Tony Funderburk

My Hiding Place

Posted on November 9, 2014 by TonyNovember 13, 2014

Even the bravest warriors, fighters, and soldiers need a hiding place once in a while. A place where they can rest from their battles. A place where they can eat and fuel their minds. A place where they can rise above the noise and plan their next moves. Do you have a hiding place you can go when this world weighs heavily on your shoulders? I do. My hiding place is in God.

OK…now that I’ve raised the name of God as my hiding place I’m certain I’ve just lost over half of the visitors who landed on this page…either by accident or on purpose. That’s alright. It goes with the territory. It’s in the job description where Jesus mentioned “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you“. It may not be enjoyable to know people despise you in spite of your message of love…but it happens. So there.

But anyway…

I love knowing my hiding place is in the living, loving Word of God. I can go to Him anytime I’m tired, anytime I’m unsure, anytime I need encouragement. I hate to think of a life where I didn’t have that reassurance.

Is your life challenging you right now? And do you feel attacked from all sides? Financial, marital, emotional, physical attacks that seem endless? If so, do you have the confidence of knowing who you can turn to for answers? I hope you do.

Psalm 119:114, in the Bible, talks about what I’m sharing with you right now. The writer of this Psalm obviously needed a hiding place. But you’ll also notice the mention of a “shield”. And remember, a shield is used in battle. So, the writer wasn’t giving up. That’s because in his hiding place he found rest, and more importantly…hope.

I hope your hope is in God and His Word. If not, I invite you to join me in my hiding place. Join me here on my website anytime. Leave me your questions and comments, and I’ll always share the clearly revealed secrets of my hiding place in Jesus.

Stay tuned…

Love Conquers All

Posted on November 8, 2014 by TonyOctober 23, 2021

It may sound cliché to say love conquers all, but nevertheless it’s an unwavering truth.

You love yourself. So you go out into the world to work, interact with people, and buy the things you need to eat, sleep, and be comfortable. You love your kids. So you make sure they have food, clothes, and a safe roof over their heads. You love your parents. So you visit them to see if they need anything.

Love helps you conquer the unknown. Love helps you to help others. And love is the only “thing” in all of existence that grows in you as you give it away.

Hate might conquer the day. Or the country and its populace. Or even the world one day. But it doesn’t conquer all. And it won’t last forever.

Only love conquers all.

Love is what created this planet. Love is what made the green trees, grass, and herbs of the fields. And love designed an atmosphere ideal for both plants and creatures. Love made sure that both the intake of oxygen and the exhale of carbon dioxide would occur and be optimally functional.

Love planted a paradise with an open door and then made a way for us to enter in again after we so foolishly walked out.

So, love understands our exercises in futility and yet stands waiting with open arms to comfort and reassure us.

And…

…love does not exist apart from God.

He risked it all when He gave us our own will. Yet, being the master planner, calculator, and designer…God knows some of us will choose to love Him in return. He’s willing to give His love to everyone who ever lived for the sake of the relatively few who’ll respond to it.

If you’re one of those who simply won’t believe until you’ve actually seen…

…one day you will. Everyone will. The Creator of the universe and everything in it will come back to Earth, cast aside the rulers of this world and of darkness, and show once and for all…

…true, living, everlasting love conquers all.

Stay tuned…

The End of Your Faith

Posted on November 7, 2014 by TonyNovember 12, 2014

If you feel like you’ve reached the end of your rope today, look up. Literally and figuratively…look up. I know you won’t literally see your Creator, but He IS up there. He isn’t down among your problems. He is the solution to your life. And even if you don’t believe your problems will ever go away, they will. Kindle your faith…and when you reach the end of your faith, you will have reached the salvation of your soul…Jesus.

Wouldn’t it be nice to experience joy in spite of your circumstances instead of misery and doubt because of them? Is that even possible? Certainly I can tell you it is, and I can give you lots of examples where that’s been true in my life. But all those stories wouldn’t change you…if you still decided to turn away from God and go it alone.

