Tony Funderburk

August 1 2014

Posted on August 1, 2014 by TonyMarch 15, 2023

Well, it’s already August 1 2014. Can you believe more than half of this year is in the history books?

Did you know the month of August was named after Augustus Caesar and was lengthened to 31 days by Julius Caesar? And did you know that neither one of those Caesars ever ate a Caesar salad because it wasn’t invented until 1924?

Well…with that information and a smartphone, you can connect to the internet and even make long distance calls. ha!

This morning, I reflected on August 1 2014.

And I wondered what a month would have to be called if it were named after me. Let’s see…using my nickname, Tony, we might have the month of Tonyary. Or Tonus. Or Tonember. Hmm…I think I like the sound of that because my birthday is in December, and we could maim two birds with one whiffle ball with that month. What do you think? Sound good?

Let’s make a rhyme about it…

On August 1 2014
The congress did declare
A new month named Tonember
To people everywhere.
And every person big and small
Began to clap and cheer.
“Oh we can hardly wait,” they said,
Until Tonember’s here.
We’ll gather up the chocolate chips
And cashews and pecans
And bake Tonember cookies
Till they’re delicately bronze.
We’ll visit friends and family.
This year we’ll top the last.
Don’t hesitate to celebrate.
Tonember, please come fast.

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July 31 2014

Posted on July 31, 2014 by TonyJuly 31, 2022

July 31 2014 means there’s basically only one more month of summer weather here in the Rockies.

I remember, as a kid, the last day of July always felt like the beginning of the end of summer. My brother and I visited my mother in Kansas during the summer, and once it was over we went back to Texas to live with our dad for the school year.

As I grew up and older and out on my own, it didn’t feel like that so much anymore. I was glad. I didn’t want the beginning or ending of summer to feel sad. But saying goodbye to mom or dad wasn’t fun…and as a kid, summer’s supposed to be all about fun. Isn’t it?

Well, I figured I’d share a very short poem with you about July 31 2014 so you could say goodbye to July. How about you share your memories of July with me?

Goodbye July.
We know you have to fly.
And we’re not sad
Because it’s nothing bad.
We loved your sun
And all the days of fun.
And we will grin
‘Cause you’ll be back again.

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When Things Break

Posted on July 30, 2014 by TonySeptember 5, 2022

When things break…and they always do…what’s the first thing you do? Are you immediately grateful to God when things break?

Do you sing songs of praise and worship? Do you gather all your friends and have a feast and deliver up burnt offerings?

I’m gonna take a wild guess and say I’ll bet you don’t. And…that’s OK.

In fact, you can skip all those things and still consider yourself a Christian who loves the Lord. I’m not kidding. You really can. However (did you suspect there would be a however?)…I’d like to also suggest you don’t just thank God when things are going well.

When your life is zooming along down the fast track, successful endeavors abound, and no one in your family is sick…it’s easy…quite natural you might say…to skip any regular conversations with God. Have you ever found yourself doing that? I know I have. We humans (at least most American humans) tend to focus our attention on achieving, and when we are, we think we’re good to go. It must have all been prayers answered. Right?

But what about those days or weeks or months or years when you find yourself being challenged from every corner and every angle? What do you focus on then? Well, if you’re like most…the focus tends to be on the problem…and that makes the problem look huger and huger.

Yeah, that’s a word. Look it up. 🙂

I know, from personal experience in the past few days, that when things break, a problem can loom like a T-rex in the back of the brain. My Jeep began to run poorly, basically stalling out, last week when I was on a highway in the middle (or close to it) of nowhere. Turns out it was the catalytic converter. And to top that off I discovered the Jeep actually has 3 catalytic converters…2 called “pre cats” and 1 traditional “cat”.

A friend trailered my Jeep to a mechanic a couple of towns away, and I was told a catalytic converter would be $1400…plus labor. And I was told it would take a week to even get the part.

I’m currently in a small town on the Western slope of Colorado where choices are few when it comes to parts. So, I began to be concerned that I’d be at the mercy of limited supply versus my impending demand.

However (there’s another however) I remember this little thing (maybe you’ve heard of it) called “the internet”. And after a lot of searching I found an excellent source in Houston, Texas called Discount Converter where a guy named Mark helped me more than all other sources combined. And the part was $388 plus $44 shipping. It got here yesterday, and I’ll try to put it on today…because when things break…they have to be fixed.

I thanked God for the cheaper part.

