Tony Funderburk Posted on by

This past week I shared thoughts, ideas, and truth about doing good, the best Valentine’s Day card ever, and clouds dropping down dew on the earth. And this podcast episode brings it all together for those of you who’d rather listen than read. Thanks for tuning in. Use 1 or more of the links I’ve provided to share with anyone and everyone you know. Oh yeah, when you get a minute, please leave me a review on iTunes. Here’s the easy link.

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The Truth in Words and Music Podcast - Episode 138

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Who do you think of when clouds drop down the dew?

The Lord by wisdom founded the earth;
By understanding He established the heavens;
By His knowledge the depths were broken up,
And clouds drop down the dew.

Do you ever wonder why clouds drop down the dew? You’ve probably gone out to your front or back yard in the early morning and noticed how wet the grass is. But have you ever wondered why? Here’s an idea. It might be partly because of God’s frustration with us. Does that seem odd? Well, let me show you what I mean”

Clouds Drop Down The Dew

The writer of Proverbs 3:19-20 tells us that God founded the earth “by wisdom”. When something is founded that’s not exactly the same thing as created. When you read how God founded the earth, picture Him putting all the things together to make it work just like it should.

Then, as you keep reading, you see how God’s understanding “established the Heavens”. He understood all the rules for chemistry and science, and He knew how to place things in the right place. But then you read that by God’s knowledge the “depths were broken up”. Guess what that knowledge was”His knowledge of how wicked we humans had become. It made Him so angry and frustrated with us that He broke the planet. Yikes!

When God broke the planet, lots of hot water from inside earth went spewing into the heavens. And the hot water crashed into the cooler atmosphere and formed clouds. And you know what clouds do”right? Yep, the drop down rain, or dew. You can almost think of the dewdrops as tears from God. It upset Him to know how mean we all can be to one another. And it made Him so mad He almost destroyed our planet and everything on it. But something kept Him from doing that. Can you guess what?

If you guessed “love”, you’re right.

When God broke the earth, He saved one family”Noah’s family. And He let Noah and his family start everything over. And He made a promise to Noah that He would never again flood the earth. Then He put a rainbow in the sky and said that rainbows would be a sign of how God loves us and wants us love Him. When we don’t, it hurts Him deeply.

So, the next time you notice how clouds drop down the dew, or the next time you see a rainbow in the sky, think of how much God loves you. Then, bow your head and close your eyes and tell Him thank you”and that you love Him, too. Here’s a rhyme to help you remember”

When clouds drop down the dew,
Think of how God loves you.
Then bow your head and pray
And thank Him every day.

Stay tuned,

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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Your Valentine’s Day card isn’t as good as this one…

Do you send or give Valentine’s Day cards every year? Are you giving one to your true love this year? Did you search and search until you found just the right one? Or did you buy the “blank” kind and spend a lot of time making up your own message? Well, no matter what your method or madness is or was…your card will never hold a candle to this one…

The Greatest Valentine's Day Card Ever Written

I don’t mean to shoot down your efforts, and I’m sure you’ve created or bought an awesome gift for that love of your life. I hope so anyway. You know they deserve it…even if you haven’t been getting along. After all that person could love someone else, but they chose you. That speaks volumes. And you shouldn’t take it for granted. So, if you haven’t taken the opportunity (or made one) to tell your loved one how much you love them, use this Valentine’s Day to do it. But let me get back to my original point…

…the greatest Valentine’s Day card ever written.

Would you like to read the message? Cool. It doesn’t rhyme, and it didn’t arrive on anybody’s doorstep with flowers and chocolate, but it remains the all-time champion example of true love. Here’s the message: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life“.

You can probably find a decent Valentine’s Day card for 99 cents. And I’ve seen some that cost upwards of $5 and higher. Add a $10 box of chocolates or a dozen roses for $25 and you’re looking at $35 to $40 easy. Wow, this love thing can add up pretty quickly. But again…it pales and disappears in comparison to the cost Jesus paid. No one has ever…or WILL ever show a greater love for someone else than He showed for us. He calls us friends, and He laid down His life for His friends. And for every person who ever lived or ever will live. I’ll never compare to that. You never will. No one ever will. The good news is…He doesn’t expect us to. He knows we can’t do it. That’s why He DID it.