And it IS your choice. God will never force you to believe in Him, love Him, and trust Him. He knows that wouldn’t be true love. For true love to truly exist there must be the options of hate, apathy, and rejection.

The Bible talks about “receiving the end of your faith“. That simply means getting what you hoped for. If you’ve never studied and weighed the evidence for the existence of a living, loving God, I can see where it would be easy to have no hope. After all…as far as you can tell you’re heading toward a black hole of nothingness.

But once you assess the mountain of evidence that Jesus was a real person, that He truly was God in the flesh, and that He truly did die on a cross to pay your way into eternal life, your joy becomes full of glory. The glory of God, living inside your heart, overcomes the anguish of your problems. And it’s yours for the taking…at the end of your faith.

Stay tuned…

Selfish Ambition

Posted on November 6, 2014 by TonyNovember 11, 2014

Beating your friends to millionaire status. Spending more when less would do just as nicely. Looking for the next rung on the ladder…no matter who you might step on to reach it. These are all examples of selfish ambition, and I trust they don’t describe you.

I recently enjoyed lunch with a pastor friend of mine, and our topic of conversation somehow got to end-of-life circumstances. He gave a succinct and poignant description. He said, “The last week you’re alive all your important belongings will be in the nightstand next to your bed…and you won’t even take those few things with you when you die.”

How true.

So, let me ask you…are you driven by ambition that says more is better? Are you looking toward each day with a passion to acquire more “stuff”? Do you believe you’ll get enough one day? Or are you really not sure?

The pursuit of “stuff” and accolades is not the same thing as “the pursuit of happiness” the founders of America described in the Declaration of Independence. And earthly pursuit of happiness is only a fraction of the time you’ll exist. Why would you want to pursue something that only exists for 100 years or less…at best?

Here’s an idea. Find someone you can help out today. I don’t mean with a hand-out. I mean truly help. Show them love and kindness. It can be a friend or a family member. You may not even need to go beyond the four walls of your own home.

Give of yourself. Let the thought of acquiring or taking float away from you. You’ll discover a lightness in your soul that will lift you up for days. When your selfish ambition fades into selfless provision, you’ll build something you can take with you when you die. And it will last forever.

Stay tuned…

Dawn of a New Day

Posted on November 5, 2014 by TonyNovember 10, 2014

Does darkness loom like a black fog over your head today? If so, you may be just around the corner from the dawn of a new day.

Yeah, I know you may be thinking that’s easy for me to say. After all, how could I possibly understand what you’re going through right now. You’re right. I don’t know what you’re going through. But I can tell you I’ve gone through similar things. And the key part of that phrase is “gone through”. Yep, I started out on one side and saw things through to the other side. How?

Because I’m just so special.

Not!

Because my Creator is so special. I know He never leaves me nor forsakes me. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. That doesn’t mean I WILL do all things…but I CAN…if I just will.

Jesus, who is your Creator, designed you. He gave you a body, soul, and spirit. He gave you the capacity to love and the freedom to choose to love…the freedom to choose life. And with the dawn of every new day you have another opportunity to either serve God and others…or selfishly serve yourself.

If you choose to serve God and others today, I hope you’ll write to me and let me know. Either leave a comment below or send me an email. Feel free to send pictures or share video or whatever. I’d love to hear from you. Now…

…go enjoy the dawn of a new day.

Stay tuned…

Is God Listening?

Posted on November 5, 2014 by TonyNovember 4, 2014

If and when you have a lot of pain, troubles, and obstacles in your life, you may start wondering, “is God listening?”. I hope you’ll understand when I say that is definitely not an expression of faith.

When you become a Christian, it means you’ve put your faith, hope, and love in the one dependable Person in the whole universe who will never let you down. And it also means you trust God to have your best interests in mind. And your best interests may not always be your own heart’s desires.