And for the helpful sales guy, and for the wisdom to stay focused on solutions until I found one that worked. I didn’t thank God for the broken parts or the lack of local assistance. But I realize that when things break, or when things are difficult…that’s when we’re given an opportunity to fill up our spiritual well with Living Water and go on.

What do you think? Am I right?

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Posted on July 29, 2014 by TonyJuly 28, 2022

From faith to faith, hope, and love for your Creator, you can be both Humbled and exalted.

I’ve known some people who’ve gone from faith to faith as though they were trying out another car manufacturer or different pair of jeans.

Real faith is unshakeable and everlasting. And it’s found in only one place. The one, true, living, loving God of the universe. And He has a triune nature. In other words, He is distinctly three persons in one being. God the Father, God the Son (Jesus), and God the Holy Spirit.

If that’s a bit difficult for you to comprehend, consider water. Water can be solid, liquid, or gas. All three properties are found in the water molecules. They’re always there. And each is distinct, yet inseparable.

That’s one reason why I love the Holy Trinity. Because it shows how the unshakeable, everlasting faith found in God the Father is, by everlasting connection, is also in the person of Jesus. And it was His faith that redeemed our eternity we foolishly gave away.

So here’s what “from faith to faith” means…

You and I can place our limited human hope in the unwavering God faith of Jesus. And we can know that we know that we know. Do you realize how foundational and liberating that is? Because we don’t have to wonder about our beginning. We can know. We don’t have to wander through the myriad of self-awareness, self-realization, self-defining worldviews in order to achieve a higher enlightenment. And what do they all have in common?

They’re selfish.

Take some time out of your busy schedule to truly dig into the truth found in the Bible. I’m confident you’ll discover a faith you can depend on. Because it’s built on sacrifice, not selfishness. And it’s from God to a faith He’s given all He possibly can to provide for you.

All you gotta do is read. So, what have you got to lose besides eternal life?

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Full Of Goodness

Posted on July 28, 2014 by TonyJuly 28, 2022

The earth is full of goodness.

Before you read any further I have to clear up a distinction. I said “the earth is full of goodness”. I didn’t say the world is full of goodness. The difference between the two is as far as the East is from the West.

If you’re a Christian (and maybe even if you aren’t), you probably know how God created different things on 6 different days and how He saw it and said it was good…or very good. We know God created the earth and everything in it and on it. So…the earth is full of goodness. It works. We need air to breathe, and we have air to breathe. We need water to drink, and we have water to drink. And we need food to eat, and we have lots of varieties of foods to eat.

It’s all very, very good.

But the world is not the same thing as the earth. The world is basically all the people. You. Me. And everyone else. Unless you have absolutely no access to any information at all…and that’s not true of you or you wouldn’t be reading this…you know, without a doubt, how mean and ruthless every country has become. Yes, even the good ol’ U.S.A. is included. We have rampant murder, domestic violence, child abuse, and out-of-control sexual offenders in every state, city, town, and community.

Why?

What went wrong to bring our planet to this?

We decided we’d rather BE god than to ever trust, acknowledge, and serve God. Yes…”we”. That’s everyone of us, to one extent or another. Every time you do something selfish (and I know you do…so do I) we’re saying “I need to be served”. And we’re saying, at that moment, we don’t trust a righteous and just God.

Would you prefer the world to be full of goodness just like the earth is? Would you be willing to do your own part to work toward that? Do you think it’s possible to bounce back from this “going-to-hell-in-a-handbasket” scenario?

If you don’t think it’s possible to change the course of the world, then by all means serve yourself and do what you can to make others serve you. Be your own king.

But if you’d rather serve the one, true, Living God…the one who has a plan to redeem the time and the earth…then stand up and talk about Him. Learn what He has to say on the matters of government, culture, and people. Discover the fullness of His son, Jesus, who came to earth the first time as a baby but will come a second time as a king. Find love in the whole Jesus…

Stay tuned,

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Cannot Imagine

Posted on July 27, 2014 by TonyJuly 27, 2022

You cannot imagine what’s in store for you in your eternal future. That is…if you’ve chosen to believe and trust that Jesus paid your way into Paradise.

While we human beings have vivid and vast imaginations, we still haven’t seen or heard anything like what God has prepared for those who love Him. When you consider that all the universe came into existence at the utterance of words from God, it isn’t hard to believe He could have so much more to show us.

Lately I’ve perused some beautiful pictures on a number of websites and blogs that show the hidden wonders of the microscopic world. I’ve also seen the rainbow of life in the oceans. And the spectacle (pun intended) of color and shapes found in our eyes when viewed in photo magnification. Wow…who knew there was so much design work in so little space?

