Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Episode 129 of THE Truth in Words and Music Podcast is ready to listen to. Tony talks about hypocritical love, being true to yourself, giving your all to God, and what to do when you’re feeling down and out. If you haven’t already subscribed, the link is below.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Down and out. You’ll find a lot of self-help articles
on how to deal with feeling that way.

But I’d like to suggest that your “self” isn’t the best place to look for help. In fact, I’d like to suggest you look for what your Creator says about you. When you do, you’ll discover a much more dependable source for how to deal with feeling down and out…God. You can have hope in God. You can have an inexplicable joy that surrounds you in spite of what the day might dish out to you. Others will wonder what you’ve got. And some will want what you’ve got. It doesn’t mean troubles will magically disappear, but it does mean you’ll be able to deal with come what may.

In case you’ve never heard of him, there was a king in Israel, a long time ago, named David. Maybe you’ve heard the story of how he killed a giant of a man named Goliath? But did you know David was a songwriter? It’s true. I don’t pretend to be a man of the same stature as King David, but I identify with him. His songs exuded a lot of joy…joy in his relationship with God. There’s a place in the Bible where it says he “danced before the Lord”. His songs are collected in a book of the Bible called “Psalms”. Today a part of one of those Psalms popped up, in my Bible app, as the verse of the day. It said…

“Why are you so cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance and my God.”

Do you see what’s going on there?

David acknowledged feeling “down”. But he didn’t allow his soul’s feelings to overtake his knowledge of where his hope lives. He was “down”…but not out. He knew to praise God in spite of his circumstances and that would be the help of his countenance. Your countenance can be the look on your face or the ability to maintain your composure. God can put a smile on your face and lift you up when you lean toward feeling down and out. But He doesn’t use magic. He wants you to trust in Him and lean on Him…not yourself.

Is there a reason why you’d rather trust in your feelings than trust in God? If so, what is it? Do you truly believe your “self” is strong enough and wise enough to thrive in a world so full of selfish humans? If you do, write to me and tell me how you do it. And if you’d rather find out how to have a lasting hope in God…the God who loves you so much He sacrificed Himself for you…then write to me and I’ll do my best to help you discover His love. I don’t want you to feel down and out. I want you to be more than an overcomer.

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 enjoy my daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

Stay tuned…

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Are you giving your all to God?

And what does it mean to give your all? It’s not about money, possessions, and household. It means you. Are you giving “YOU” to God? If you don’t feel like you’re giving your all to God, don’t feel too badly. You’re not alone. Neither is anybody else. Selfishness is the original sin, and it’s alive and thriving throughout the world. I suffer from it. You do. So does everybody else. What can we do about it? How can we overcome ourselves and give our all to God? I’ll show you a couple of ways after this song…

OK…there are two options when it comes to dealing with your own selfishness. You can…wrestle with it every day under your own power. Or…you can turn to God, daily, with thanksgiving and submission to His will instead of your own. The second choice is do-able. The first choice…not so much. And God understood that when He sent His son to take on the guilt and punishment for your selfishness. And mine. He had watched us frail and weak humans fail time after time to keep even the smallest of His commandments. He gave us laws to follow, and we just wouldn’t and couldn’t do it. And He wanted us to see that for ourselves. Then…

…He made THE Way out of the bottomless abyss. Jesus.

Don’t take my word for it. I’m just a plain ol’ human being like you. I’m not a prophet. I’m not a sage. I’m a believer…in the One who is greater than all of creation. The One who spoke words and the whole universe exploded into existence. The one, true, living, loving God. There’s absolutely nothing I can DO to make you see THE Truth of the saving grace of Jesus. But I CAN point you in the right direction. And I believe when you let down your invisible guard of selfishness, you’ll find yourself giving your all to God. You won’t be able to resist the bliss of His hope.

Do you think I’m silly for the way I see life? Feel free to write me and tell me why. But I bet, if you were to honestly listen to what God’s word can speak to your heart, you’d discover the one who was willing to give His all for you. Then you’d want to give back.

Here are the lyrics to the song…they’re written by Cristina Miller, and I wrote the music and sang the song…

I Give You All

You gave my heart
A way to touch you, Lord.
You gave my eyes
A gift to see and recall.
You gave me stars…
To guide me through my lonely fear.
I give you all…I give you all.

You gave me words,
And they can reach the sky.
You gave my soul
Salvation out of the fall.
You gave me dawn,
To savor all you gave me, Lord.
I give you all…I give you all.

(chorus)

I give you all…my worries and my fear.
I give you all…and I can feel you near.
I give you all…you dry up every tear.
I give you all…I give you all.

You gave me nights…
That shine your silver stars.
You gave me time,
To change my ways and stand tall…
You gave me hope,
That in my weakness I am strong.
I give you all…I give you all.

© Cristina Miller 2009

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P.S.  Your support for my Words and Music means the world to me. For other awesome ways you can help me get
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Is it a good thing to be true to yourself?