This Valentine’s Day…give your loved ones a hug or a kiss and a heartfelt “I love you”. Everything else is just paper and plants.

Stay tuned,

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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Sometimes it can seem like doing good is a waste of time, but…

It’s a matter of perspective. When it comes to results, if you can only focus on getting them right here and now, you might experience disappointment on a regular basis. Doing good things for others doesn’t always appear to produce results. But, as they say, looks can be deceiving. Depending on where your heart is, you might be producing eternal results and not even know it. If your heart is to do good for God, you WILL get an awesome return on your investment.

Doing Good for others can reap big rewards

You probably don’t or won’t always feel like doing good things for others. I don’t. Sometimes other people can be total jerks. But guess what…sometimes you can, too. And me. Yep, I know it’s hard to believe, but hold onto your hats ladies and gents…even I can be a jerk.  I know it sounds impossible, but I have it on good authority…it’s true.

Just because people aren’t cute and lovable all the time is no good reason not to do good as often as you have the opportunity. When you go through life with the attitude of looking for opportunities to do good things for others, you’ll discover them all around you all the time. What you do doesn’t have to be gigantic, enormous, or fantastic. It might be something as simple as a smile. In fact, try smiling at people every chance you get and see how often their face lights up…at least a little.

What you do for others is showing your love for God, too.

Yep, God said things like “love your neighbor as yourself” and “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.” Every person is made in God’s image and likeness, and He considers the least of us to be like Him, and He considers even the least of us to be His “brethren”…in other words, His brothers (and sisters). Unfortunately, not everyone on our planet thinks of God the way He thinks of us. Most don’t want anything at all to do with Him. And those people might not even allow you do do something good for them. In that case, you move on. You’re not required to keep pushing an immovable object.

Still…when your heart and mind are focused on doing good for others, even if they don’t notice or appreciate, your loving Creator knows. And He never forgets. He has eternal life waiting for you. He’s preparing a beautiful home for you where you can live forever without the jerks. So, if you’re doing good today, don’t stop. And if you’re not doing any good, today’s a good day to start. What would hold you back? Why would you not want to do good things today? Write me and tell me. Until next time…

Stay tuned and may God bless you and keep you,

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

This past week I shared thoughts, ideas, and truth about the peace of God, how worrying doesn’t help, a special audio Bible called The Treasure, obeying the truth, the concept of unconditional love, and some cool technology most churches should adopt called the Beakn Lighthouse. And this podcast episode brings it all together for those of you who’d rather listen than read. I’m glad you’re here. Use 1 or more of the links I’ve provided to share with anyone and everyone you know. Oh yeah, when you get a minute, please leave me a review on iTunes. Here’s the easy link.

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Stay tuned,

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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Is there such a thing as unconditional love?

No. There is no such thing as unconditional love. I admit there are types of love that come close. A mother’s love for her child, and sometimes a child’s love for his mother. And of course, God’s love for us all. You might be thinking (or saying out loud) “a-ha Tony! That’s where you missed the mark! God’s love is unconditional.” But I say it isn’t. Let’s look at this a little more deeply…

Unconditional Love - Like FREE, it's only a concept

The first question I’d like to ask you is this. Consider this…are all the people in hell there as a result of God’s love? Before you answer, I’m not talking about His love for those who love Him. I’m talking about the people in hell…those there now…and those who will be. Are they there or going there because God loves them so much? No. God is willing to love every person. He is “not willing that any should perish“. But He knows most will choose not to love Him, and He’s made a place for them to exist forever apart from Him. It’s a place of great torment. And torment does have its roots in love.

Take a good look at one of the most famous verses in the Bible, John 3:16. It starts out by saying, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son“…the greatest example of sacrificial love the world has ever known. God made that love and that sacrifice available to anyone who wanted it. But the next part of that same verse includes a condition. It says, “that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life“. Yes, that’s a condition. It requires something on your part…belief.

If you believe in Him, Jesus, you will not perish but have everlasting life. When you see the word “if” or anytime it’s implied in the context of a sentence, you discover a condition. There are no sins you cannot be forgiven of except one…not believing that Jesus is your savior. That’s the one condition for everlasting life. In fact, when you read just a bit further past John 3:16, you’ll see the other side of the everlasting life equation. John 3:16 says believing in God’s son brings everlasting life. John 3:18 says if you don’t, you’re condemned already.