Yes, God is listening. In fact, I’ll go as far as to say He even hears your pain. That’s right…He hears it. And whether He addresses and attends to your pain in time to your liking or not, God hears you. So make your voice be heard. Pray. Thank God each day for the life you have…no matter what your circumstances may be. Remember you wouldn’t even be here if He hadn’t created you.

God’s love extends beyond anything you can comprehend. But He lowered Himself and became a man…even “became sin”…so that you could not only comprehend but also be directly in His presence.

It’s actually a small-minded thing to ask “is God listening”. The apostle Paul talked about the “babes in Christ“. The Corinthians still couldn’t handle “the meat” of God’s work, so Paul fed them “the milk”. They were still tiny, lacking enough faith to understand more about their Heavenly Father.

I urge you to set your faith on the solid Rock of all the universe and beyond. Trust with all your heart that your living, loving Lord is listening. I promise, it’ll all work out before you know it.

Stay tuned…

You Might Not Like It

Posted on November 4, 2014 by TonyNovember 4, 2014

I know about a dazzling opportunity. It’s available to anyone who’s interested. Seating is not limited. Admission is free. But there is a time limit. The venue is matchless. Millions of others have already taken advantage, and it’s easy to talk to someone who’ll share how this opportunity will change your life. Yep, it’s a one-of-a-kind offer, but I already know you might not like it.

The catch to this offer is…it requires your humility and apology. It may surprise you to know (or maybe it won’t) that most people don’t want to show humility, and they certainly don’t feel a need to apologize. Too bad.

I’m not sharing this with you today because I believe it will win me friends or influence my enemies. In fact, if it didn’t win me any friends or change the mind of even one enemy, I’d still share it. Simply because…I serve the one true, living, loving God. And He wants me to share this opportunity with you even though He, Himself, knows you might not like it.

OK…what is this “dazzling opportunity” anyway? Well, if you’ve followed my articles for any length of time at all, you know I’m always sharing the message of the saving grace of Jesus which leads to eternal life. All you need to do to receive it is ask. That’s where the humility and apology come in. Humble yourself and tell God you’re sorry for hurting yourself and others. When you do that with a sincere heart, you receive the dazzling opportunity at no cost to you whatsoever.

Well…there may be costs involved. You might not keep all the friends you have. You might not see as many worldly treasures coming your way. You might even experience contempt and persecution. But those are small prices to pay in exchange for eternal life in a glorified body and in the presence of the One who made you.

Even if you don’t believe in God and even if you think others who do are silly and naive…I’m certain you understand there may not be a tomorrow for you here on Earth. So, please consider what I’m saying. If it’s true…and I’m staking my very soul that it is…you’ll do yourself a favor to look into it. And if you can prove the loving Word of God isn’t true, please let me know. I certainly don’t want to perpetuate a lie, and I’ll give you all the credit…even if you might not like it.

Stay tuned…

Your To Do List

Posted on November 3, 2014 by TonyNovember 3, 2014

What’s on your to-do list today? Make breakfast, go to work, have lunch, go home from work, a little TV with the family (or alone), and then off to bed? Maybe you also have some errands to run. Or maybe you have some other appointments to make. Maybe you’re living life, being responsible, and getting through as best you can. As you make up your to do lists every week, have you ever considered checking into this whole eternal life thing?

Think about this. What if those Christians are actually right. And if you’re going to be an honest person…one who’s tolerant of other worldviews and one who celebrates the diverse culture palette in America…you should at least consider even Christianity as a possible source of truth.

Work with me here for a second. Let’s say, for grins, that I tell you a man named Jesus lived about 2,000 years ago. And let’s say…um…turns out He really DID do all those miracles. Wine into water. Sight to the blind. Good legs to the lame. Raising from the dead. And let’s say…um…turns out He really DID get crucified even after being found innocent. And let’s say He really DID rise from the dead as He said He would.

If those accounts really are true, and you know us pesky Christians…we insist those accounts really are true. If they are, Jesus would have to be…

God.