Now think about this. There are 40,000 muscles in an elephant’s trunk. Not only can an elephant use its trunk to lift up to 770 pounds and crush large fruit…it can also pick individual leaves off trees. Human engineers can only make feeble attempts at copycat design. And that’s after thousands, if not tens of thousands of attempts.

You cannot imagine the massive myriad of species.

Or how they could have come into existence by just speaking words. In fact, most people don’t believe that because it sounds too far-fetched to them. Ironically, it sounds too far-fetched to me to imagine it could have all merely happened. I see the design in everything around me, and I cannot imagine no designer.

And even with all the beauty and wonder and awe here on good ol’ planet earth, the Bible tells us we cannot imagine what’s yet to come.

I, for one, don’t want to miss out on it. I hope you feel the same way. If not, why not? What’s holding you back from wanting to know more about the One who designed the universe? I’d love to hear about it.

Stay tuned,

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Be Strong

Posted on July 26, 2014 by TonySeptember 23, 2014

What does it take to be strong?

If you had your choice, would you rather have the physique of a superhero for all of your adult life…or would you rather be strong and courageous for all your life and all of eternity?

OK…I admit that’s a loaded question. But it’s a valid question, too. If you’ve ever read my articles or books, you know I believe in the one true Creator God of the Bible. And in the Bible He inspired the Apostle Paul to write “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”

Do you get the full impact of that? While it’s good to exercise, eat right, and stay as healthy as you can…it’s inevitable that you’ll still eventually head downhill in your physical health and appearance. The fountain of youth does not exist. If you believe aging is merely an “evolutionary gene”, sorry to burst your bubble. But keep reading…anti-aging IS available.

Here’s what I recommend as a much more balanced approach to your fitness regimen:

Spend time each day getting to know your Creator better
Keep Biblical words, principles, ideas, and mental pictures in your mind
Do a daily 30 to 45 minute walk
Eat sensibly (plenty of fruits and veggies with organic meat and nuts, etc.)
Drink plenty of water
Smile and laugh a lot more

6 simple things you can do to be strong, courageous, and happy.

You’re not a quirky accidental organism resulting from billions of years of evolution. Don’t buy that lie. You’re a magnificently designed person. Designed by the living, loving master architect and engineer…God. You were created on purpose, and you have a purpose. If you don’t already consider yourself a child of the living God, look into it today. Steps 3, 4, 5, and 6 in my recommended regimen will only help you for a little while…

…for eternal results you need to focus on the ol’ 1 – 2.

Stay tuned”

All Your Anxieties

Posted on July 25, 2014 by TonySeptember 23, 2014

If you took all your anxieties and laid them on a scale, how much do you think they’d weigh?

A thousand pounds? 500? 250? 100? 10? Or none of the above? For the sake of this illustration, let’s say all your anxieties together add up to “none of the above”. I’m guessing you can see where I’m going with this, but stick with me for a couple of minutes.

Since your anxious feelings don’t have any weight at all that can only mean one thing…they only exist in your mind. I’m not saying you’re not facing any obstacles or challenging trials in your life. I’m just saying the anxiety only exists in your mind.

So…that being the case…where do you think the solution to ending your anxieties begins? Right. In your mind.

Will all your anxieties magically disappear if you merely think positive thoughts? I’m gonna say no, and that’s from personal experience. It’s great to think positive thoughts, but your brain is hardwired with logic. And logic says there are multiple stimuli in your world and therefore multiple thoughts coexisting in your brain simultaneously. This is good. It means we’re thinking and feeling and processing information all the time.

Now…here’s the good news. Your brain can be fed better information and you’ll be able to get better results.

“Gosh, Tony…where can I get this so-called “better information”? you ask.

I’m glad you asked. It’s simple. From the manufacturer. Yep, like any good product of engineering, you can go to the manufacturer and get what you need to keep YOU in better working order.

Your manufacturer isn’t evolution or mother nature. Your manufacturer is your Creator. God. He designed you and knew you before you were even revealed to your parents.

And you wanna know what God says about anxiety? Well, every time I read about it in the Bible, I see we’re to let it go. Maybe the most famous verse is this: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.“

Would you like to like the Creator of the universe to guard your heart and mind? Then, let all your anxieties go. Give it over to Him. Grab hold of that peace that surpasses all understanding. See…we don’t have to understand it to benefit from it.