Do you know who you are? Where you came from? What your purpose is in this life? Do you have a good idea of what (if anything) will happen to you when you die? I know these are a lot of questions, but if you’re truly gonna be true to yourself, don’t you think it’s a good idea to be able to answer them with conviction? And even if you CAN, is it where you should focus your energy? Well, sort of…

Be True To Yourself or be true to God?

You have to know who you are and what you’re made of before you can live a meaningful life. And more importantly, you need to know you’re not a silly accident. You’re here on purpose. That purpose is love. And that love comes from God. He designed you, and He loves you more than you could imagine if you could multiply your imagination by forever. That love is where you should focus. That love is where you should look for answers to questions. The world doesn’t have those answers. Never did. Never will. And you don’t have the answers either…not without wisdom and discernment. Those come from your living, loving Creator.

If you’d rather go through this life looking for and justifying ways to be true to yourself, you’re free to do so. If you think my worldview is silly and childlike, so be it. But my recommendation, today, is…

Be true to the one who made you…

God.

Be the best YOU you can be. But you’re not gonna be the same, forty years from now, as you are today. And God will be the same. You might lie to yourself, but God will always be true. Does that make a difference to you? Here’s a rhyming collection of thoughts from my much younger self as an example…

The Twenty First Thought

Surprise!
Is it bigger than a breadbox?
My eyes
Can see right past the chain and locks.
Simple. That’s what they said my mind would be,
But I just passed it off like morning tea.
They can’t accept me now.
I’ve grown and yes somehow…
I’m still just simple me.
Keep me
Fastened in a boundless place
Where I
Can fade away without a trace.
I’m always very loudly snoring
And sometimes consistently boring.
No great feats…the things I’ve done,
But I’m only…only…only twenty-one.
Surprise!
It’s a captivated crowd.
My sighs
Are not motivated loud.
They are soft and whispered,
Clear and distant,
Nice and easy to listen to.
It’s amazing what they do.
My meanings run dry
At the wink of an eye.
It could be that I’m lost
In a sighing holocaust,
But I’m true to me…
And I always will be.

© 1975 Tony Funderburk  (September 30)

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Would you like to know how to spot hypocritical love?

Hypocritical love is all around you, so it’s a good idea to be able to discern it. Why? So, you won’t buy into lies and silly, childish euphemisms. If you’re not hiding your Christianity under a basket…if you’re actually being “salt and light” in this increasingly, tasteless, dark world…you’re gonna experience actual hate trying to pass itself off as love. That’s hypocrisy. And that’s what you can expect from anyone who hates the truth when it disagrees with or challenges their emotional disposition.

Hypocritical Love - Do you know how to spot it?

In Colorado Springs, Colorado…the day after Thanksgiving this year…a terrible crime of multiple murders occurred. A man decided to shoot people. Yes, he decided. He wasn’t driven by the devil to do it. He wasn’t goaded by God. He did it of his own free will. It was a cowardly, evil thing to do, and he alone is to blame. What does this have to do with hypocritical love?

If you follow some of the news organizations, publications, media, and blogs of those who profess to celebrate diversity and tolerance, you can already see the vitriolic hate toward Christians. So far there’s no indication of this murderer’s philosophy on life, but I’ve already read multiple articles taking negative aim at Christians. Incredible! One article, on the Huffington Post website (by Sam Levine), related to the shooting at a Planned Parenthood facility, was about how Colorado Springs is a “hub for conservative Christians“. Why would an “associate politics editor” want to bring up that point? To ask his readers to reach out to conservative Christians, in love, for a showing of support? Hardly. Maybe he was pointing out what a tragedy it was that this happened in such a God-fearing and loving community? Nonsense! Mr. Levine’s writing had one purpose…

…to show his contempt for conservative Christians. Otherwise, there was no need to even mention them (us). True conservative Christians had absolutely…let me repeat that…absolutely nothing to do with the shootings. Nothing! In fact, almost immediately after the crime was contained, and the perpetrator was in custody, Christians from all over the country (especially the pro lifers) began condemning his actions as evil and despicable. I include myself in that group.

What that man did had nothing to do with what God says. In this age of grace, paid for by Jesus, a true Christian will choose to love his fellow man. And true love doesn’t pick up a weapon and go shoot innocent people. So, even if this shooter makes some pro life claim or links himself to Jesus, any Christian with a decent level of wisdom and discernment will question whether it’s true. I, for one, say there’s no way the man’s a Christian. And I also say he’s done a crime worthy of death. And I also say…I hope he pays for those innocent lives with his own life. And I also say, I hope he repents of that sin before he dies…because he can be forgiven of even murder, if he truly asks God for forgiveness.

But there is a vast majority, in the United States and around the world, who will see this as an opportunity to seize with all the seething they can muster against Christians. In the name of love and tolerance they will lash out at anyone who would dare say unborn babies are real, live people. They’ll write opinions and “editorials” on how Christianity is “just like all the other religions in the world”. And, in doing so, they’ll highlight their hypocritical love…because they’re clueless about what True Love is. Sadly clueless.

If you’re looking for ways to link conservative Christians to evil men, like this latest shooter, my prayer for you, today, is this: God grant that the eyes of their understanding be opened to Truth…to You. Help them to “let love be without hypocrisy” and to hate evil and cling to what is good. And Lord help them to grow in wisdom and see the difference. Help them to understand how their hypocritical love destroys lives…especially their own.