There, I said it. The Bible makes the claim that Jesus is God in the flesh. And if it’s true, then when He said “no one comes to the Father except through me“, He pretty much eliminated any other way of attaining eternal life.

On the surface it may sound like an exclusive religion that leaves people out in the cold. But the offer of eternal life is to every person who ever lived, lives now, or ever will live. The key point is…it’s a choice. God doesn’t force you to love Him or force you to live with Him forever. You get to freely choose.

If any of this creates even a tiny pause in your daily routine…take that moment to ponder it. And when you make out your to do list for the day, add some eternal life investigation into the mix. Maybe you’ll thank me one day a thousand years from now. I hope so.

Stay tuned…

Let Peace Rule In Your Heart

Posted on November 2, 2014 by TonyFebruary 24, 2025

The one true, living, loving God gave you life. And He offers you His love, but He doesn’t force it on you. He offers you help, but He doesn’t force on you. And He offers you peace, but He doesn’t even force that on you. In fact, you get to decide if you want to let peace rule in your heart. I’m not talking about the puny peace exhibited in a corny sign or the holding up of two fingers. I’m talking about the kind of peace that can only come from God.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians and said, “But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts“. He was talking about the “character of the new man”. If you don’t put on love and let God into your heart, you certainly can’t let His peace rule in your heart. Putting on His love IS peace.

This world is full of chaos and confusion, and in spite of what some short-sighted marketers and speakers might tell you…it isn’t getting better. I’m all for optimism, but the evidence for my assertion is overwhelming. Whether your choice for news is the “main stream media” or “conservative talk radio” or the internet…man’s inhumanity to fellow man abounds in every corner of the world.

Well, how can anyone who cares for his fellow human being let peace rule in his heart with all that going on? Simple. Let God’s words and promises rule in your heart. They won’t just jump into your heart when you’re not looking. You have to let them in. So…swing the door to your heart open wide. Let the fresh air of God’s love breeze through and whisk away the dust and cobwebs.

You are (or easily can be) a child of the one, true, living, loving God of life and love. And when you let his peace rule in your heart, others might just find it alluring enough to ask your secret. If so, don’t keep it a secret. Pass it on.

Stay tuned…

I Am Not A Pawn

Posted on November 1, 2014 by TonyMarch 15, 2023

If you’re a chess player, you’re familiar with the lowly piece known as the pawn. They take the front line and make the first move, but they’re mostly used as blockers. They can only move one square at a time, and they’re supposed to make it possible for the other “more important” pieces to make their moves. I’ve been called a pawn for choosing to live according to God’s “rules”, but I am not a pawn because choice is involved.

If God had designed us to love Him without being able to choose to hate Him, then we’d all be pawns…robots. But He knew that in order for true love to exist, there had to be the option of hate. And He literally risked it all by giving us the freedom to choose.

Since I have the freedom to choose I am not a pawn who can’t do anything but love God. I choose to love and follow Jesus because of His amazing grace toward me. So, I’m free to move around in this world, make my own choices about where I’ll place my allegiance, spend my time and money, and live my life. God gave you that freedom, too. I urge you to get to know Him and His Word. Discover the Truth that makes you free, so you can also say “I am not a pawn”.

No One’s Pawn

Silky satin words in Latin
Are brought now to my mind.
Old arsenic can stop the tick
And cause my brain to bind.
A flowing thought is simply what
A person needs to think.
The answer’s clear, and yes we’er near.
We’re standing on the brink.
Disaster goes…to where, who knows?
Be thankful when it’s gone.
For those who see diversity…
Well, they are no one’s pawn.
I’m one of these down on their knees
And asking for a chance
To prove by words I’m not of herds
Of men unheard and gone…
I’m no one’s pawn.