While you’re still breathing, you can change your mind. You can go from condemnation to justification to sanctification to glorification. Look up those words, and their definitions should give you hope and encouragement. The key is…your choice has to be made while you’re still breathing. Once you die, your choice is set in place forever. And don’t fool yourself into thinking you’re not choosing. Not choosing IS choosing. I can tell you with total confidence…it’s choosing wrong.

Just as you don’t want to be responsible for providing unconditional love, please don’t hold God to that silly notion either. Be willing to love Him as much as you can. Be willing to love your fellow human being as much as you can. But please don’t be a doormat for others to wipe their feet on as you love them “no matter what”. Ask God for the wisdom and discernment to know when to love and when to hate. Yes hate. Let your love AND your hate be modeled after God. You can’t go wrong when you do.

Will you look into it today? If you disagree with me, at least don’t let it be in total anger. Instead show me some unconditional love.

Stay tuned,

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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Does selfishness rob you of the ability to obey the truth?

Would you recognize truth if it appeared right in front of your eyes? Or do you think truth is relative…every person develops his or her now truth? Maybe you’re one of those who believe truth is unknowable or doesn’t exist. In that case, I have a question for you. Is that true? If you can’t trust that truth exists, you might even begin to doubt whether or not you even exist. It’s a slippery slope that leads to the lowest possible place. Please don’t go there. If you’ve read my articles, you know I’m a Christian. And you know I believe Jesus is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. So, you can probably guess I believe it’s a good idea to obey the Truth. But it goes much deeper…

Obey the Truth - you can find it in Jesus

I don’t obey the Truth I find in Jesus out of fear. Not at all. My willingness to obey the Truth I find in Him is born out of love. First, His unfathomable love for me. Then, my feeble love for Him (in comparison). Love is the driving force. Without love, none of it matters. None of it makes sense. Our lives wouldn’t have meaning. In fact, we wouldn’t even be here without love. And here’s where the “obey” part comes in…

This example is for kids: It’s a good idea to obey your mom when she says to keep your hands off the stove…or your dad when he says not to throw gas on a fire. Why? Just because you’re scared of them? No. It’s because they want you to learn what’s best for you. They know how to keep you safe, and they love you enough to protect you.

This example is for adults: As I write this it’s Super Bowl Sunday, and it’s a pretty big one for those of us here in Colorado. Not only is the 50th Super Bowl, but our Broncos are playing. Have you ever noticed how football games have rules? Hmm…is that because somebody just wants to tell everybody else what to do? No. It’s because those rules keep players safer. And they make the game understandable to everyone involved. Without rules, who would know what was right or wrong? And how could anyone “win”?

There was a well-know commercial for a soft drink that used the slogan, “Obey Your Thirst”. Not only is that slogan for a completely unhealthy drink, it’s temporary at best. My suggestion is to dig into the Bible. Look closely at the writings of Paul. When you read with an open mind, you might be surprised to discover how much love fills you up. And I believe you’ll find yourself wanting to obey the Truth of your Creator.

Go ahead and enjoy the Super Bowl today. But, after that, why not spend some time checking out what I’m talking about? Start laying up your treasures in Heaven, and don’t let yourself be consumed by…

Worldliness

Where is your vision?
Where do you lay your treasure?
Have you been wanton?
And living in earthly pleasure?
Ask and receive not
And trust in your worldly friendship;
Then stand afflicted because of your lustful kinship.

Worldliness; don’t let your joy turn into heaviness!
Worldliness; don’t let it rob you of your righteousness!
Humble yourselves and God will lift you up!
Worldliness won’t put sweet water in your cup!

Have you been tempted?
Have you made greed your mistress?
Your gold is rusted; it’s your accusing witness!
Who is your master?
You can’t serve two forever!
Resist the devil; the Word is your only lever!

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!

So be patient; be wary;
Sing songs, and be merry;
Then focus your attention
On more than this world’s dimension!

