Crescent Moon is a phase and not the end of days

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

One of the most beautiful and poetic lights in the sky is the crescent moon. Often written about…used as a logo…a symbol of different meanings to different peoples, it’s technically is just the sliver of light we see on the moon as it goes through a certain monthly phase.

So, the crescent moon is just a phase.

But don’t try to tell that to the poets, philosophers, and dreamy-eyed songwriters of the centuries. There has been no end to the attempts at capturing emotions using this monthly sliver of light in the night sky.

And I’m certainly no exception. I recently wrote a song for my “Bedtime Buckaroos” collection of lullaby songs for kids called “Cowpoke’s Lullaby.” In it I described the crescent moon as a “fingernail moon.” If you’ve read my illustrated ebook or seen the video that goes with the song, you already know what I meant.

About 40 years ago I wrote a little song called “Crescent Moon,” and it was about that same sliver of light. Only that time I was describing a common feeling I shared with someone else, and the moon was a good way to tie it together. After all…no matter where you are in the world, you see the same moon I see. Right?

Well, here are the lyrics to…

Crescent Moon

I know how well you love the crescent moon.
I remember things like that,
Yes, I do remember things that make you happy.
For if anyone can say the magic words
To draw a smile on your face…
I hope that you say I can.
I know how much you love to swim in the ocean.
And I can almost see the surf splashing on your back
Making you look so dizzy.
We think so much alike, we surely must be one…
Inseparable as is the sun from the dawn.
I know how well you love to plant roses
And watch them grow, and see them bloom,
And see them glow under the crescent moon.

© 1974 Tony Funderburk
July 1

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Sad Regrets

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Do you have any sad regrets?

If you’ve only lived into your teens so far, of course you’ve had sad regrets…and just about any other kind of regrets there are. Am I right? (imagine that question with a strong Greek accent)  🙂

I’ve been a singer and a musician all my life…at least for the time I can remember. Music has always…ALWAYS…played a vitally important role. As I read my way through all my old spiral notebooks, I’m discovering a musical theme woven in and through almost everything I’ve ever written. I refer to it as my friend, my respite, my hiding place, my joy, my help, and my constant companion.

Music has always been an outlet for my thoughts and ideas. It’s always been an inlet where I could safely dock my emotions and scrape off the barnacles. Music is the closest thing to God we have in this present world. Think about it…God has the exact same qualities I describe above. He’s my friend, my respite, my hiding place, my joy, my help, and my constant companion. And God gave me my brain and spirit capable of thoughts and ideas. I can always go to Him and scrape off the barnacles of this mean world.

I know anytime I have sad regrets, if I simply give them over to God in a thankful prayer, He’ll lift the burden of them off my shoulders and heart. He’s not a god of sad regrets. He’s the Living God of second chances.

Singer songwriter talks about the sad regrets in the beggar's opera.

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Forever Gone Lyrics

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

As I sit here this morning, looking at the yellowing paper in my old spiral notebook, it’s hard to believe it’s been almost 40 years since I wrote these “Forever Gone” lyrics. Yet, there it is in my very own handwritten print and cursive letters: 5/9/74.

No biggie…well, sort of a biggie…but having over 40 years of poems, stories, lyrics, and songs is kinda cool. I can look back every once in a while and see where I’ve been as a writer. When I read something from so long ago, the circumstances (and even many of the surroundings) leap into my brain in living color.

As I mentioned in another article, back then I’d often write something based on an experience, or movie, or something I read. Then I’d leave it somewhat vague so it could be interpreted by readers in their own ways.

Sometimes I’d insert a name I liked…not because it was any real person I knew…but just because I thought it sounded cool, or mysterious, or rhythmic. That’s the case in the following “Forever Gone” lyrics. They sound a bit morbid. Or is it melancholy? Maybe it’s just a report. You decide. As you read the words, you’re the interpreter. You determine what it’s all about. You tell me.

I’m inserting a picture of the actual original lyrics. So you’ll notice the paper isn’t bright white anymore. And you might also notice the words to the song are printed while my signature is cursive. I’m not sure why I did that, but I printed a lot of words back then. Maybe it was so the chords could be written next to the lyrics and not look messy. No matter…here are the words to…

Singer songwriter, Tony Funderburk shares his "Forever Gone" Lyrics and a little of the story behind them.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I truly hope you’re with me on this…when I talk about the light in our hearts. It’s not my light. It’s not your light. And It’s not his, hers, or theirs. It’s the light of the one true Living God who loves us all so much He made the supreme sacrifice in order to give us eternal life.