Stay tuned,

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Renew A Right Spirit Within Me

Posted on October 31, 2014 by TonyFebruary 24, 2025

When you’ve wronged someone…even yourself, do you wish you could hide from everyone…including God? Or do you apologize to those you’ve wronged…including God? Maybe it would help you to remember that no caring person expects you to be perfect. Neither does your living, loving God. He wants to experience your repentance with you. When you pray and say, “renew a right spirit within me, Lord“, He’ll hear you and help. That’s love.

You’ll notice where I’m writing “renew a right spirit within me, Lord” it has quotation marks around it…and it’s a link. I’m quoting a famous king. Just in case you’re not familiar with the story of King David, he was the youngest son in his family and yet stepped up to take down the Philistine giant, Goliath. He did many mighty things…and…he did some bad things.

Sound like your life?

I relate to King David. He was a singer songwriter, like me, and he desired to serve and worship God…even though he messed up. In fact, sometimes he messed up other lives in a big way. David’s Psalm 51 is a prayer of repentance. I urge you to read it and see what a heart sounds like when it’s truly sorry. If you find yourself giving in to the weaknesses of your flesh, you can go to Psalm 51 and model a prayer after David’s song.

You don’t have to try to think of big words, or flowery words, or even a lot of words. Simply tell God you’re sorry. Tell Him how much you love Him and how much you thank Him for His love toward you. Ask Him to be with you and help you to focus outward and not be so selfish, or…

…simply say, “renew a right spirit within me, Lord”. He will. Then, go to my Family Friendly Music page and play the first song in my music player. I wrote it for all of us.

Stay tuned…

Benefit of the Doubt

Posted on October 30, 2014 by TonyOctober 30, 2014

I have a great deal of doubt when it comes to the number of Americans I hear claiming to be Christian. When you hear that 85% claim to be, but then you hear only about 20-25% of those actually have anything to do with a church, it seems self-refuting. So…because I should share the benefit of the doubt I have in those numbers. But what’s the benefit?

Well, I believe the best benefit I can offer is to let you in on the poorly kept secret of the eternal life your Creator has for you…if you want it. Yes, Christians haven’t done a very good job of keeping the message of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus a secret. Thank God.

That’s why the Bible is the best-selling book of all time. The stories and the messages found in it change lives for now and eternity. And those lives are changed for the better…the best. You can’t give me eternal life, and I can’t give it to you. But we can share the message from the One who can and have a part in someone’s eternal destination.

Do you see how the benefit of the doubt means speaking up? Maybe you’ve heard this quote from Edmund Burke, a statesman in the 18th century: “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

If I lay any claim to being good whatsoever, I can’t simply smile and wave on my way to Heaven while others are riding the “down” escalator. And that’s why I’m here on my website, each day, writing exhortations and admonishments in favor of following the one, true, living, loving God. I seriously doubt if very many will heed what I say, but this daily exercise, I believe, shares the benefit of my doubt.

[su_youtube_advanced url=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AQg7ZbIrc8&feature=youtu.be” width=”760″ height=”420″ controls=”alt” rel=”no” theme=”light”]

Stay tuned…

Gift of God

Posted on October 29, 2014 by TonyFebruary 24, 2025

When you put your faith in The Way, The Truth, and The Life known to all the world as Jesus, you receive grace…a free gift of God. But have you ever thought about how much it cost Him?

I don’t mean only the horrible death on a cross. That’s enough to save the whole world…past, present, and future. But there’s something infinitely more costly involved. Think about this for a minute. For eternity past until His birth in Bethlehem, Jesus had always been Spirit only…also known as the Second Person of the Trinity, God the Son. He didn’t have the constraints of a flesh and blood human body.

He gave that freedom up forever when He chose to become flesh and dwell among us. Forever. That’s time without end. Starting about 2,000 years ago Jesus became a flesh and blood man, and He’ll be that way forever. When you die and go to be with Him, you’ll see Him as He was when He lived right here on planet Earth all those years ago. Well…He’ll be glorified and incorruptible, never to die again just as you’ll be in His presence…but He’ll be a flesh and blood man. Someone whose hand you can hold. Woo-hoo!