Are you pointing out the flaws of others that you yourself display? Do you even know? Do you even care? Is it important? Yes, write to me, and I’ll do my best to show you why.

Stay tuned,

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P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can help me spread the Truth in words and music to others.

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This Thanksgiving who will you be thanking? Who will you be thankful to? And why? I hope you thank God because without Him none of us would be here. He did all the work, and He offers you unending life as a free gift. I’m thankful. Are you? Here’s a song about it.

Thank God

In the best of times, where’s the challenge?
In the worst of times, where’s your choice?
In the fevered pitch, where’s the silence?
When the love is breached, where’s the voice?

Could you have your very life taken from you
While the world stood at your feet?
Wouldn’t that completely stop and numb you?
Wouldn’t you admit defeat?

Well, thank God He didn’t leave it up to you”
Thank God He didn’t leave it up to you…
Thank God He didn’t leave it up to you…
Thank God He didn’t leave it up to you…

In the darkest hours, who’s your Father?
In the scheme of things, who’s the One?
In the best laid plans, who’s the Spirit?
When your heart is healed, who’s the Son?

Could you let your very blood be taken
For your friends who’d run away?
Wouldn’t all your faith and hope be shaken?
Would you even think to pray?

Well, thank God He didn’t leave it up to you…
Thank God He didn’t leave it up to you…
Thank God He didn’t leave it up to you…
Thank God He didn’t leave it up to you…

Thank God.

© 2010 Tony Funderburk

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Happy Thanksgiving 2015. It sounds odd to say that already. It seems like we just took down the Christmas decorations from 2014, and it’s almost time to put them back up again. Time flies when you keep getting up every day and going to bed every night…doesn’t it? Well, regardless of whether time is flying, I still want to wish you a blessed Thanksgiving.

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

I pray you and yours are healthy, happy, safe, and secure this Thanksgiving. And I hope your table is filled with not only the bounty of meats, fruits, and vegetables…but also the Bread of Life and Living Water. Those last two ingredients are found in the one person of Jesus. Without Him all your other blessings are mostly meaningless and certainly temporary.

For a Happy Thanksgiving 2015…

You can preach prosperity…you can teach health and wellness…you can write about wealth building…you can deliver promises of productivity…you can coach confidence…you can fan the flames of faith…but…

…if you live your entire life and die without the saving grace of Jesus, it was all for nothing. And whatever blessings you had in this life will be removed from remembrance like whispers in the wind. Therefore choose life, and have a Happy Thanksgiving 2015 and every year from now on.

If there’s any reason you still prefer to live your life completely on your own terms, write to me and tell me. If you don’t think anything I’m saying makes any logical sense, write to me and tell me. If you have a good reason why what I’m saying couldn’t possibly be true, I’d love to hear it. And if you just have doubts…would you let me know? Here’s a rhyme to help you remember…

I’m thankful for a God who lives
And loves me every day.
I’m thankful for this life I have
On this Thanksgiving Day.

Stay tuned,

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P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. For other awesome ways you can help me get
The Truth In Words and Music out to others…

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God is not planning your day or
the other 7 billion people in the world either.

You probably have enough trouble planning your day…never mind 7 billion others…right? Well, here’s a revelation (it shouldn’t be, but it is). God isn’t planning your day either…or all the other people on the planet. He did something much better and more complex than plotting out the lives of all the people who have ever lived or ever will live. Yeah, that would be complex, but He’s bigger than that. And more willing to take risks. Wanna know what He did? Keep reading…

God designed something you can use to plan your own day. He gave one to everybody who has ever been born. You’re using it right now as you read this. If you guessed “brain”, you may be way ahead of me. Yep, God designed brains for each of us, and then He took a HUGE risk…He gave us full use of it. In other words, we don’t have to ask His permission to make decisions. Of course, we should always consult Him and ask for His help. But we can make decisions based on our own choices. Then we can reap the rewards or deal with consequences based on what we chose.

No telling how many times I’ve heard Christians say, when traumatic or tragic things happen, “Well, we trust God even though we don’t understand why He’s doing this or what His plan is”. If you’re a Christian…

Stop Saying That!

God didn’t wreck your car, or burn down your house, or make your kid steal, or crash that plane, or make anybody shoot anybody else. God isn’t arbitrary. He isn’t fickle. He isn’t playing games with your emotions, your family, or your life. God isn’t planning your day. He’ll never leave you nor forsake you as you plan your own day. But He has the big picture view of our world. And that means allowing you to live your life with the freedom to love Him or not. The freedom to choose Him or not. Here’s what I suggest…

As you begin planning your day today…

…put choosing God at the top of your to-do list. Either choose Him because you never have, and you know you should…or choose Him to continue to be the guiding force in your life. Choose to love God. You have nothing to lose but nothingness. Will you do it? Here’s a rhyme to remember…

Planning your day is part of your life…
Choosing the things you will do.
Make sure you choose the giver of life.
He’ll always be there for you. 