Chorus…inst…chorus to end

© Copyright Tony Funderburk 1997

Stay tuned,

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Since mother earth and mankind is basically awesome…
what are you worried about?

Look all around you. What do you see? And I don’t mean just within 3 feet of your personal space. I mean all around you…the whole world. It’s filled with random acts of kindness, peace, and love. I don’t remember a day in my adult life when I haven’t seen people saying “please” and “thank you” and “no, after you”. The smiles and laughter in check-out lines, in driver’s license offices, in traffic are a wonder to behold. My faith in humans is reaffirmed daily when I read the news or listen to talk radio. I’m contented just writing about it. If you’re not feeling the same feelings, I have an important question for you. What are you worried about?

What are you worried about

If your worries include simple everyday things like where your next meal is coming from, or how you’ll get some new clothes, or whether you can keep a roof over your head…maybe the fear you’re experiencing is clouding your judgment of the world. Maybe. Or maybe you can see the world as it truly is…not like that fairy tale I described earlier…and your worry seeps into your whole life.

Here’s the thing. It’s understandable to have concern over the troubles in this world. Tyrants who want to rule the world. Selfish people who ruin and destroy the lives of others for profit. Murderers, thieves, liars, and the list goes on. But there’s a place in the Bible where a man…the most important man who ever lived on our planet…said, “And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you“.

I’d like to say, straightaway, that doesn’t mean God is your Santa Claus. You don’t merely “seek the Kingdom” and wake up and find all your bills paid, your closet filled, and your pantry overflowing. There’s a principle being taught. It’s simple. Trust God. See what He has to say about you and believe and trust that. Stop relying on your own self evaluation. Dive into God’s word and discover the multitude of reasons you can be confident and strong in this world. The more you’re IN His word, the more His word is IN you. And the more His word is in you, the less you’ll worry about what to eat, or what you’ll wear, or where you’ll live.

Those things won’t be less important, but you’ll discover that worrying about them won’t add even a nanosecond to your life. In fact, the stress of the worry might even shave years off your life.

If any part of this article describes you, I’d like you to write to me and answer that first question I posed: What are you worried about? Maybe together we could talk you through it and help you lean on God and not your own understanding.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Share The treasure because faith comes by hearing

How many movies have you watched where an archaeologist, or scientist, or group of adventurers went on a quest to find a secret treasure? A lot, right? You have – The Treasure of the Deep – National Treasure – Treasure Island – The Lost Treasure of the Mayans – The Treasure of Sierra Madre and many more. They all have something in common…the treasure found in each movie never lasts. But the treasure found in God’s word can take you into and through all eternity. Now that’s a true treasure. And here’s a very cool way you can share God’s word with people who have never heard it, and remember: faith comes by hearing.

(video no longer available)

Did you know there are still so many people who have never read or heard the word of God? They’ve never heard the name of Jesus. Paul wrote that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. The Treasure is such a great way to help reach “all the world” with God’s word. It’s solar powered. It’s been field-tested in rainforests, high mountain terrain, desert, and seaside.

(This resource is no longer available)

Now, maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok, let’s change that. Get to know more about me and my worldview. Join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the Tony’s Daily Devotional . And bask in daily, delightful flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I challenge you to try and understand the peace of God

For as long as I can remember…as long as I’ve been alive, in fact, men and women have talked about peace on earth. And for as long as I’ve been alive, that ideal has remained only an ideal…not a reality. Peace talks seem to take place every year somewhere. Usually the focus is on the Middle East, but they don’t hold a monopoly on those talks. And year after year after year the real peace never comes. So, that brings up a question in my mind. If we humans can’t seem to wrap our minds around our own peace and make it last, how can we possibly expect to understand the peace of God? Well, I can say with total confidence…we can’t understand. No one on earth can. But guess what…?

…you can still HAVE the peace of god even if we can’t fully understand it. God wants you to have peace. He knows the world is full of war, full of evil, and full of people who want to rob you of your peace. But the God of the Bible is a God of peace. He can give you peace of mind even in the middle of a world of no peace. He’s ready, willing, and able to do it for every single person alive. All you gotta do is ask. I know I say that over and over here on my website, but it’s true. God won’t force you to accept His peace…or His love. He wants to know you want it.

Simple as that.