Enjoy this song about freedom from worry:

Stay tuned”

Fervent Prayer

Posted on July 24, 2014 by TonySeptember 23, 2014

My computer dictionary defines fervent as: adjective…having or displaying a passionate intensity: “¢ archaic hot, burning, or glowing. So…given that definition…when you pray, is it ever a fervent prayer?

I’ll confess, up front, that my prayers don’t tend to fit that definition. So, am I praying inefficiently or ineffectually? Maybe sometimes…but I believe we can also pray fervently in a cool, calm “voice”. After all, prayer is our conversation with God. Right? And just like conversations with our fellow human beings we don’t always speak with passionate intensity. Sometimes we just talk.

James, an apostle in the Bible, wrote: “the effective and fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” The apostle Paul’s prayers were filled with thankfulness, confidence, and expectation. He knew in his heart that God would hear and answer. He knew it with calmness AND passion.

I’d like my prayers to be more like Paul’s. He was one man who truly got a new covenant started. His was a message of Grace to anyone who would accept Jesus as savior. But remember…Paul had to be knocked off his donkey, blinded for 3 days, and spoken to directly by Jesus before he changed his persecuting ways. Once his conversion was complete he spent the rest of his days not only praying for the people…but also living out his faith. His fervent prayer became his fervent passion to spread the Word.

My fervent prayer is that I can use my voice for God…all the rest of my days. What’s yours?

Stay tuned”

Charitable Deeds

Posted on July 23, 2014 by TonySeptember 23, 2014

When you perform or offer charitable deeds, do you want everyone to know about it?

Which makes you feel better? Doing charitable deeds or making sure everyone knows it was you?

I’ve seen a description floating around, for a couple of years now, that talks about the “feeling” you can get when you do something for others. It’s being called the “helper’s high”. Scientists and psychologists say when we give gifts or help someone out of jam or other acts of “kindness”, the so-called “reward center” in our brains releases dopamine which gives us a happy and relaxed feeling.

If that’s true, and all indications are that is is, then the mere act of performing charitable deeds should be enough to satisfy. Announcing them to the world isn’t necessary…or even a good idea.

Ironically (to some) the Bible talked about this subject over 2,000 years ago. Inspired by God, the apostle Matthew wrote: “Take heed that you do no do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them.” God doesn’t have a problem with your “acts of kindness” being seen by men…He just doesn’t want that to be the reason you do them.

If you have a heart for helping others, and I hope you do, it’s good and much more rewarding to simply help. Don’t be concerned with whether anyone will know you did these things. Your Creator will know. Remember that “helper’s high” I mentioned…where dopamine is released in your brain’s “reward center”? Well, who do you think designed that? That’s not a silly lizard brain result of years of evolutionary processes. It’s coded into your DNA by God because He knows many ways to bring you joy.

So…what about you? Have you experienced the helper’s high lately? If so, please share how it made you feel by leaving a comment.

Stay tuned”

Way Over There

Posted on July 19, 2014 by TonyJuly 4, 2023

There may be a place, or a situation, or a dream way over there in a far away place that seems to be the answer to all your problems. But…

…then again…maybe the answer to all your problems isn’t some “thing” or some “where” or some “one” else. Maybe you just need to remember you’re a beautiful design of God. He gave you a beautiful gift when He gave you you’re own mind, and your own will, and your own talents.

Maybe all you need to do is focus on who you already are, and you’ll discover you can do great things from where you are right now. I’ll bet you can do much more than you might even think you can. And when you begin from where you are, you might find you’ll move more naturally and with more purpose. You could go “way over there” simply because it makes sense…not because you just don’t like where you are.

I urge you to focus on higher things today. Love your fellow human being today. Ask what you can do for someone else…not what they can do for you. When you do, you’ll see a better you here instead of wishing for it…

Way Over There

Way over there is a pool of blue sky
Where the mountains drink and the bluejays fly.
There’s an echo, too, and it says that I…
Can be way over there with the wink of an eye.

So I wink and think about way over there,
And I feel myself flying through the air.
And I ride the wind, and it feels so cool.
And I land right next to the blue sky pool.

I dip my hand in, and I splash my face.
I love the feel of this beautiful place.
Then I look back where I flew through the air
And see myself wave from way over there.

Stay tuned

Posted on July 13, 2014 by TonyMarch 15, 2023

Tony Funderburk, writer singer illustrator, shares his words music pictures from The Open Road .

The open road isn’t as open as it used to be…but it’s still more open than the crowded streets of city life.