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

You can probably think of many times in your life when it looked like there was no good way out of your troubles. I know I can. But I’m fortunate to have an ongoing relationship with God. He’s the shield for me against the world. I can’t imagine going through this life without His presence. He can be a shield for you, too. Don’t go it alone. All you gotta do is ask.

God Is The Shield For Me

I recommend taking stock of some things about you no one can see”not even you. Things like logic, love, and that tugging feeling on your heart that this life might not be all there is. Ponder those. Deeply.

Where do those things originate? And why? What evolutionary purpose does love serve? How could it be beneficial when it comes to surviving and being the strongest? OK”enough questions. I’d like to serve up some answers I believe and trust in. You can accept or reject them as you see fit. And your acceptance or rejection help illustrate my points.

Love comes from love. Just like life comes from life. These are clearly visible and observable facts”all around you. But in order for love to come from love, and life to come from life, there had to be a beginning source. And in order for that source to make sense, to be believable, and to be trustable, it couldn’t be an explosion of material from non-material. That hypothesis is silly on the surface, and untenable the deeper you dig.

Life and love come from a living, loving Creator. Since He created you, it stands to reason He knows, better than you, what’s best for you. Are you with me so far? And since He knows what’s better for you”and He loves you because He made you”it stands to reason He might put together a manual you could follow when you need to troubleshoot where you’ve messed up. Even car manufacturers do that”and you’re infinitely more important than a car.

Here’s my second recommendation. The manual that your Creator put together is called the Bible. You can get a free version delivered to your phone. There are plenty of choices. (The New King James version is my favorite) Get yourself a copy, either digital or print, and open it up to the book of John. In the first verses of that book, you’ll discover how much God loves you. You can’t imagine how much until you read His word. It fills you up with His eternal truth, and that’s how He becomes a shield for you.

You could also open up to Psalms and/or Proverbs and get lots of tidbits of wisdom showing God’s love toward you. Regardless of where you start, you’ll be building a relationship with your living, loving Creator. As I mentioned above, He’s the one who is a shield for me in times of trouble. The great news is”He’s waiting to be a shield for you, too. And He lets you choose. He offers grace. He doesn’t force it on you. That’s true love.

True love doesn’t force you to submission.
True life can be yours the day you yield
True words can help you build a strong connection
With the living, loving God who is your shield.

Stay tuned,

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Are all sins equal? Is everybody in a particular religion to blame for the evils others do in the name of that religion? Is there any religion on earth that can be trusted to offer you the whole truth? The answer to that last question is a resounding “YES!” But the answer to the first two questions is “a thousand times no!”.

A Thousand Times No

I’m a Christian. And before you write me off as a Bible thumping, rules-and-regulations guy you should really check my past articles here on TonyFunderburk.com You’ll discover a lot of grace. You’ll see how much I want everybody to experience the life-changing love of Jesus…and His gift of eternal life to anyone who asks for it with a repentant heart. You won’t find a bunch of rules and regulations. And you won’t experience a thump on the head. Maybe a metaphorical piercing of the heart, but no thumping.

It occurred to me, this morning as I opened my WordPress blog, that my previous article was #1000. That’s actually quite a milestone, for those of you who don’t keep track of such things. And those thousand posts are from this iteration of my website. In other words, I’ve written many more than that, but these are the thousand I’ve left online this time around.

My goal, with my “Words and Music With Higher Purpose” is to share the love of Jesus. And I want to make it visible and real to anyone who’s looking for the answer that can’t be found in this mean (and getting meaner) world. Oftentimes I write short poems to help you remember the point I’m making. Other times I share a story. And still other times, I just share the cold, hard truth. It isn’t always wrapped in angel wings and sweet words. But it is always shared with love for my neighbor.

I hope you’ll stay with me for the next thousand articles…the next thousand stories, poems, and songs. And I hope you’ll pray for me…that I’m thinking and saying God’s thoughts after Him. If there’s anything I can help you with, just ask. And here’s a song that falls under the heading of “cold, hard truth”…

A Thousand Times No

Everything is for a reason
God is in control
Everything He turns to good
For His higher goal.
So do you want to thank Him for
Destruction and despair?
Is He the author of confusion?
You see it everywhere…

No, no…a thousand times no. No no a thousand times
No, no…a thousand times no. No no a thousand times.

Should you freely give forgiveness?
The Bible tells you so.
But what if someone’s unrepentant?
How does that one go?
Should they get to live in sin
And skip the judgement day?
Take a look at the Revelation.
What would Jesus say?

No, no…a thousand times no. No no a thousand times
No, no…a thousand times no. No no a thousand times.

And who are you to judge?
Your eyes can clearly see
That you’re no holier
Than him or her or me.
So should you shut your mouth
And skip the words of Paul?
Did he misunderstand
The Lord’s enduring call?