There’s a place in the Bible where it talks about the peace of God, and it says His peace “surpasses all understanding“. Can you even imagine how peaceful that must be? I can’t. Oh sure, I can conjure up images in my head of walking through flowing fields of green grass, under a warm sun, with a cool breeze across my face. But God’s peace surpasses that. Maybe you can see yourself lying under a bright blue sky listening to the birds’ songs as you realize no one is going to be able to rob you of your peace. But God’s peace surpasses that. Like the verse said, it “surpasses ALL understanding”. And you know what “all” means. It means every bit.

I hope you discover the peace of God today…right now if necessary. Even if you can’t completely understand it, you can rest assured that it’s a feeling that will last forever. If you’ve already experienced the peace of God, who else have you told? Don’t horde. Share.

Now, maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok, let’s change that. Get to know more about me and my worldview. Join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the Tony’s Daily Devotional . And bask in daily, delightful flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

This past week I shared thoughts, ideas, and truth about roses, lyrics, and love…optimism, pessimism, and realism…a very special Tuesday…the king of hearts, money, and how things in this world don’t last. And today’s podcast brings it all together for those of you who’d rather listen to me say it out loud rather than read. I’m glad you’re here. And I hope you’ll use 1 or more of the links I’ve provided to share with anyone and everyone you know. And if you have a minute, please leave me a review on iTunes. Use this easy link.

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Stay tuned,

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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How much do you love the things in the world?

A nice home. A decent car and clothes. Furniture. Dishes. A TV. A computer. A smartphone. The list goes on. There’s nothing wrong with wanting and having any of these things…and more. And on a certain level, it’s OK to “love” your things. But when your love for the things in the world distracts you from your love for your Creator…Houston…we have a problem.

There’s a place in the Bible, in the New Testament, where a guy named John wrote, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world””the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life””is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever”.

See how the love that John is talking about is lusting after than it is about love? It’s so easy to get caught up in the allure of bright, shiny objects, beautiful people, and things that smell good, taste good, and feel good. But check this out…not one of those THINGS lasts. None ever did. None ever will. Oh sure they might physically outlast you. But they won’t last FOR you. Either they will rust, mold, corrode, or otherwise break down…or you will die and leave them here. There is nothing…no thing…able to give you one more second of life. When you realize that, does it make you feel hopeless? It shouldn’t because…

…you were created to be an eternal person.

Yep, the Bible says God wrote eternity in your heart. He’s eternal, from eternity past to eternity future. And He created you in His image and His likeness. Your life is…or certainly can be…like God’s. Eternal. I told you how your things are unable to add even one more second to your life. The good news…the awesome news is…God adds forever to your life. That is…if you ask. All you gotta do is ask. That seems like the easiest thing in the world. But for most it’s the most difficult. Why? Because it requires giving up self sovereignty and acknowledging the only one in existence who is truly sovereign. Yep, most people live according the lyrics I wrote some time ago that say…

“You wanna live the way you wanna live.
And you wanna be your own king.
You think you’re wise enough to rule your world
And handle everything.”

OK…maybe you can rule your world. Maybe you can accumulate more of the things in the world and lead a normal, happy life. Maybe you can even be your own king. But, like I said…either your things will break down and fade away, or you’ll die and leave them all behind. There’s a one-to-one ratio of people who are born and people who die.

You will be no exception to the things of this world.

If you were to die this year, this month, this week…today…do you know for sure what would happen to you? Do you believe the light of life would simply be switched off and you’d cease to be? Or do you think maybe there’s more?

I know there’s more. There’s an overwhelming body of evidence that proves there’s more. I could tell you about it till the cows come home, but if you don’t look into yourself, my words might seem like a fairy tale. In fact, if what I’m talking about here on my website is wrong…if it’s a lie…then, I’m a fool. I’ve believed the Word of God, found in the Bible, for most of my life. So, for most of my life, either I’ve been foolish enough to believe a lie and trust in something or someone who doesn’t exist…or…I’ve just fooled myself. Or…

…maybe I’ve believed in and trusted the only Truth. Guess what? I’m betting my whole potential eternity, that I’ve made the right choice. If there’s eternal life, and the evidence says there is, then I want that. If there’s a beautiful Heaven where I can spend eternity, then I want that. And most of all, if there’s a God who loves me so much that He became a man, suffered a horrible death, and rose from the dead in order to make sure I could have that eternal life, then I want to spend eternity with Him.

