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It’s a milestone birthday. And it’s big enough that no one would ever accuse me of being young again. Not that they have for a long time. But it’s a certainty now.

But even an “old” milestone birthday is a huge blessing.

I read a short blurb about this one. The “writer” said:

“Marking the milestone of the ** birthday is a profound acknowledgment of a life well-lived, showcasing the profound legacy crafted over the decades. And to honor this significant moment, employ sturdy, flame-resistant candle holders to illuminate ** birthday candles. Because it’s a powerful symbol of the celebrant’s enduring spirit and unwavering resilience. AND incorporate entertaining games into the festivities. Because they can infuse an extra layer of joy and merriment. And that can foster a lively and celebratory ambiance that resonates with guests of all ages. Plus, you’ll ensure a memorable, enjoyable experience that youngsters and adults will love.”

Notice I put quotation marks around “writer.” Because that little blurb sounds like something concocted by an A.I. prompt. I mean, c’mon. Who talks like about a milestone birthday? Or about anything else for that matter.

Anyway…

I won’t go so far as to say my life has been “well lived.” Or that I’ve built a “profound legacy…over the decades.” But I WILL say it IS a significant moment in time for me. Because there were times, during the last 7 years I wasn’t so sure I’d see this birthday.

Thankfully I’m still here to be light bearer.

And in an increasingly darker world, the light can shine brighter and brighter. Also, I’m grateful and thankful for your prayers and continued connection through the years. I pray for your health and happiness and endurance and strength.

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. (from my song “I Can Do”)

© 2020

And here’s something you can (and should) do. It’ll be a no-cost gift you give me (and you) for my milestone birthday.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

As I write this, it’s officially the first day of December. The first day of the last month. And I gotta say, so far so good. I hope it’s off on a high step for you. If you’re not sure yet, I have some words that might help.

I saw this quote, by Dr. Seuss, about the first day of December.

And being a similar sort of poet I immediately liked it. Maybe you’re familiar with it. He said, “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” Sure, he took poetic license with the word, flewn. But we poets are allowed. Don’t try it, alone, if you’re a newbie.

So, this being the first day of December, 2024, I thought it would be fun to share some other quotes about it. And I found some very interesting one. But I’ll only share upbeat, cheery, optimistic, positive ones. Because there’s enough darkness in the world. No need to add to that with talk of gloomy winter angst. So, here ya go…

“God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December.” ~James M. Barrie

“December has the clarity, the simplicity, and the silence you need for the best fresh start of your life.” ~Vivian Swift

“You have again made your way in, cold and beautiful. You are December, and I love you.” ~Thomas R. Parsons

“Of all the months of the year there is not a month one half so welcome to the young, or so full of happy associations, as the last month of the year.” ~Charles Dickens

“I’ve come to sing you a song called December.” ~Ryan Murphy

“Will you love me in December as you do in May, Will you love me in the good old fashioned way? When my hair has all turned gray, Will you kiss me then and say, That you love me in December as you do in May?” ~James Walker

Here’s one last rhyming quote from Professor Fundy:

So, I hope this December finds you happy
And as healthy as you’ve earned the right to be.
I hope it helps you start your new year snappy
Fueled by blessings that you can and cannot see.

OK, let’s you and I go fire up those warm, December embers and add some special flickering flashes of light to this world. Whaddaya say? Are you up for it?

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Business owners can’t be coasters. At least not if you wanna have any kind of shot at success. Because the only way to coast is downhill. And, last time I checked, that was the opposite direction of success.

Business owners who prefer to go the success route have to:

  • rent an office or design a own home office
  • buy the office supplies
  • get the phone line(s)
  • establish internet service
  • upgrade gear (computers, software, phone, printer, etc.)
  • pay the bills

And they also need (and want) to:

  • work on ideas
  • brainstorm
  • learn new software
  • design business promo materials
  • build a website (or have one built) for SEO, e-commerce, etc.

Wow! That’s a lotta stuff. And if describes you, I applaud you.

Because coasters don’t do that stuff.

They don’t brainstorm an idea and work hard to build it into a business. And they don’t work hard to build that business into something that’ll pay their bills. Plus, they don’t care about how even business owners who can work from home put in WAY more hours than job workers.

Yeah, they don’t care that business owners have to deal with knowing you can “build it and they still won’t come.”

There are only two kinds of good coasters.