That’s an inkling of why Christians say “Amazing Grace”. Maybe you’ve heard the words to a song. Maybe you wondered what it meant when it said “that saved a wretch like me”. Well, it’s the amazing grace gift of God that turns wretches into saints. Which would you choose to be: wretch or saint?

If you’ve already chosen to accept the free gift of grace, you’re my brother or sister. If you haven’t, I’d sure like to welcome you to the family. Join today before the expiration day comes for the gift of grace. Here’s a song for you…

Stay tuned…

Walk In The Light

Posted on October 28, 2014 by TonyOctober 28, 2014

If you were in a dark forest on the side of a mountain, and you didn’t know which way to go, but you saw two paths…one to the left that seemed to go down a rocky ravine…and…one to the right that was lit up and well-groomed, which path would you choose? Unless you’re a glutton for punishment, I’ll bet you’d choose to walk in the light. I sure would.

Life is full of choices. In fact, choosing life itself is a vitally important choice. And I don’t mean just choosing to stay alive in this world as long as you can. I’m talking about the abundant, overflowing eternal life you can have…if you choose it.

Guess what. Eternal life will never be forced on you. If you don’t want it, you can say no, and it will be given to others who do. But let me share an illustration with you. Imagine having your body die, but you find out the YOU who exists inside that body is still alive. Now imagine having the spirit of life separated from your very soul…and yet, the you who exists inside your mind still exists. Now imagine having no body and no spirit. You can’t see you, and you can’t see anyone else. But you know without a doubt that you still exist. After all…who keeps thinking those thoughts all around you? You!

And now imagine going to a place where you’ll exist forever in that state. Never again having a body…never again having the spirit of life…yet existing forever with only your thoughts of what could have been. That’s torment. Self-inflicted, everlasting torment. And it could have easily been avoided if you had chosen to walk in the Light of God.

If you haven’t already chosen life which is found only in your Creator…Jesus, I hope you’ll consider doing it today. The tomorrow you think is going to get here may never actually get here for you. All you need to do is read or watch the news to see how many people died on a day, and in a way, they never dreamed would be today.

Wherever you are right now, and no matter your circumstances, you can make a very pro choice…life. Abundant, eternal life with the one, true, living, loving God who knew you from your mother’s womb. He is Light…the Light of the world, and when you walk in the Light of the world, it’s awesome.

Stay tuned…

Be Of Good Cheer

Posted on October 27, 2014 by TonyOctober 27, 2014

You look around and all you see is bad news. Every TV news channel reports the murders, the wars, the stealing, and all the other constant crimes of man’s inhumanity to his fellow man. In the middle of all this…not to mention your own personal crises…is it possible to be of good cheer?

Well, what if I told you the Creator of the universe actually says to “be of good cheer“? Would that help?

I know this world is mean and most times unforgiving. But you don’t need to throw your hands up in frustrated despair. You can connect with the one true, living, loving God who knows, first-hand, what you’re going through. And He says He has “overcome the world”.

But what exactly does “overcome the world” mean? Does that mean God has secretly conquered the world when others like Caesar, Napoleon, and Hitler failed? No. The world system based on the selfish, arbitrary, and capricious whims of flawed and failing human beings doesn’t hold up under pressure. God doesn’t have that problem. He’s God. More powerful and more able than all the world. And yet He took on human flesh, suffered ridicule and a horrible death, and overcame the sin in our world, and as Jesus, the man, said…

…be of good cheer.

Can you imagine the agony of having the very ones you love yell out “crucify Him”? Can you even begin to imagine the love it must have taken to suffer the most horrible death in all of history for crimes you didn’t commit? I can’t.

So, if someone who knows that sort of rejection, humiliation, and tribulation tells me to be happy in spite of my circumstances, I think it behooves me to give it a shot. What do you say? Will you join me today in an effort to be of good cheer and to help others do the same?