Will you look at the things in the world a different way starting today? If so, write to me and tell me.

Stay tuned,

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The Love of Money – not just a rich person’s dilemma

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Alert…the love of money is all around you

When I started singing, as a little boy, I dreamed that one day I’d rise to the top and have all the money my heart could possibly desire. And I could see that money in gold, silver, green, and diamonds. Piles of it, buckets of it…for cryin’ out loud…truckloads of it! So…as I began to practice, I would repeat over and over to myself: “money money money” A few more la la la’s and then repeat “money money money”. It didn’t matter that I was six. I knew if I could envision it, I could make it happen, so great was my love of money!

And if you believe this story so far, you don’t know me at all.

I spent tens of thousands of hours of my life singing and practicing and learning music theory, scales, sight-reading…keyboards, percussion, harmonicas…music.

For the love of money?

Absolutely not! For the love of music. Music has been a constant companion and best friend to me for as long as I can remember. And all the years I spent as a full-time musician never got me even close to riches. But I loved it all the same. 

So…in this age of digital downloads and streaming music where so many people say all music should be free…have I forsaken my love for singing and songwriting? Not on your life. And if you explore my blog, you’ll find plenty of free music available. Still…I’ve discovered something odd in America. Have you noticed how it still takes money to buy…

  • groceries, and
  • gas, and
  • cars, and
  • clothes, and
  • housing, and…well…just about everything.

What’s up with that?

You know what I’d like to see? Everybody works for free and everything is free. Wouldn’t that solve the problem? Or should it be just the goofy singer songwriters and other artists who should work for free? Call me crazy, but that doesn’t seem balanced, fair, equitable, or even sustainable to singer songwriters and other artists.

My track record proves I don’t live for the love of money (which is the root of all evil). But I do live…in a society/culture where money is necessary to live. So…call me crazy again, but…I still work to create and provide musical enjoyment to as many as will listen…and I’d still like to charge for my products. That way I can afford to keep up on the gear and resources to create and provide more musical enjoyment.

What do you think? Is this kind of talk just crazy?

Stay tuned,
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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Two Singer Songwriters Sing – King Of Hearts

Same last name…same initials…same song title. Neither one knew about the other one’s version of – King of Hearts – That’s cool. 

(videos no longer available)

Here are the lyrics to my version:

King of Hearts

Working it out, they say they figured it out
You hear “˜em blatantly shout they don’t need no Savior
So full of pride, they say your life is inside
Don’t need some prophet who died
And rose again to save ya’.

Grinding their ax for all their loving attacks,
So don’t you give “˜em no facts
Because their minds are made up
Making no sense from either side of the fence,
But still you’ll get their two cents worth
In a golden tin cup..

chorus
Wonder what made their hearts harden…
Why do they think that they’re God?
I pray they can have the veil lifted
And see their religion is flawed
There are no permanent parts…apart from

The King of Hearts

Dreaming it up, they keep on scheming it up,
And then they’re blowing it up in unsuspecting faces
Groundwork is laid; they’ve got it made in the shade
But there won’t be lemonade in some eternal places

Closing their eyes; they walk right into the lies
But every person who dies will have their eyes wide open
By then it’s too late for all the people who wait
You just can’t enter The Gate with all your earthly hopin’

repeat chorus

With all their best laid plans they still just come to this
I guess they’ll remain where they are while their ignorance is…

Bliss

repeat first and last verses…then chorus twice to end

© 2000 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

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Tribute to a little girl who left this world 7 years ago

It’s difficult to believe it was 7 years ago today a very special little girl lost her battle with cancer. She wasn’t even 3 years old, and most of her life had been a struggle to live. I never knew her, but her Grandmother is a good friend of mine, and I saw how deeply she was affected by her granddaughter’s illness. Seeing photos of the little girl named Tuesday…and hearing the anguish in the voices of her loved ones…moved me to write a tribute song.

Here’s the video I put together. I just watched it myself, and it took me right back to that time 7 years ago. I hope it moves you, too.