  1. THE Coasters who told you to “take out the papers and the trash, or you don’t get no spendin’ cash.”  Matter of fact, the lyrics to Yakety Yak are filled with work orders. Check ’em out:
    If you don’t scrub that kitchen floor
    You ain’t gonna rock and roll no more
    Yakety yak (Don’t talk back)Just finish cleanin’ up your room
    Let’s see that dust fly with that broom
    Get all that garbage out of sight
    Or you don’t go out Friday night
    Yakety yak (Don’t talk back)You just put on your coat and hat
    And walk yourself to the laundromat
    And when you finish doin’ that
    Bring in the dog and put out the cat
    Yakety yak (Don’t talk back)

    Don’t you give me no dirty looks
    Your father’s hip; he knows what cooks
    Just tell your hoodlum friend outside
    You ain’t got time to take a ride
    Yakety yak (Don’t talk back)

  2. And those little knickknacks that go under your drink on the coffee or end tables.

When you get right down to it, those thingys under your drink DO something. Sure, they’re obviously motionless. But they’re doing the work they were designed to do. Man, there’s that work word again.

And here are the kinds of things life’s coasters do.

They play video games in mom and/or dad’s basement. Into their 30’s and 40’s. They illegally sneak across borders of countries at all hours of the day and latch onto government “benefits” that the government stole from you to give to them. And many of them beg on street corners and live in tarp-topped communities along what used to be lovely river walks and neighborhoods.

And they buy chemical-filled foods and gulp them down till they have to waddle, at a snail’s pace, to get anywhere. Plus, they jump on every social media channel and cry, scream, and whine about how “rich people need to pay their fair share.”

Oh, if only there was some way to know what to do about them.

Wait a sec.

I believe I DO know the Way.

But I think I’ll save that for the next time.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

It’s probably juxta-me, but I get a kick out of the word “juxtaposition.” Not for what it means. But for how it jumps out of your mouth when you speak it out loud. It demands to be heard.

And you probably know that juxtaposition is a literary device.

Just like personification or portmanteau, two words I thought of during a beast of a brunch.

Anyway…

What? Oh, what would cause such an onslaught of offbeat verbosity. Well, if you must know (and yes, you must) these thoughts popped into my head after I watched crybabies whining about the presidential election. Grown women literally bawling crocodile tears over how their lives are, for all intents and purposes, over.

Some women even shaved their heads. And a bunch of them decided to ” shave their heads, don blue bracelets, leave their husbands, abandon their homes, and take vows of celibacy.”

I imagine that might come as quite a relief to many of their husbands. But, again, maybe that’s juxta-me. Regardless, most responses I’ve seen included hysterical laughter and mocking.

Rightfully so.

But what does that kind of news have to do with juxtaposition?

Oh, thanks for asking and getting me back on track.

Turns out that on this day, November 17, all the way back in 1962 The Four Seasons had  a #1 hit on the U.S. charts. It was their second #1 hit of that year. And it stayed at that level for five weeks. It also made it to #13 in the UK.

And that #1 hit was “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” (cue some more hysterical laughter)

Isn’t that juxta perfect example of irony? Or at least pretty darn decent example?

Yeah, back in 1962 American girls and women were more mature. And they knew what they were made of. And they were made of good stuff. Because God made them. And they knew it. Do you see a pattern forming?

Sadly, WAY too many women (yeah, yeah, men too) have decided to go the way of the world. And they’ve decided their fragile feelings are more important than reality. But the reality of that kind of behavior is where it leads.

You’ve heard of the “road to perdition?”

Uh-huh. That’s where.

I bet a shaved head, blue bracelet, and lots of crying are not on your to-do list. And that means there’s probably a juxtaposition lurking somewhere in a comparison between you and the bald women-like women. But I’ll leave that to someone else.

I’ve got

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I like this famous quote from Yogi Berra (a famous Yankee ball player). His answer to one of the questions journalists tossed at him was, “It’s like deja vu all over again.” And I thought of that, yesterday, after seeing a bunch of reminders for Black Friday 2024.

The same thing is happening again this year that happens every year now. And, as an example of what I mean, here’s what I wrote about it, six years ago, weeks before the actual day was supposed to take place.

I’ve never participated in Black Friday events.

Never. They’re so black. As in dark-cloud-hanging-over-the-day black. Ever since I was old enough to shop with my own money I avoided shopping on that day like the plague. And just this morning I’ve already seen Black Friday news stories showing how emotional shoppers are complaining about lines and horrible checkout experiences. That was 4 in the morning! I can only imagine how much worse it’s liable to get. Why does anyone still physically show up for such abuse?