No, no…a thousand times no. No no a thousand times
No, no…a thousand times no. No no a thousand times.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I find it difficult to write anything without trying to make it rhyme in my head. Or without pondering the rhythm of the words. It isn’t obsessive. But it IS almost constant. And dare I make a mention of the need for this attention…to words? Oops. I did it again. Well, it’s no sin. Drat! There I go without even trying. You gotta believe I’m not lying when I tell you I don’t mean to. It’s just something that I do. And there’s no lasting purpose to it. I don’t know what makes me do it. When I asked my good friend, Emma to help me with this dilemma, she let out a snicker. Then I wondered “why’d I pick her?” I could solve this on my own and then leave the rhymes alone. But if you have a solution to my rhyming execution, would you send me a note and tell me? A little help, please.

Yep, I suppose everybody could use a little help now and then.

Maybe your problem isn’t as serious as mine. But when you lay it on the line, it’s important. We’re all here for each other…every sister, brother, mother…and father. But so much of the time we’re so disconnected, misdirected, and unaffected. What’s wrong? Where did we shift? What caused this rift?

It’s not a matter of some mystical, magical hocus pocus. It’s a simple shift in our focus. We follow our own hearts. And that’s where the trouble starts. Your heart is not a good leader. In fact, it’s often a bottom feeder going for the lowest common denominator. In doing so, it becomes a terminator of wisdom. And wisdom is the key. For you…for me…for anyone who’d rather benefit from lessons learned instead of getting burned over and over.

Is wisdom discovered? Uncovered? Or is it something you’re born with and have to practice? Please…please. It’s none of these. It’s knowing the difference between wrong and right…seeing the light of truth. OK. Where does truth originate. I don’t mean to agitate, but the answer is…God. Without Him, it’s a matter of opinion, and every little minion has one of those.

So, in my rhyming way…today, as I do most every day, I’d like to offer a little help. It would be more than nice if you took my advice, but I’ll leave it up to you.

Here’s what I suggest you do…

Look into God’s word. Don’t just go on what you’ve heard. Discover what He actually says. I believe you’ll find truth you never knew that can completely change you and your eternal destination. And to show my dedication, I promise to help you when I can because God says to help my fellow man. If you have any questions, share them with me. I’ll do my best to help you see God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Are you smart because you think you’re smart? Are you wise because you believe you’re wise? Do you know yourself better than anyone else does? If you answered yes to one or all three of those questions, you’re trusting in your own understanding. And that’s a problem”because you’re leaving out your Creator. When you do that, you’re risking more than you might realize.

Your Own Understanding...is it enough?

Let’s say you wake up tomorrow and find out you’re the smartest, wisest, and richest person in the world. You can answer any question, solve any problem, and afford anything you want. Wouldn’t that be cool? Who wouldn’t love that?

But then”20 or 30 or 40 years from now you discover you’re old. And dying. And you can’t figure out the answer to aging. You can’t solve the problem of feeling weaker and weaker. And all your money doesn’t bring you any doctors or scientists who can figure it out either. You begin to wonder”what did it all mean? Suddenly you have questions”not answers. Your mind can only ponder the meaning of life”but it doesn’t make sense.

Then”you die.

Then”what happens?

See how making everything about YOU eventually brings you to a point of hopelessness and helplessness? When you’ve lived your whole life, and you’re at the point of dying, that’s when pure truth sinks in. You either know where you’re going, or you don’t.

There’s a place in the Bible where it says your understanding isn’t the best way to go. That’s God telling you He sees the whole picture and you only see a little bit of it. He lets you know if you trust in Him “with all your heart”, He’ll show you a clear path. God wants to bless you beyond what you can even imagine. But He doesn’t force His will over yours. He lets you choose.

Which do you choose? Hopelessness? Or hope? Helplessness? Or God’s help? I pray you choose to honor the Lord. When you do, He’ll fill you up with life. Life so abundant and full it’ll take forever to live it. Your own understanding can’t begin to see how beautiful it will be. And here’s a rhyme to help you remember”

Your own understanding is a tiny, little thing
And it won’t help you live beyond your days.
But you can live forever with faith and hope and love,
When you can trust the Lord in all your ways.

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Long life and peace. Those sound pretty good”don’t they? What would it take to be sure you could live peacefully and longer? Eat your vegetables and get plenty of exercise and sunshine…right? Yep, those are good pieces of advice. And you can find that sort of information everywhere”in health food stores, magazines, and don’t forget the magical internet. But I’d like to go to the source of life”God. What does He suggest for long life and peace? Would you believe mercy and truth? Those 2 things rank with God. Wanna know more? Keep reading”

Mercy and Truth

There’s a place in the Bible where it specifically says, “Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them down on the tablet of your heart, and so find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and man.“

That’s why I say mercy and truth can make God’s eyes twinkle. And did you notice the last two words from that Bible verse? “And man”. You can also find favor and high esteem when you are merciful and truthful with your fellow human beings. While punishment is necessary for doing bad things, mercy is even more necessary for changing hearts. And truth is the only way to determine which is needed for individual circumstances.

Then, there’s that whole “long life and peace”part. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? I know I wanna live as long as I can”and with as much peace as I can find in this life. So, what does God say about that? He says, “My son, do not forget my law, But let your heart keep my commands; For length of days and long life AND peace they will add to you.“

Now, you might be thinking, “oh brother”there’s all those laws of Christian religion again.”How are you supposed to remember them all”right? Good news. Jesus condensed all the laws into 2 simple ones anybody can remember”

Love the Lord your God. And”love your neighbor as yourself. 2 laws.