(video no longer available)

Remember Tuesday

Years are short, and days are long…
And we forget the time when lives go wrong,
But we will remember…we’ll remember Tuesday.

Precious plans and hopes and dreams
Fade away like evening’s last sunbeams,
But we will remember…we’ll remember Tuesday.

Tuesday…a life gone by…so few days…
Tuesday…we will rejoice your new days.

Years may pass, and dreams may fade,
And we’ll forget the desperate way we prayed,
But we will remember…we’ll remember Tuesday.

Tuesday…a life gone by…so few days…
Tuesday…we will rejoice your new days.

© Copyright Tony Funderburk 2009

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. Please share them with others. Here’s how”

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Or use the social media links below

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Optimist Pessimist – Are you a realist about which one you are?

As for me, I prefer optimist. The realist in me sees how bad things are. Politicians can’t figure out how to work within a budget. Murder is rampant. Countries go to war at the drop of a misplaced word. The pessimist in me says the world will only get worse. I guess sometimes I’m a pendulum…optimist pessimist optimist pessimist. And often I find myself stopping or pausing on the pessimist side. Maybe you’re like me, and you just see the glass half empty AND half full.

That reality doesn’t mean we have to give in and throw our hands up in the air. Look at that person in the mirror and say…

“I can do something. I can make at least some little part of this world a little better. I’m not giving up or giving in!”

But what can you do? Well, I’ll show you a short list of things I think I can do. As you read it, think about what your talents and strengths are. When you focus on those…and you ask God for wisdom and courage, you might be surprised at how optimistic you become. OK, here’s my list…

I can sing and write songs about how precious life is, and about how…

  • special our planet is among all the known and unknown parts of the Universe…
  • wonderful it feels to walk barefoot in a field of grass…
  • God’s love can erase tears
  • dreamers make the world bearable

So…which do you choose today? Optimist? Pessimist?

Stay tuned,

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Roses Lyrics Love…they’re important, like it or not

When it comes time to “mend fences”, roses are almost perfect. They’re beautiful, they smell nice, and women love them. Why? Because they’re beautiful and they smell nice. Duh! And what does it matter WHY they love them. It’s just important to know they DO. At least if having a loving relationship is important to you it’s important to know. Not lustful. Loving! OK guys..today, I’d like to share 3 key ingredients to a stronger, longer-lasting relationship with your wives and girlfriends. Ready? Here they are: roses lyrics love. That’s it. I know you can take care of the roses and love. And I’ve got you covered with some lyrics. They’re more for you than her. I suggest you internalize them. If you see yourself in them, then learn from them.

When I was a singer songwriter in Nashville in the middle 90’s, I was almost always the only keyboard player on showcase nights. One of those nights I took an offbeat song with a key signature played mostly on the black keys. A guitar playing songwriter who sat behind me commented to the audience that he really liked it. And the host for the night had me play it again.

It was a song about roses and their role in couples “making up”. Here are the words so you’re equipped with roses lyrics and love. If you wanna hear the old song, you’ll have to Get my Podcast. It’ll be in this week’s episode.

Roses To The Rescue

She says he’s not the boy he used to be.
He slams a door in a fit of disgust.
It’s bitter and crude; they’d better change their attitude
So another statistic bites the dust.

He says he’s sure he’s not the one to blame
And she insists that it wasn’t her.
It’s all by the book; they’d better take another look
So another statistic won’t occur.

They need some

Roses to the rescue…apologies and candlelight
Roses to the rescue…’cause no one’s wrong and no one’s right.
If you hope to pass this ancient test , you…
Better find you some roses to rescue.

She says that he can just go sleep alone
And he yells that would be just fine.
Well they need to know where this argument will go
“˜Cause another statistic’s on the line

They need some…     Chorus

I don’t know why they have to fight
I only know it isn’t right…it isn’t right

We need some
Chorus..inst..repeat chorus to end

© 1992-2011

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

This past week I shared thoughts, ideas, and truth about love and rockets, how much I love life, and how a good plot twist is ideal even for THE Good Book. And today’s podcast brings it all together for those of you who’d rather listen to me say it out loud rather than read. I’m glad you’re here. And I hope you’ll use 1 or more of the links I’ve provided to share with anyone and everyone you know. And if you have a minute, please leave me a review on iTunes. Use this easy link.