You know what, though? People need people.

Sure, the open road is fun.

It’s full of unexpected delights. It’s rejuvenating. But the great, wide open doesn’t reach down into your spirit and build relationships. That takes people. I know I truly need my readers and listeners. That’s right. I NEED you. And I need you to tell as many of your friends and family about me as possible.

Why?

Because I need to take care of my family. Yep, you can help me do that. I’ve built a fairly large body of work in the world of words and music for kids. And many of you have supported me by getting some of my ebooks for kids as well as my personalized and fun music for kids.

Thank you so much.

If you’ve been listening from one of the foreign countries where my music has been streaming, I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your support. I never imagined I’d reach that far. Yet, when I check the analytics of my streamed music, I see quite a nice niche in places I didn’t even know were listening to my songs. That’s pretty darn cool. You’re awesome.

If you’ve been wondering if and/or when I’d be adding some Christian focused ebooks and music for kids…well…all I can say is…it’s in the front of my mind. I believe God prefers me to use my words and music to reach out to kids and their parents in an educational and entertaining way. So…keep your eyes peeled for upcoming projects. And I can use all the encouragement you’re willing to share.

For the next couple of weeks to a month I’ll keep reporting to you from the open road. As my FunderFamily looks for a new home, we’ll be enjoying some much needed “down time”. I may be on vacation, but I’m not gonna vacate my world of words and music.

That’s what keeps me going.

That, and your support.

Maybe you wouldn’t think so, but…diamonds and dishes…or clothes and clubs…or hobbies and habits all have one thing in common. They can all be heavy things.

The “things” of this world can weigh you down in more ways than you might often imagine or consider. And here’s what I’ve noticed…the more space you have…the more “things” you need. Or at least -think- you need. It’s true. If you live in a tiny studio apartment, it’s difficult to accumulate too many things.

However, if you live in a 5 bedroom house…whew! The sky’s the limit, virtually. And the more things you have, the more things you need to attend to. And the more things you attend to, the less likely you are to attend to the truly important things in life…things that aren’t merely things at all.

Like…your relationships and your health…

And your God.

Stay tuned,

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On The Western Slope

Posted on July 12, 2014 by TonyMarch 15, 2023

Well, the FunderRanch has been sold, and the FunderFamily is currently spending a little time on the western slope of Colorado.

It’s good to relax and recuperate after 5 to 6 weeks of home improvements, clean-ups, negotiations, and paperwork. I’m not really good or experienced at vacations. By that, I mean…I’ve never really taken many vacations, so I don’t know how to just vacate the routine. Know what I mean?

The days here on the western slope have helped us to calm down, though, because they’ve been really hot. 93 degrees and above for the entire time so far. That kind of heat makes the indoor A/C so much more appealing.

And staying indoors sort of automatically leads to more relaxing.

But since we haven’t had a vacation in over 11 years I’m out of practice. I feel clunky and a bit disoriented. I’ve envisioned the itinerary, and yet I don’t have an itinerary. I feel like “shooting from the hip” when it comes to vacations, but that’s not always the best plan. Yet, plans can lead to inflexibility, and I like the feeling of flexibility when it comes to leisure time.

What’s a right-brain writer to do?

Well…I’m sure we’ll get it figured out and live to tell the colorful stories yet to come. When the stories present themselves, I’ll share them with you here. Then maybe you can tell me where I went wrong…or right.

Maybe you wouldn’t think so, but…diamonds and dishes…or clothes and clubs…or hobbies and habits all have one thing in common. They can all be heavy things.

The “things” of this world can weigh you down in more ways than you might often imagine or consider. And here’s what I’ve noticed…the more space you have…the more “things” you need. Or at least -think- you need. It’s true. If you live in a tiny studio apartment, it’s difficult to accumulate too many things.

However, if you live in a 5 bedroom house…whew! The sky’s the limit, virtually. And the more things you have, the more things you need to attend to. And the more things you attend to, the less likely you are to attend to the truly important things in life…things that aren’t merely things at all.

Like…your relationships and your health…

And your God.

Heavy things keep you looking down.

But you really need to look up. Look up to God for joy and peace and love and hope. It’s only in Him that you can truly find those “things” that aren’t things. And consider those things again for a minute…joy, peace, love, and hope. They’re not heavy things. In fact, they don’t weigh anything at all.

So they won’t weigh you down. They’ll lift you up. High above and far beyond all the worldly things you’ll ever accumulate or burn through.