You can easily remember them, and if you keep them, they’ll add long life and peace to your existence. Being a Christian, I can suggest looking at the big picture. In the short term, you might not experience much peace. And you might not live a long life. But when you show God’s mercy and truth to your fellow human beings, you’re following His loving guidance. And that puts you on the path to eternal life (which is really, really long) in paradise (which is a place of total peace).

What do you say? Will you show someone mercy and truth today? Or maybe you can show one person mercy who needs it”and share truth with another person who needs that even more. Either way, will you? If so, let me know about it. And here’s a rhyme to help you remember”

Hang mercy and truth, like a necklace,
Around your neck with a smile.
Let them be seen by the world in between
Salvation and endless exile.

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When life drives you down…when you find yourself on bended knees with the weight of the world on your shoulders…that’s where it’s easiest to find God. It sounds like a terrible place to be. But it’s the perfect place. While you live and breathe, you are completely free to choose to love God. Choose wisely. One day every knee will bow to Him whether they want to or not. Don’t wait till then. It’s too late then. Get to know your Creator. And trust His unending love. Then share it with everyone. Like 10 year old Kaitlyn Maher did…

Here are the lyrics to the song Kaitlyn sang…by Kari Jobe, Matt Bronleewe, and Ben Glover.

On My Knees

Troubles chasin me again,
Breaking down my best defence,
I’m looking, God, I’m looking for you
Weary just won’t let me rest, and fear is filling up my head.
I’m longing, God I’m longing for you

But I will find you in the place I’m in, find you when I’m at my end,
Find you when there’s nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you’ll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
I’ll find you on my knees.

So what if sorrow shakes my faith,
What if heartache still remains,
I’ll trust you, my god I’ll trust you.
‘Cas u are faithful and

I will find you in the place I’m in, find you when I’m at my end,
Find you when there’s nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you’ll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
Find you on my knees, my knees.

When my hope is gone, when the fear is strong
When the pain is real, when it’s hard to heal
When my faith is shaken and my heart is broken and my joy is stolen, God I know that

You lift me up, you’ll never leave me thirsty,
Find you in the place I’m in, find you when I’m at my end,
Find you when there’s nothing left of me to offer you except for brokenness.
You lift me up, you’ll never leave me thirsty,
When I am weak, when I am lost and searching
I’ll find you on my knees.

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Have you ever been in a dark room fumbling to find the light switch? You can’t see a thing, and you know if you don’t turn the light on you’re bound to stumble over something…right? It’s a vulnerable and insecure feeling. But once you find the switch, flip it on, and the light floods the room, instantly all that stumbling insecurity disappears. And that’s just a dark room. Imagine a dark soul. That’s much more important than a room. If you don’t have a true connection with how you got here and where you’re going, it’s like stumbling around in the dark your whole life. But what if you found the switch, flipped it on, and the light of life burst into your soul?

Light of Life

Suddenly your path would illuminate, and your direction would be clear. You would know where you came from and where you’re going and your insecurities could be inundated with clarity, purpose, and love. Yes love. Love flows freely from a contented and secure heart. Selfishness lies like a stagnant pond in a dark soul. Selfishness stunts growth. It pollutes hope. It destroys faith.

Where is the switch you flip to turn on the light of life?

In your heart.

If you suffer from a bad case of dark soul, you can change it with a heart transplant. Your dark, selfish heart can be replaced by a living, loving heart when you trust in your living, loving Creator. God’s not a silly notion that a bunch of Christian rule-makers came up with. He’s not a figment of some writer’s imagination. He’s more real than everything else in the universe. The evidence of His existence is all around you…everywhere inside you. All that’s required of you is to open your eyes…then open your heart and ask Him in. He’ll do it that moment. And that’s how you flip the switch and turn on the light of life.

The best news is…you flip the switch once, and that light will never burn out. Will you do it today? Tomorrow isn’t a guarantee.

Give Me The Light

Well the light shines, and it’s coming from above.
I can’t ignore it because I know deep down it’s love,
And it shows me that the time is close at hand,
And I’m beginning to think I might just understand.

I’ve waited so long for the perfect time and place,
And made a whole lot of mistakes I can’t erase.
Destined to live in darkness I supposed,
But you can’t see the light when your eyes are closed.

So give me the light oh give me the light of Your love.
Give me the light. I wanna see how good it can be.
Give me the light oh give me the light of Your love.
Give me the light that’s gonna set this blind man free.

Well, I daydream, and I do my best to fly,
But something holds me; it doesn’t matter how I try.
Oh, but someday, when You say the time is right,
I know I’ll fly up and live forever in Your light.

repeat bridge & chorus…inst…repeat chorus twice

© Copyright Tony Funderburk 1998

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Take a deep breath…in fact, take 3 deep breaths. Then sit perfectly still and think about your future. Past next week, next month, and next year. Past the prime of your life, middle age, and senior years. As you see yourself going through those season of life, is your future full of hope? Not hope that comes and goes. Not hope that flickers on and off. I’m talking about hope that flows from and through you like fresh spring water. Do you have that? Are you full of that kind of hope?