Stay tuned…

He Has Heard My Voice

Posted on October 26, 2014 by TonyOctober 26, 2014

If you’re a Christian, why do you follow Jesus? Maybe you’re like me and King David…maybe it’s because you can say “He has heard my voice“.

I never get the sense or feeling that God doesn’t hear my voice. I believe He hears my prayers, my joy, and my despair. He knows what I need even before I ask or tell Him. Yet, He wants me to talk to Him and spend time with Him. And that makes Him the ultimate good Father.

Most of my adult life has been spent in the world of words and music. So, I’ve used my voice to pay my way. I’m grateful, thankful, and indebted to God for the gift of music…for my voice. If I give credit to Him for even having a voice, doesn’t it make sense to believe He has heard my voice? Of course!

Now understand, you don’t need to be a singer to have your voice reach God’s ears. If you’ve accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, He has heard your voice, too…each time you pray and thank Him for life and love.

If you’re not a Christian, you have a great opportunity to make a direct connection to the one, true, living, loving God who created heaven and earth and everything in existence. You can personally speak to God, and He will personally listen. He doesn’t pass it off to some secretary or some other angelic gatekeeper. He, alone, is the Master of all creation…the only one big enough, powerful enough, and loving enough to hear your voice.

Please consider your own fate today. It’s in your hands. You get to choose where you prefer to spend eternity. I guarantee if you ask God to come into your heart and change you forever, He will. And I suspect you’ll rejoice along with all the angels…and me…and cry out, “He has heard my voice!”.

Stay tuned…

Establish Your Hearts

Posted on October 25, 2014 by TonyFebruary 24, 2025

If you’re part of a group who chooses to “go it alone” without the help of some “judgmental-all-knowing-non-caring-God”, I hope you change your minds before your last breath. I hope you allow God to “establish your hearts” so you can “blameless in Holiness” when you face Him one day.

See…right now, if you try to live life on your own merit, you carry a lot of blame and guilt whether you admit it or not. You’ve hurt others, and you’ve hurt yourself. You’ve committed sins against others, in some way, almost every day of your life. But guess what…so has everyone else.

The difference between someone who chooses to accept Jesus as Savior and someone who believes he or she doesn’t need a Savior is a matter of payment. Who’s gonna pay for your mistakes? You? Or Jesus? Before you answer, did I mention the payment plan continues in perpetuity?

That’s why I always recommend the co-sign plan. Ask Jesus to take over your payments where you fail…which is wherever you are without Him…and He’ll make sure your debt is paid in full for eternity. Then He’ll establish your hearts…with the firm foundation that can’t be shaken by anyone or anything.

Any of you who stumble upon this article with an open mind for Truth will find the Grace of God that surpasses all understanding. Not because I have the power, but because I can pass on the knowledge of the one who does.

So…what do you say? Are you ready to trade your ego for eternal life? I hope you’ll let me know either way. I’ll be here when you want to talk about it.

Stay tuned…

Possessing All Things

Posted on October 24, 2014 by TonyOctober 25, 2014

Paul described himself (and Christians), in the book of 2 Corinthians, with a group of contrasting phrases. In some Bibles there are subheads for different sections, and in mine this section is titled “Marks of the Ministry”. Paul used these phrases to more fully illustrate a fruitful ministry. One of them was “as having nothing, yet possessing all things“.

Do you ever feel like you have nothing…and yet at the same time sense that you’re possessing all things that are truly important. I hope so. It’s like this…

Maybe you having nothing, or not very much, in the way of “things”. Maybe you don’t have a fancy, new car. Or a closet full of new clothes. Or a membership at that swanky golf and country club. But maybe you’ve accepted Jesus as your personal Savior. That trumps all other shortcomings because that one decision gave you everything you need for eternal life. And in case you didn’t know it…eternal life doesn’t have to be renewed every year like a country club membership.