If you’ve never considered God to be real, don’t be surprised when heavy things appear again and again in your life. And if you’ve never considered God to be your Creator, don’t be shocked when you discover the terrible places that sort of worldview takes the world.

If you’ve never considered God at all…do it today. You’ll discover the Truth that will set you free from the heavy things.

Stay tuned,

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Road Trip

Posted on July 7, 2014 by TonyFebruary 24, 2025

Well, the FunderFamily is going on a road trip…

And we couldn’t be more eager to get started. In case you haven’t heard, we sold our house in June, we’re closing on it in two days (July 9th), and we’re going on a road trip. It might be a regular road trip for a couple of weeks, but it also might be an extended trip, too.

You see…we’re gonna do something wild and crazy. We’re going mobile. No, I’m not talking about our phone service…we did that years ago. We’re gonna find ourselves a motorhome and take on that lifestyle full-time.

Yep. Fewer heavy things.

Now, I’m not recommending this lifestyle for everyone. And even if I was I’m sure most of you would think it’s crazy talk. But the Funderburks want to scale down, simplify, and hoist anchor. We’ve been living here on Green Mountain in Colorado for over 20 years. We believe it’s time to generate some adventure again. Some ideas-producing, words and music inspiring, eye-popping, jaw-dropping, good ol’ fashioned adventure.

I hope you’ll come along for the ride. Part of what I’ll be doing, as I focus on the words and music business, is sharing our travels…our adventures…right here on the website. You’ll have a front-row seat for the FunderFahren. (that’s my new made-up German word…look it up)

OK…I’ve got to get back to packing and boxing up the household goods. We’re closing on our house in 2 days, and we’ll be heading West right after we’re done. So…I’ll see you on the road trip.

Maybe you wouldn’t think so, but…diamonds and dishes…or clothes and clubs…or hobbies and habits all have one thing in common. They can all be heavy things.

The “things” of this world can weigh you down in more ways than you might often imagine or consider. And here’s what I’ve noticed…the more space you have…the more “things” you need. Or at least -think- you need. It’s true. If you live in a tiny studio apartment, it’s difficult to accumulate too many things.

However, if you live in a 5 bedroom house…whew! The sky’s the limit, virtually. And the more things you have, the more things you need to attend to. And the more things you attend to, the less likely you are to attend to the truly important things in life…things that aren’t merely things at all.

Like…your relationships and your health…

And your God.

Heavy things keep you looking down.

But you really need to look up. Look up to God for joy and peace and love and hope. It’s only in Him that you can truly find those “things” that aren’t things. And consider those things again for a minute…joy, peace, love, and hope. They’re not heavy things. In fact, they don’t weigh anything at all.

So they won’t weigh you down. They’ll lift you up. High above and far beyond all the worldly things you’ll ever accumulate or burn through.

If you’ve never considered God to be real, don’t be surprised when heavy things appear again and again in your life. And if you’ve never considered God to be your Creator, don’t be shocked when you discover the terrible places that sort of worldview takes the world.

If you’ve never considered God at all…do it today. You’ll discover the Truth that will set you free from the heavy things.

Stay tuned,

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Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Daily Devotional
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Posted on June 24, 2014 by TonyJune 24, 2022

Writer singer illustrator, Tony Funderburk, shares some thoughts on why the more things change the more they stay the same.

You’ve probably heard the old expression “the more things change the more they stay the same”.

Or maybe you’ve heard “the only thing constant is change”. Either way, it’s obvious…things change. There’s no getting around it. Your life may be changing so slowly you don’t even notice it. Or maybe it’s changing at such a pace you can hardly keep up. But, take it from me…your life is changing.

Change may not always be enjoyable, but it’s necessary. You can’t stand still anymore than water. You’d stagnate. You’d find things growing in you that resembled mold and mildew, and you’d wonder how to clean it out. Easy…

Change.

The more things change the more ideas can be planted.

And the more they can blossom into wonderful, life-changing products and services. Think of the Commodore 64 computer as compared to today’s MacBook Pro’s. They’re nothing alike, yet, through years and series of changes they’ve continued to improve the quality of life for millions of people.

You can be like that, too.

As you read this you can understand how words form sentences from ideas in my head. And you can take the ideas I share into your head simply by reading the words. You couldn’t do that when you were a toddler. You had to grow and change. Things in your brain had to develop to the point where you could read, calculate, and process ideas.

The more things change in your brain, as you grow from childhood to adulthood, the more you can see the mystery of a designed life manifest itself in you.