What if I told you the Creator of all the universe thinks good things toward you? Would it interest you to know He wants you to have a future full of hope. In fact, He wants you to have a present full of hope. In fact, He’s made hope a present for you. If I could prove to you that Jesus IS that hope, and that your future can be eternal, and that it’s all yours for the asking, would you be willing to listen? Would you want that? Would you rather live in doubt? You do know the choice is yours…don’t you?

Here’s a random thought on the subject…butterflies are beautiful. But don’t be a butterfly. Pick a straighter path, even if it’s a little more difficult. Even if it’s more of an uphill climb. But don’t flitter and flutter here, there, and everywhere. That’s OK for butterflies, but even they have a destination. So how much more important are you and your destination? Exponentially more important. Trusting in what Jesus did for you makes your destination a place and a life full of hope.

Soliloquy

Butterfly,
How can you fly when your smiles gone?
Dipping and diving and looking so splendid,
But your smile gone.
What is wrong?

Butterfly,
You’re gathering nectar
From flowers that have long since died.
Your thirst for their sweetness and long for completeness,
But the flowers have died.
Still you have tried.

While you fly above, I am living in love
Enjoying the peaceful tranquility”
Utopia, it’s that kind of a world
That you’ve brought to me, willingly.

Butterfly,
Sometimes when I watch you, I simply sigh.
Free as a child, and yet all the while, never saying a word.
Butterfly,
I want to see you laugh again,
And I want to see you smile again.

© 1975 Tony Funderburk

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Who came up with that wacky idea anyway? You know…that whole “love” thang. Isn’t it just a waste of time? Doesn’t it always end up messing up people’s lives? Is it even real? I mean…you can’t see it, smell it, hear it, taste it, or touch it. So, who’s to say it isn’t just some made up notion to sell flowers and candy? And I don’t know if it would be any different if we saw a whole world of love. What do you think? Do you believe love is a real thing? If so, can you tell me what good purpose it serves?

World of Love

I’d love to know your thoughts on love. But for this moment, I’ll share a couple of my thoughts and ideas. The real thoughts and ideas. Not those like I wrote in the first paragraph.

First…love IS real. Even though we can’t see it, smell it, hear it, taste it, or touch it. It has nothing to do with our 5 senses. And that’s an indicator of something much more important…where love originated…and why we experience it. I’m gonna go out on a limb and say we humans didn’t invent love. And stepping out even further on that limb I’ll say love didn’t evolve into us. And now to step out on the very end of that limb…I’ll say…love comes directly from our Creator.

Oh no! Now, I’ve gone and done it. I’ve just messed this whole love thang up by bringing God into it. But…I’m stickin’ with my hypothesis. It makes sense that love, for us, had a beginning because we had a beginning. And I believe love is in us from the moment we’re conceived in our mothers’ wombs. You only need to watch a tiny baby responding to his mother’s voice to know that’s true. But if love is in us from the moment we’re conceived…how in the world did it get there?

Well, it had nothing to do with the world. It had everything to do with the Creator of the world. Your Creator (His name is Jesus, by the way) is the source of life AND love. He wrote love and eternity on the tablet of your heart. And here’s the coolest part…that love inside you…the feeling you can’t see, smell, hear, taste, or touch…is proof that God exists. You certainly don’t have to agree with me or take my word for it. But if you disagree, I’d love to hear you explain how love got here and what possible evolutionary purpose it serves.

In the meantime, I’ll enjoy the feeling of love, the force of love, and the hope of love. I understand and accept it as a gift from God. And I look forward to a world of love that lasts forever…with Him. I hope you have that hope. Here are some lyrics I wrote way back in 1974, and I believe I’m gonna turn ’em into a love song. I know…mushy…but I’ll take that over dark and depressing any day.

The World Will Be Our Own

Drop into my heart sometime.
I’ll have a song for you.
I’ll teach you all the words I have,
And then, when we are through,
The world will be our own.

Let’s tie a knot that binds our wants
And let’s us sing the song
In harmony of harmony
Whenever two belong
To one another’s hearts.

All alone is a lost and lonely world.
Rest assured we’ll never be this way
For my eyes have seen inside of yours.
Now and then you’re gonna hear me say”

Drop into my heart sometime.
I’ll have a song for you.
I’ll teach you all the words I have,
And then, when we are through,
The world will be our own.

© 1974 Tony Funderburk

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Your life is important. Your life is valuable. Your life matters. And those are reasons why you shouldn’t wish your life away. Are you doing that? Well, ask yourself if you wish everything was different. Ask yourself if you wish you weren’t living where you are…or doing what you do for a living…or looking like you do…or anything else you might wish to be different. Then ask yourself…why? Why do I wish that? Normally, I don’t like the why questions. But sometimes they’re important to ask. They can reveal things about yourself you might need to know. And they might help you avoid wishing your life away.