OK. Here’s The Truth in Words and Music – Podcast Episode 135

Play

Get The The Power of God's Love Podcast Delivered to Your Device Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | Android | Pandora | iHeartRadio | Podchaser | Podcast Index | TuneIn | Deezer | RSS | More

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One of the Stories From The Road I Used To Travel

The other day, somebody asked if I had any stories from the road…since I used to be a full-time pro musician. So today, I’m sharing one I shared a few years back…

After a long, almost 24 hour drive from Kansas to South Carolina, we pulled into the hotel where we’d be staying and playing. Luckily we had the rest of the day and night before we started. So, we caught up on sleep that evening. And the next day I needed to get a document notarized. We went to the town hall where a notary public had been recommended. I asked a guy if I could get my document notarized. He asked me what the document was. I asked him why he needed to know, and I promptly got the in-the-movies-southern-good-ol’-boy third degree…

“Boy!” he exclaimed, “we don’t appreciate smart aleck long hair types like you around here.”

I would have thought it was a joke, but he didn’t have a smile within a hundred miles of his face.

“Never mind,” I said.

And we went to a convenience store to ask where else a notary public might be. The clerk, who seemed to have the same high opinion of me I’d just experienced at the town hall, pointed to an office down the street. We ignored the lack of pleasantries and walked a a few blocks to the other office. I hope I’m not being politically incorrect when I say this… A very nice black lady came to the front of the office and said she was the notary public and that she’d be glad to notarize the document for me. It took about a minute, cost less than $5, and it was all done with smiles and kindness. Nice change…what a concept.

Later that night, after the evening’s worth of music had been played, we were out for a walk in front of the motel when the owner drove up to us. “What are ya’ll doin’ out here?” he asked.

“Just goin’ for a walk before we go to bed,” I answered.

“Well, I suggest you just go on to your room. You don’t need to be out here without something like this…” and he pointed to a gun he had in his car’s console. “People end up shot or missin’ if they’re out too late.”

So, we opted to go to bed.

The next day, sure enough, we heard a report of a killing in a field not far from our room and the motel. Yikes.

We played that establishment for 2 weeks before moving on to our next stop. It felt like 2 months. Pitch black walls, some guy in the back making wolf calls almost every night, and smoke so thick you could see pillars of it from the canister lighting. This story is true, so I’ll keep the name of the town and its people anonymous to protect the innocent…if there were any.

Thankfully, I’ve never gone back. Don’t expect to…

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Every good book has a plot twist…even THE Good Book

Have you ever heard the Bible called – The Good Book? I bet you have. People say it all the time…on TV, in the movies, on the radio. If you’re a reader, I’m sure you love a good plot twist. Am I right? Well, when it comes to Christian love, and the greatest story ever told, there’s no more incredible plot twist than the one found in the Bible.

Did you know that for hundreds of years…even thousands of years, the Jewish nation read, learned, taught, and memorized the story of the coming of their Messiah? Talk about a dedicated people. No wonder they’re called “the chosen people”. They had faith that the Messiah would come and deliver them. Each generation had hope it would be their time. And their love for the truth of their deliverance was unlike any other people on earth.

Yet, they failed miserably in their faith time after time. The worst failure they had was when their Messiah finally DID come, and they denied that it even happened.

And when they still wouldn’t believe…after Jesus (the Messiah they denied and crucified) rose from the dead and appeared to many…that’s when an awesome and glorious plot twist of THE Good Book happened. A plot twist that Paul called “the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began”. Wow! Since the world began it had been kept a mystery…even from the “chosen people”. It’s sort of like that old saying from the elder sales rep to the younger one…”yeah, I taught you everything you know, but I didn’t teach you everything I know”.

When I consider how insignificant my life would be without the plot twist that Paul wrote about, I’m humbled at how much God loves us. There isn’t one of us worthy, on our own, of such undying and sacrificial love. But through Jesus we can attain and partake of it.

Would you like to know more about the plot twist I’m talking about? Leave comments. I’ll be glad to talk to you about it. And click the link just above to get a great book on it.

Stay tuned,

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