As Christians in this day and age, we should know if there’s any light in our hearts, it can only come from our Savior. The world doesn’t hold much lasting luster or uplifting appeal. As I flip through my Flipboard app on my iPhone, I see news story after news story about troubles in every land. Finding news of true happiness and joy is like digging for diamonds in a pig pen. Have you noticed this?

The history of the world is written in segments that clearly illustrate man’s inhumanity to man. Almost every day I hear or read about another inexplicable atrocity. And I use the term “inexplicable” from the world’s point of view. Someone who’s never read the Bible, or disagrees with it, or denies the reality found in it can’t fathom how such terrible things could occur…all the while voting for and supporting the very ideas and philosophies that perpetuate such behavior.

We need light in our hearts.

Not light running on the energizer bunny…but the Light of God’s love. When you become a Christian (and you should really consider doing that right this very moment), you not only receive eternal mercy…you’re also able to see clearly what was, at best, only foggy before. It’s not mystical. It’s truth. I know you’ve heard the expression “the truth will set you free”. That’s not an expression from a Hollywood movie. It didn’t originate with America’s founding fathers. It comes straight from the Bible.

The Truth of God’s word sets you free from the physical time limits of this world. It also sets you free from eternal torment. Your pain and suffering don’t have to last forever, and with light in our hearts from the Grace of God, you can clearly see Everlasting Love.

Stay tuned,

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Mercy Belle

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

When I was a young, aspiring writer and poet, I wrote many verses and stories ripe with open, seemingly vague implications, unspoken intimations, and underlying innuendos. I wrote that way to elicit responses and ideas from readers. It worked very well. Each new person who read the words told me what it meant…and each new person’s rendition was always at least a bit different from the next or previous. I just re-read one of my poems in this category called “Mercy Belle”, and it brought back some of those memories.

As you read the words, below, see what it says or means to you. I’d love to get an email or comment sharing your thoughts with me. You’ll notice Mercy Belle sounds like a person. With a name like that, it’s probably a female. Right? Or is this a person at all? I’m just asking.

You’ll also notice I mention things like conscience, understanding, death, and laughter. Pain and strain are included, but is it Mercy Belle’s pain or strain? Is Mercy Belle a metaphor for some human experience? Or maybe this is a fictional nomenclature? You tell me.

I could tell you exactly what I was thinking about when I wrote it. Or I could share my thoughts on why I used the phrases I did, but that would take all the fun out of the reason I wrote it the way I did. My intention wasn’t mystical…it was merely the eccentric lyricist having fun with words. My intention also wasn’t to portray myself as a tortured artist whom no other mere mortal could possibly understand. That would be pure silliness.

Mercy Belle is just one of those “things” I wrote when I simple let my brain and my Bic sync up and go where they may. Your results may vary…

Mercy Belle Lyrics, by singer songwriter, Tony Funderburk

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I don’t remember exactly the first time
I ever wrote a goodnight song…

…but it might very well be the one you’ll find the lyrics to below. This isn’t like my other lullaby songs for kids. In fact, this goodnight song wasn’t written for kids. Don’t worry…it’s still rated G.

A Goodnight Song by singer songwriter, Tony Funderburk

Very often, in my writing life, I’ve been asked, or told, or requested to write a special poem or song for someone. I freely admit that 99% of the time it was for a female, but I’d like to clarify they weren’t all just for the sake of amore. Sometimes the poem or song was simply to capture a special memory, or place, or feeling for them.

One such time was back in 1978, when I had just moved back to Texas from a 5 year stay in Kansas. I was meeting and making new friends in an apartment complex, and slowly but surely they were finding out I was a singer songwriter. I suppose it’s hard to hide the sounds a piano makes through thin apartment walls. And I’d play my upright at any opportunity I could find or make.

So, here’s how this goodnight song came about…

As it turned out, two lovely young ladies had moved into the apartment below mine, and one day one of them met me on the sidewalk outside. She asked if it was me she had been hearing on the keys. I replied “yes” and apologized if it had been at an inappropriate time. She quickly said “oh no” and told me they had enjoyed hearing me even though the sound was muffled. She also asked if they could come up sometime to hear me sing and play. Eager to meet new people I said yes.