Black Friday news should be enough to make you skip the trip.

If you’re reading this (or listening to it on my podcast), then you’re fully aware of the internet. And if you’re like most of my readers and listeners, you’re avoiding the the Black Friday madness. You know the best deals are more likely to be found online. And even if the rock-bottom lowest prices are still found in a brick and mortar story, you know it’s not a great deal when you have to suffer the maddening crowds.

Just so you know, I’m not sharing this Black Friday news as an opportunity to sell you anything. You won’t find any links to stores. No SKUs to shoes, glues, or even tattoos. I just wanted to mention how most people forget the reason it’s even called “Black Friday.”

Because it’s the day that jumpstarts the biggest profit section of the year for most retail businesses. But why? Do even half of those retailers realize who they have to thank for their profits? I seriously, seriously doubt it. But I’ll let you know who.

Jesus is the reason for the season and for Black Friday.

Even people who don’t believe in Jesus celebrate Christmas. They just don’t give any credit where credit is due. I used the word “credit” twice because there’s a lot of credit being used today. And look, I just did it again.

Yeah, even if you don’t believe Jesus plays a role in Black Friday anymore, He’s still the reason it ever got started. Believe it or not, America used to be a mostly Christian nation. And Christmas used to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus. And people gave each other gifts to commemorate the wise men taking gifts to the baby Jesus. So, every year, around this time, after families had gathered together for Thanksgiving (giving thanks to God by the way), they found themselves in the mood for giving.

And the shopping began.

Believe it or not, it began with joy and gladness. But as America (and the world) has fallen away from Jesus, it’s no surprise how black and gloomy Black Friday has become. Even as I read this Black Friday news I’m sharing with you, I can feel the gloom. And since I don’t want this time of year to be black and gloomy, I’m gonna end it here.

And I encourage you to avoid the temptation to join in the Black Friday 2024 blues. You can thank me later.

And I didn’t wanna sing no sappy little Christmas songs.
Didn’t wanna see no perky little Christmas kid.
Didn’t wanna shop at no mall or spend any money at all.
And I Didn’t wanna leave my house, but I’m glad I did.

(from my song “The Christmas Spirit”)

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I remember taking the Boy Scout oath way, way back in the 20th century. It’s kinda like the oath of office you’ll see Trump take in January. It was the one that started out with “on my honor.” It’s WAY different than what you’ll see young boys interested in these days. It says:

“On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country. And to obey the Scout Law: To help other people at all times, To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”

Sounds like a slice of Americana to a boomer like me. (a very tech savvy boomer, by the way)

But..

I didn’t stay in the Boy Scouts. In fact, I got out very quickly after going on a couple of scouting camping trips. Nothing bad happened. But it just felt weird to me. That’s all I’ll say about it right now.

Yeah, I sorta took an oath of office and then resigned.

Then, I learned what God inspired James to write about oaths. James wrote, “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No, lest you fall into judgment.”

And especially don’t swear by an oath as you invoke God’s name. Like they did in the old movies where somebody “swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me, God. Yeah, don’t do dat. Instead…

Do right, and risk the consequences.
And do right, whatever you do.
Do right, and don’t you stand on fences.
Now whatever you do, with all of your might, Do Right!

You might recognize those as lyrics to my famous song that a guy built his whole radio talk show around.

Just kidding. I found him, on his own late night TV show, back in 1994 or 1995. And I liked what he said. And I like how he ended each show with the words, “Do right and risk the consequences.” So, I composed a song around that catchphrase.

All these years later, you can still hear my song at the end of his recorded radio programs. Plus, other music of mine is on lots of his other materials. Neither one of us took an oath of office to keep all this connection for all this time. It just turned out that way.

He’s now in Heaven.

And he’s enjoying the consequences of all those years of doing right. It’ll be great to see him again one day. Matter of fact it’ll be great to see all the saints who’ll be there. I hope you’re one of them.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Choices choices. In this so-called “land of the free,” today, the highest office of government comes down to voting for one of two people (at least if you prefer to vote for someone who could actually “win” the election). An immoral moron. And a lukewarm patriot.

Yeah, choices choices.

Here’s an article I wrote, years ago, about where voting has taken our beautiful country.

~ Two choices can lead down a dark tunnel of no return. When you say you’ll choose the “lesser of two evils,” then don’t be surprised, when it’s time to vote again, that the quality of your choices has dropped even further. In fact, that’s the exact process that got America (and much of the world) to the condition it’s in right now.

