhere.

And he kept remembering her say, “Stay close, Curtis.”

He ran past the sweet smelling flowers in the back of the store. And he heard a crackly, voice from those black boxes in the ceiling. “Blah, blah, blah…little boy…blah, blah, blah,” said the voice. Curtis didn’t listen. He had to find Mommy.

Then he remembered something else. Mommy said she needed to buy some dog food. He knew where that was because Mommy always let him help. So he zoomed over to all the pet stuff. A man was sweeping some crunchy, brown dog food off the floor. But still…no Mommy.

The man shouted, “Here he is!”

But Curtis was already running again. He plopped past the plastic bags of paper towels. He soared past the cereal. And he bolted past the broccoli. No Mommy here…no Mommy there…no Mommy anywhere.

His heart was beating fast. He felt like crying. But he kept running.

He turned to run down the cookie aisle and nearly fell down. But, finally, there she was!

“Mommy!” Curtis screamed with delight. He ran straight to her and grabbed her leg.

“Curtis, you had me so worried,” she said. “I’ve been looking all over the store for you.” He knew he was in trouble. But he also knew everything was going to be alright. “What do I always tell you, little man?” Mommy asked. “I know, Mommy, I know,” Curtis answered. “Stay close.”

Yeah, these days this story is crucial to understand. Because this world is meaner and more dangerous than ever. So, I hope it inspires you to be aware. At all times and everywhere. It’s bad enough what might happen to you if you’re not. But even worse is how you wouldn’t be around to stay connected with me.

And we can’t have that.

Take a second and join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the Tony’s 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.

Stay tuned,