Your brain should tell you there’s much more to life than the material world. I can’t behold your thoughts and consciousness with any of my five senses, but I know they exist because you exist. And if you exist, it means someone must’ve existed before you.

And because we can trace our lives and our existence back in time, we know there must have been a beginning for us. So, we humans had a beginning. And yet we’re so wonderfully designed to fit this world and it us. So, it only stands to reason, there must have been a designer more complex and intelligent than all of us put together.

OK…I won’t make you guess any longer…you were designed by God. And the more things change in you, the closer you’re getting to meeting Him in person one day.

Are you prepared?

Till next time…

Posted on June 16, 2014 by TonyMarch 15, 2023

Writer singer illustrator, Tony Funderburk, talks about the Heavy Things.

Maybe you wouldn’t think so, but…diamonds and dishes…or clothes and clubs…or hobbies and habits all have one thing in common. They can all be heavy things.

The “things” of this world can weigh you down in more ways than you might often imagine or consider. And here’s what I’ve noticed…the more space you have…the more “things” you need. Or at least -think- you need. It’s true. If you live in a tiny studio apartment, it’s difficult to accumulate too many things.

However, if you live in a 5 bedroom house…whew! The sky’s the limit, virtually. And the more things you have, the more things you need to attend to. And the more things you attend to, the less likely you are to attend to the truly important things in life…things that aren’t merely things at all.

Like…your relationships and your health…

And your God.

Heavy things keep you looking down.

But you really need to look up. Look up to God for joy and peace and love and hope. It’s only in Him that you can truly find those “things” that aren’t things. And consider those things again for a minute…joy, peace, love, and hope. They’re not heavy things. In fact, they don’t weigh anything at all.

So they won’t weigh you down. They’ll lift you up. High above and far beyond all the worldly things you’ll ever accumulate or burn through.

If you’ve never considered God to be real, don’t be surprised when heavy things appear again and again in your life. And if you’ve never considered God to be your Creator, don’t be shocked when you discover the terrible places that sort of worldview takes the world.

If you’ve never considered God at all…do it today. You’ll discover the Truth that will set you free from the heavy things.

Stay tuned,

No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can show your support…

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Daily Devotional
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

Fathers Day 2014

Posted on June 15, 2014 by TonySeptember 23, 2014

Fathers Day 2014 is a beautiful day here in Colorado. I hope it’s a great day for all you fathers…no matter where you live. You deserve a pat on the back for standing up and taking care of your kids. I salute you!

I never experienced the joy of fatherhood myself. Or any of the other emotions that go along with being the first man little kids look up to. But that never stopped me from loving kids and all their innocent amazement and wonder. I guess that’s why I’ve written so many songs and poems and books for kids. They’re just plain fun to write for. They get a kick out of the simplest things, and they give their responses so freely.

So…this Fathers Day 2014 got me to thinking about the Number One Father. I wrote a song about Him about 4 years ago, and I’d like to share it with you today. We don’t set aside a day for God because every day is…

Our Father’s Day

We have eyes and ears, a heart and mind.
If we truly seek, God’s not hard to find.
As we leave this broken world behind,
Only His Truth and Love are the ties that bind.

We have hours or days or weeks or years
To be reconciled from our hopeless fears.
Think of this before your last day appears…
Only a loving God wipes away your tears.

He gives life and love and light.
Only He makes all things right.
And we’re here, so we should say…
Every day’s our Father’s Day.
With each day our daily bread…
Every thought that’s in our head…
Should illuminate the Way
Every day’s our Father’s Day.

We can see design upon His land…
Even in an unborn baby’s hand,
And when life is not the way we planned,
Only a living God helps us understand.

Till next time”

Posted on June 5, 2014 by TonyMarch 15, 2023

"Once Upon A Starless Night" by Writer singer illustrator, Tony Funderburk.

For some reason I just got the urge to write a story poem called “Once Upon A Starless Night”.

I suppose this happens to other writers, too. Sometimes a phrase or a couple of juxtaposed words will pop into my head, and my little neurons start to fire. Then I have to write it down, and most of the time it sort of flows like honey…

…slowly, sweetly, steadily.

I’ve really never been one of those “just-write-it-all-down-and-edit-later” kind of writers. That doesn’t work well for me. I like to play with the words in my head. Then I like to check them for rhythm. Even when it’s not poetry, I still like my creative writing to have its own rhythm. I guess that’s the musician in me. No…I KNOW that’s the musician in me. And maybe that’s why I edit as I write. It’s like rehearsing many times over before you ever perform.