And if people would only refuse to choose something or someone simply because they “feel” they have no other choice, our world would benefit in ways you might only imagine right now.

Your personal life or your business can benefit from acting with courage and conviction, too. Refuse to accept only two choices when it comes to the decisions you make each day. Be creative. Get wisdom. And courage.

Be the better man or woman your Creator has in mind for you. Ask God to help you trust Him for better choices. Following Him and His advice will never lead into dark places. In fact, following Him will make you a light in dark places.

Ready to shine? Then forget those same ol’ lines.

Learn Those Lines

Back in nineteen seventy-three
I believed the whole world would be
Just as free as the dreams that dwelled inside me.
Maybe I was naive and young.
Maybe life was speaking in tongues.
I would say let the bells of freedom be rung.
But time can temper the freest of souls.
Life has ways of changing our goals.
If we play a part, who hands out the roles?

Learn those lines…everybody…learn those lines.
Let that little green monster tell you what to say.
Learn those lines…everybody…learn those lines.
Just remember what you do comes back to you someday.

Back in nineteen and eighty-four
We thought big brother was right at the door,
But he came in through the TV and stuff at the store.
Maybe I’ve grown older and fat.
Maybe I’m not the virginal cat
Who could sit on a side and be proud where he sat.
Now, we chase the innocuous cause…
Standing for and laying down laws.
Yeah, we walk like the cat, but we don’t have the claws.

Learn those lines…everybody…learn those lines.
Let that little green monster tell you what to do.
Learn those lines…everybody…learn those lines.
Just remember what you do is gonna come back to you.

We can’t go back…and we can’t stay here,
If we can’t throw away the fear
And changes those lines…those lines we learn.

© 1989-2017 ~

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Nope. It’s not fair that the days of your life aren’t perfect. Because what did YOU ever do (or not do) to deserve this mess the world is in? Right?

But even though it’s not fair, here you are.

Living in a world overflowing with hate. Different shades of skin color produce hate. Various religious ideologies produce hate. Genders produce hate. And, as you’ve no doubt witnessed for this whole year, political opinions produce hate.

Nope. You can’t swing a dead cat without offending some hate-filled wackadoo.

But you and I would just like a peaceable life. We’d love to be able to just get up each day, go to work, earn our daily bread, and enjoy the company of loved ones. And wouldn’t you know it, there are billions of people in the world who hate us just for thinking those should be our rights.

So, I guess the thing to do is complain, to whoever’ll listen, about how unfair it is. Yeah, now that I think about it, that’s probably the best imaginable use of social media. Make not just your voice be heard, but also your moans and groans. Especially since they’re so justified.

Wait a second. Hold on! I just remembered something (not really, I planned to mention this all along). None of that complaining, groaning, moaning is God-approved. Oh, man!

Yeah, what I’ve been able to determine, with even a scant skim of the Bible, is that it appears that God has other things He’d like us to consider.

Things that are:

  • true
  • noble
  • just
  • pure
  • lovely
  • of good report
  • virtuous
  • praiseworthy

Wow. That ain’t gonna be easy. I mean, have you SEEN those videos on YouTube? Young people beating up old people. Men attempting rape in broad daylight. And illegal aliens swarming across our borders, and into our communities with no criminal consequences.

Oh Lord. What’s a peace-loving man or woman to do? How could it possibly be possible to NOT moan and groan about all that, and more?

I don’t know about you, but I’m gonna need some serious help focusing on that list of things. Hmm, maybe (and I use the word “maybe” as a figure of speech) God can help me with it. And, come to think of it, His word even shows me how, and who, to properly hate.

So, with God’s word, there’s always a silver lining. And it turns things around when things are…

Not Fair

You’re born to parents you don’t get to choose,
And you just have to trust that they care.
They pick your clothes and your food and your stuff,
And you learn fast that life is not fair.

As you grow up you discover some things
About water and mountains and air.
You think your big brain should earn you rewards,
And you find out that life is not fair.

One day you wake in a place of your own,
Watch the news, and see pain everywhere.
You decide you can’t ignore it away,
And you’ll help because life is not fair.

Then, when you serve others, one day you find
A real joy that, before, wasn’t there.
And living will glow in a whole new light
Even though this old life isn’t fair.