Take a close look at these other contrasting phrases Paul writes and you might notice a pattern…

as unknown, and yet well known; (God knows you always)
as dying, and behold we live; (God is your source of Life)
as chastened, and yet not killed; (a loving God corrects you when needed)
as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; (God gives you joy beyond your pain)
as poor, yet making many rich; (your treasures are in Heaven with God)

What’s the pattern?

God will never leave you nor forsake you. People and things and feelings in this world will…but God won’t. When you’re giving time to grow in God’s Word and share His love, you’re possessing all things that really matter.

Stay tuned…

A Pillar of Salt or A Pillow of Faith

Posted on October 23, 2014 by TonyOctober 24, 2014

Looking back with regret can turn you into a pillar of salt.

I’ve got two descriptions for you today, and I’d like you to think about which one fits you or your life. Are you willing? OK. The first is one you may have heard of even if you’ve never picked up a Bible. It’s “pillar of salt”. The second is one just thought of as I began to write. I haven’t heard it before, but I wouldn’t be surprised to find it online somewhere. It’s “pillow of faith”.

There are many places in the Bible where God shows you the principle of always moving forward. In the New Testament you’ll find references like…

the race
the prize
the goal

I think it’s easy to visualize yourself running a race, winning a prize, or reaching a goal. But imagine if you didn’t have to visualize the consequences of looking back when you should have been looking forward.

A woman, referred to as “Lot’s wife”, experienced harsh consequences for looking back. Lot and his family were told, by God, not to look back as they escaped from the city of Sodom. Maybe you’ve heard or recall that God destroyed that city and the city of Gomorrah. Well, Lot’s wife looked back and was immediately turned into a pillar of salt. Yikes.

But I’d like you to think of it this way…let’s say you’re walking somewhere. Suddenly you sense something is directly behind you, and feel compelled to look back. What do you have to do? Stop and turn around. Right? And you just lost your forward momentum and took your eyes off the prize.

Yesterday is gone forever. And tomorrow is always tomorrow. It’s only today where you have any chance of making a difference in your life and the lives of others. I encourage you to believe you can. Have even a little faith and you can. Live by faith, and lay your head on the pillow of faith that is God’s Word.

Why look back with regret and turn into a pillar of salt when you can run the race and when the prize of the Grace of Jesus?

Stay tuned…

When Love Is Not Enough

Posted on October 22, 2014 by TonyOctober 22, 2014

Contrary to the popular old saying…love does not conquer all. The existence of hell proves my point. I can love you with all the Christian love I can muster, and you might still despise and even hate me. And there’s nothing I can do about it if you do. I can’t force my will over your own. So…what do you do when love is not enough to save someone from a fate worse than death?

You let them go.

When I was 13, I listened to my Grandmother tell me the story (for the millionth time it seemed) of how Jesus died for me so that I could have eternal life. But, at 13, I chose to accept His love for me, and I’m eternally grateful to my Grandmother for not giving up on me…and to Jesus as well.

But here’s the thing…

I could have just as easily said no. It was my choice. And here’s a shocker…all of God’s love for you won’t save you if you don’t want it to. Yep. There are millions of times…maybe even billions of times when even God’s love is not enough. Wanna know why?

Because He lets you choose. He’s not a maniacal control freak. He won’t force His love on anyone who doesn’t want it. So, everyone in the world gets to choose where they will spend eternity. God has made two places. One is with Him in Heaven forever. One is apart from Him, the source of Life, forever. Yes, either choice is a permanent one.

I can show you the love of Jesus till I’m blue in the face, but I have to acknowledge that there will be times (most times in fact) when love is not enough. And just like God…I’ll have to let go. It’ll feel awful, but I’ll have to let go. Otherwise I’m just exercising futility and trying to force my will on others.

So…I hope you see how much I care about your life. If you haven’t chosen to live with God forever, I believe I care about your life even more than you do. But…I won’t mentally or emotionally beat you up over it. I’ll pray for you. I’ll do my best to answer questions you have. I’ll share resources with you. I’ll even sing to you if it’ll help. I’ll love you until I’m sure when love is not enough.

Stay tuned…