Upon hearing some of my original songs the first young lady said she wished she had a personal lullaby because she’d been having a hard time sleeping at night. As she put it…

“I’d love a goodnight song just for me. I think it would feel like someone was singing right to me, and then I could sleep through the night.”

Well, I’ve always enjoyed a good words and music challenge, so I set my course the very next day as soon as I got home from work. Within two days I completed the song, and sometime the following weekend I played it for her.

It was an immediate hit. Here are the lyrics…

The lyrics to "A Goodnight Song" by singer songwriter, Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

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24 Years

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

24 years ago today I became a husband. I had never been one before, so I didn’t know what to expect. I only knew I was very ready to be one. I had met a beautiful woman, and she actually thought I was worthy…so, as they say, I “popped the question”.

24 years begins with a single question and some vows.

As I recall (vividly) there weren’t many (almost none, in fact) who gave this marriage any chance of success. Most doubted a musician would stay “true”…or that a relationship that had begun on such long-distance terms could endure. They figured both of us were either seeing the world through rose-colored glasses, or that it must be just a matter of lust.

I’m human (and male) enough to admit that lust certainly played a role. But I don’t believe that’s necessarily a bad thing. It depends on where a person allows lust to go…or whether or not that person can balance lust with love. I felt I had good balance, and I didn’t want someone else to step in on my “territory”…so to speak.

My quest to win the girl’s heart had actually begun 3 years earlier when I first met her in Florida where I took up temporary/permanent residence as a pro musician in her hometown. I played music in the same luxury hotel where she was working, and we became friends. Yes, I said friends…not lovers. And it stayed that way, and a few month later I moved on to hit the road full time again.

She had left an impression on me, though, and I began to write her letters from the road…addressed to the hotel because I didn’t know her home address. She didn’t write back much, and when she did, it was only to tell me I shouldn’t write her. She’d say I should find some other girl…if and when I ever chose to settle in one place.

Eventually I landed in the Denver, Colorado area and didn’t find anyone who ever erased the memory of that girl in Florida. So, I started writing her again. In order to condense this story a bit, let me say how I finally got a positive response from her after months of trying. Then I began writing her every day. Yes, every day. Sometimes two, even three letters in one day. After months of this, she finally gave up any hope of dashing my efforts against the rocks and relented to a meeting in Florida.

I flew down twice to see her there, and on the second trip “popped the question”. She said yes…her fate was sealed…and 24 years later we’re still together.

The moral of the story is this…you can’t just wait for a good wife (or husband)…sometimes you gotta go out and find one.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tomorrow Never Came

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

He said, “I’ll get to that tomorrow.” But tomorrow never came…not for him at least. Don’t be that person.

Don't wake up and find tomorrow never came to you.

As I’ve been doing lately, I went through another one of my old lyrics notebooks and found some more I’d like to share with you. And I’ll add a story to go along with ’em if  you don’t mind. Well, even if you do mind (he said with a smile on his face).

Even though you will…and we all do…don’t take anything for granted. I’m telling myself that, too, because I’m just like you. I’m a human being who doesn’t think about many of the tiny things most of the time. Things like the sounds of birds in the trees. Or the scents of flowers in the park. Or the feel of the wind in my hair on a mid-March day.

In a way it’s good to be able to take them for granted. It means we enjoy enough freedom to do so. But don’t think, for a moment, that’s a permanent condition. Your freedom isn’t any more permanent than your life. What if, for example, you said you’d wait and kiss your sweetheart tomorrow, but tomorrow never came for your sweetheart because of some tragic accident? Think how much you might dwell on how you took your relationship for granted. And think about how much that would haunt you for the rest of your days.

As important it is to tell your loved ones you love them, it’s even more important to consider where you’ll spend eternity. If I’m wrong, and eternity doesn’t exist, you can simply disregard this next part. But I don’t believe I’m wrong, so pay attention…

…you will either LIVE forever…or you’ll simply exist forever. The difference all rests on the most important choice you can make. And the choice you make is based on one question. Did God create the world or did the world create itself?

Find out as much as you can about science, math, history, and love. Apply what you discover to what your five senses and your intellect can tell you. Don’t wake up one day with the awful realization that tomorrow never came to you.