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If you don’t have an eternal perspective, it’s almost impossible to avoid the wish dilemma. Even if you don’t wish your life was different, you probably wish you had more time than the mere 50, 60, 70, 80, or 90 years here on planet Earth. But all the wishing in the world won’t change that. All the hoping won’t change things. All the dreaming won’t change things. So, what am I saying? Is everything hopeless? No need for dreaming?

Not at all.

It’s great to dream. It’s OK to wish. And it’s powerful and healthy to have hope. But, like I said…without an eternal perspective, those things don’t avail anything positive. Quite the opposite, in fact. Of course, that brings up the age-old questions…

  • “How did I get here?”
  • “Why am I here?”
  • “What’s the meaning of life?”

There’s a one-word answer to those questions…but you may not like it. Here’s the answer…God. You got here because He designed you. You’re here because He loves you. And the meaning of life is summed up in His love. Believing and trusting in your Creator gives you hope. Hope for life that lasts forever. If you don’t have that hope, you might be amazed at how liberating it can be. If you don’t have that hope, what are you waiting for? Ask God to give it to you. He will. If you don’t know where to start…ask me.

Here’s a poem written from the perspective of hopelessness. If you find yourself in the words, write to me and tell me.

I Wish And Why

The house is quiet when we’re sad.
It’s as though it knows the reason why,
And if it does, then I am glad
It knows it’s better not to cry.
For shallow are my tears.
They’ve been this way for many years,
But they are tears you’ll never see.
They’re tears I cry inside of me.
Hide them”I tell myself.
Keep them locked in a box on the shelf of my memory.
My memory is all that’s left of happy hours.
I sit in my tower,
Look out on a field,
Try hard to forget,
But the sadness won’t yield.
I wish I was a coat in winter.
I’d keep somebody warm.
I’d like the chance to shield someone
From any kind of storm.
It seems that we all wish
For something that we’re not.
For want of something better
Many battles have been fought.
Still the want of being better
Than what we really are
Has driven us to seek a goal”
To reach up for a star.
And when we miss, or when we fail,
The anguish fills our bones”
A feeling that would see it best
For us to feel alone.
I think I’ll hang my thoughts up now
And quietly close my eyes.
I may never know the reason,
But the house does know why.

© 1974 Tony Funderburk

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Most people on the planet…yes most…don’t believe in “a creator God”…much less “THE Creator God”. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard the same old cliché: “I just don’t see any evidence of a Creator”. The evidence is all around you. In fact, the evidence completely and thoroughly surrounds you. And only a fool would ever make the claim, “there is no God”. I’ve been writing about God, in one way or another, for my entire writing life…over 40 years. And to this day, I’m amazed at the complexity and awe and wonder of His creation all around me. I’d like to share a few thoughts with you I had about some trees way back in 1974. See if you can tell what’s hidden in the verse. Why would I share this as evidence of a Creator?

Evidence of a Creator

An Audience of Trees

I sat before an audience of trees,
The wind, blowing through the leaves,
Became an applause.
Why were they clapping?
Surely not for me.
I was merely sitting there writing about them.
Maybe they enjoyed the attention.
These trees were attired in Autumn fashions.
And some were even dressing for the winter.
It’s really odd, though”
A tree thinks its stylish to be naked through the freeze.
Thank goodness I’ll never be that daring.
My stage for the multitude
Was a semi-dried embankment of dirt.
I’m not proud.
I’m also not an attraction”only attracted.
I’ve been alone before,
But never knowing such peace
As when I sat before that audience of trees.

© 1974 Tony Funderburk

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Do you ponder tiny things? I do. I mean tiny, tiny things. Things you can’t even see…unless you look with your inner eyes. Way back in 1974 I was looking at a glisten. I don’t remember anything else about the particular day except I was feeling optimistic about something. Not sure what. Something. And I decided to write a visual description of my optimism. As it turned out, I also described the sound of optimism…even though it wasn’t my intention as I began to write it all down.

Being an optimist is easy when you have an eternal perspective. I do. I’m completely and utterly convinced there’s a living, loving God who created the universe, this world, and everything in it. And I’m completely and utterly convinced He’s made a paradise for me to live in forever…with Him. And I’m completely and utterly convinced it’s going to be glorious beyond anything I can imagine. And all that is in spite of (certainly not because of) how dark and depressing this world has become. My hope is not diminished.

So, with every word I write…and every note I sing, in the life, I see and hear the sound of optimism. What about you? Are you optimistic about the future? Do you believe there’s an unending future ahead? If not, write to me and tell me why. In the meantime, here’s the sound of optimism…

Glisten

If you could listen to a glisten,
What do you think you would hear?
I think the sound that would be found
Would ring out sparkling clear.
Glisten is the happy sound of happy people
In their happy worlds.
What a joy to enjoy when curled-up glistens
Are uncurled.
Make for me a glisten I can hold inside my hand.
I could carry it with me, and
I wouldn’t need a band.
This is but a moment in our lifetime.
I’m a word and you’re a word, and we rhyme.
If we glisten along our paths,
Our paths will glisten too,
And if you glisten for me,
I know I’ll glisten for you.

© 1974 Tony Funderburk

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