Well…I think I’ve digressed a little. I originally just wanted simply to share an early morning story poem. So here is…

Once Upon A Starless Night

Once upon a starless night
I read, by the campfire light,
How a comet with its tail
Spied a nova and set sail.

You might think a comet flies
Aimlessly through endless skies,
But this one was really rare…
No more like it anywhere.
It could hear and think and see
Just as well as you or me.

“What?” you say. “That can’t be true.”
If it’s not, would I tell you?
Wait for any starless night
And turn out your bedroom light.
Then look up into the sky
With a wish inside each eye.

It might take a little while.
Then you’ll see a glowing smile
Followed by a sparkling tail
Leaving dream dust in its trail.
That’s the comet, silver gray,
Zooming through the Milky Way.

If, at first, you cannot see,
Just keep trying that’s the key,
And sometime you’ll get it right…
Once upon a starless night.

Stay tuned,

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Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Daily Devotional
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Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

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Posted on June 4, 2014 by TonyMarch 15, 2023

Tuesday Weather is like any other day...you can't do anything about it.

Our Tuesday weather, this week, is hot. And plenty of it. 95 degrees today.

That’s too many degrees together in one place for my liking. I like cooler weather because I feel more like moving around. But one thing’s for sure. The weather doesn’t much care if I like it or not. It’s gonna be what it’s gonna be. So, it really doesn’t do much good to complain about it. Right?

It’s a better idea to let the weather happen and focus on things you can do something about. Like you. Your work. Your health. Loving your loved ones. Don’t sweat the weather. (pun intended) Be cool and enjoy…

Tuesday Weather

We’re gonna have Tuesday weather
Whether you like it or not
Because today is Tuesday,
And we’ve got the weather we’ve got.

We’re gonna have Tuesday weather
From the morning till midnight
Because Tuesday is all day…
Between Monday and Wednesday, right?

We’re gonna have Tuesday weather
So go out and soak some in,
Maybe I’ll see you out there.
I’ll be the one with the big grin.

Stay tuned,

No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can show your support…

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Daily Devotional
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

Get digital Bible stuff from the same company I do.

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

Posted on June 3, 2014 by TonyJune 21, 2023

The only reason you might not have the Right To Refuse service to someone is because intolerant people take it away from you.

When I was a kid, I’d go to work with my Dad on Saturdays. He was a milkman for a long time, and this is when milkmen would have to get up at 3 in the morning to be sure to have the milk delivered in time for breakfast for most of their customers. I remember around daybreak we’d stop somewhere for a hearty breakfast of bacon, eggs, and toast. And I also remember seeing a sign in many places that said “We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone”.

And that absolutely should be a right of any business owner, for any type of business

You should have the right to refuse service to anyone.

Even if it’s just because they…

Have piercings and look dirty
Smell bad
Are an ethnicity you don’t agree with (uh-oh, that’s a big one)
Are loud
Live under a bridge
Are too snooty
Are too blond
Aren’t the right color (oops…another big one, right?)
Don’t speak English (whoa, Tony…how dare you?)
Fall under any category you come up with

You know why a business owner has the right to refuse service to anyone? Because it’s his/her business. Period. It’s not yours. And you should never have the right to tell anyone how to run their business. Even if you vehemently disagree with their methods, choices, or worldview.

If a baker doesn’t want to make cakes for so-called “gay weddings”, he should have the right to refuse service to them. Especially when his worldview is Biblically based. It isn’t hate or indiscriminate discrimination that drives his decision. It’s out of love for his fellow human being, and more importantly, out of love for his God.

God loves us and doesn’t want us to destroy each other.

A “gay lifestyle” is destructive. You don’t have to agree with me…but I didn’t make that up. God says it’s destructive. It leads to death. And God wants each and everyone of us to have life and have it more abundantly. You can’t have life abundantly if you only live 30 to 45 years, die, and go to hell. That wouldn’t be abundance. That would be a pitiful, useless, and avoidable shame.

We Christians are not called to legitimize anti-God behavior. We’re told to not “be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”. The perfect will of God included eternal life for those who love Him.

God has made a place where those who love Him will have abundant life forever. It will be a paradise, and everyone will see the ultimate right to refuse service to anyone who chose, in this life, to ignore, deny, or hate God.

It’s not a good choice to go against God. But it’s an awesome choice to be on His team. After all…He is the source of all our true and inalienable rights…even the right to refuse service to anyone.

Stay tuned,

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