© 2017 Tony Funderburk

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As the “hallowed evening” fast approaches, I see souls scatter like startled roaches. Some parts of it are kinda funny. But most are like the “love of money.”

Yeah, Halloween (Neewollah, as its known in Independence, Kansas) sure brings out the people who love to live in the dark.

And I mean that mostly literally. After all, it IS “hallowed evening.”

Most of the “fun” doesn’t happen in bright, sunny daylight hours.

Even without the costumes, you can find an excessive amount of what I call street zombies. People who oftentimes resemble the walking dead. And more and more you’ll see them in the alleys and even front and back yards of regular citizens. Caught on security cameras. And Ring doorbell cameras.

Sadly, this time of year, they basically blend in with the dark side that appears to be growing, exponentially, all around.

But, then again, it’s actually not surprising. Because America, generally speaking, is in a downward spiral. Turning its back on God. And, in the process, it lost its blessed status.

And that’s because most would rather live in the dark and be their own kings (and queens) than  show humility to the one, true King. But here’s the thing.

When you prefer a hallowed evening over God’s light…

You Just Don’t Get It

You want to live the way you want to live
And you want to be your own king
You think you’re wise enough to rule your world
And handle everything
But how much happiness is in your life
How many friends do you know
Who would give up their lives to give you yours
Do you think any would show

Well you idolize with your idle eyes
Your body wants what it wants, and you let it
You identify what you deify
You’ll see the kingdom, but you just don’t get it

You can’t submit to any higher will
You’d rather live in the dark
Well, you can have exactly what you say
Look where you’re making your mark

Chorus

Don’t you think you should think about it
Do you know all there is to know
There’s a choice; you can’t live without it
You can be sure where you’re gonna go…

inst…chorus…repeat to end

© 1997 Tony Funderburk

(You can hear this song, when you subscribe to the The Power of God’s Love Podcast)

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As the poet (or some sort of writer or philosopher) said, “time waits for no man.”

The seconds tick in the rhythm of your heart. And your heart beats out the minutes and hours of your days. Then, the days advance like an advancing army into the open arms of each passing year. There’s nothing you can do about it. You can’t turn back the days. And you can’t stop the advance. You just keep moving on down the road.

Yeah, time waits for no man. But what about “the road?”

No, the road doesn’t wait for anybody either. But that’s not the point. The point is, unlike time, the road IS something you can do something about.

You can choose which road. You can choose whether you’ll walk, run, or drive on the road. And, with a map (or map app) you can see where the road goes, ahead of time. You can’t choose which time you’ll travel. Or how fast you’ll go through it. And no one knows the future.

Because the future has NOT happened yet. No matter how much your favorite comic book superhero would like you to believe it has.

Yeah, you and I still have enough freedom to make those road choices. But it’s uncanny how many people seem to prefer to VOTE this country deeper and deeper into tyranny. It’s a cryin’ shame that America, the ultimate symbol of freedom in the history of the world, should find itself on the brink of suicide.

President Abraham Lincoln talked about this in an address to the Young Men’s Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois in 1838.

He said…

“At what point shall we expect the approach of danger? By what means shall we fortify against it? Shall we expect some transatlantic military giant, to step the ocean, and crush us at a blow? Never! All the armies of Europe, Asia and Africa combined, with all the treasure of the earth (our own excepted) in their military chest; with a Buonaparte for a commander, could not by force, take a drink from the Ohio, or make a track on the Blue Ridge, in a trial of a thousand years. At what point, then, is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it is ever reach us it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”

And, less than 200 years later, about to end it all.

And it hasn’t been a sudden decision to blast our brains out. No. It’s been a long, slow, agonizing death by apathy, the by-product of drugs and gluttony.

For example, it used to be it was only the “thugs and losers and rebellious misfits” who did drugs. But now, if you don’t do drugs, legal or not, you’re the exception. And there used to be a small fraction of Americans who were “overweight.” Or “struggling with their weight.” But now, obesity is so common that grossly fat people convince themselves that large is beautiful, too.

Now, remember, time waits for no man. Psst…it waits for no woman either. So, there WILL be a time limit to this shameful condition America is in.

But that limit probably won’t be before we author our finish.

And I can’t tell you how sad that makes me to even think about it. Thanks to Jesus, America is not the last hope.

Freedom; don’t want to lose my freedom.
I want to make my choice; make my voice be heard.
Freedom; I’m glad I have my freedom.
If all the world could see,
It would have to be the word.
Freedom!  © 1987

(from my 1987 song, Freedom)

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