You can avoid waking up one day and realizing tomorrow never came to you.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Love And Understanding

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Understanding is a word that can have an almost identical meaning as either a noun or an adjective. Most people probably wouldn’t give that a second thought, but I think it’s a very cool and interesting fact.

Ponder for a minute or two just how small we are compared to God. It should make you very thankful of how much time He’s spent on understanding our needs, wants, and desires. We may be small, but we’re anything but insignificant to Him. In fact, He thought we were worth sacrificing His life. The source of sovereign intelligence and eternal life took it upon Himself to pay the debt for all sin. That’s after He had spent 4,000 years talking to us, meeting our needs, and understanding our struggles.

Because God showed us how to love…we should. And what does love require so much of the time? Whether we’re ready and/or able to give it, love requires understanding. You don’t have to buy anything, make anything, or even always actively DO anything to show and give love.

Here’s an awesome example of what I mean…you can use your ears to show love. Valentine’s Day is a day most people would probably think you show love with your words, flowers, and chocolate. But sometimes all it takes is a pair of caring, listening ears. When you give your full attention to someone who’s hurting, you’ll reach a level of understanding that can turn a day or even a life around.

On this Valentine’s Day I’d like to send out love and understanding to you…especially if you disagree with my worldview. You can let it soar past you and land in someone else’s heart if you prefer. But my hope is that you’ll read these words and be glad there’s someone “out there” who truly cares what happens to you…I do, and I can guarantee this…I’m not the only one.

Love and Understanding go hand in hand.

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

If you’ve ever listened to Christian radio or TV programs for more than a second or two, you’ve no doubt heard them talking about “glory.” It seems like it’s always glory this, glory that, and glory hallelujah. So what’s the glory story all about anyway?

Glorious, as defined in the dictionary, is: “having a striking beauty or splendor that evokes feelings of delighted admiration.” So, that stirs up some pretty cool images, doesn’t it? It does for me. Maybe I’m biased (in fact, I’m sure of it), but I want my God to be glorious. I want Him to be better than everything else in the universe…combined. So, it’s easy for me to see Him that way.

Here’s an example of the glory story.

And when I read Paul’s writing in 2 Corinthians 3:7-18, I find the glory story I mentioned in the first paragraph. Paul lays out how glorious the new promise (covenant) is. He shows how the old covenant between God and Israel was glorious because it showed God’s love toward His people. But Paul also illustrates how the old covenant was a “ministry of condemnation.” This new promise is a ministry of righteousness. It’s a promise of eternal life for anyone who believes in the person and deity of Jesus. His righteousness bought and paid for the gift of eternal life for anyone who believes and trusts in Him.

You know what? I want that. I can’t imagine even a skeptic saying “No, I don’t want that.” But they do…by the millions, even billions. If eternal life is even a remote possibility, I want it. And I want to discover as much about it as possible…because eternal life sounds glorious to me. Imagine…life without end, without pain and suffering, without death and dying, without end.

You don’t have to imagine it. It’s real. It’s waiting for you. And it’s yours…all you have to do is ask. Ask and you will receive. God created you. He loves you. He wants you to live forever with Him in paradise. But He won’t force you to be there. If you’d rather be apart from Him forever, He’s made a place where you can exist without Him. That place holds no glory, no hope, no love, no life. You’ll be your own king or queen in a universe of one.

If you don’t mind me saying so…don’t make an ignorant decision. Gather as much information about God and Jesus as you can. Don’t just listen to news organizations, Hollywood, or even televangelists. Check out reliable historical documents. Read the Bible. It won’t bite you. If you sincerely seek the truth and you don’t find that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life, then at least you’ll have made a decision against Him based on your own individual research.

But my guess is this…if you sincerely seek the truth, THE Truth will change your heart, and I’ll get to see you in paradise. Now that’s the Glory Story I’m talkin’ about!

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

As a kid, I had a vivid imagination, and I loved to spend time in my own little world of make believe. I don’t think that makes me unique at all. I’m sure just about every kid enjoys conjuring up images of flying ponies or personal rocket ships or invisible friends.

It’s good to have an imagination. You’ve probably heard some people say “go ahead and have your castles in the air…just be sure to build a foundation under them”. I believe that, too. If you’re gonna dream, dream big. In the story of Don Quixote we learn about dreaming the “impossible dream”.

As a kid, it’s much easier to dream the impossible.

Because you don’t yet have so much harsh reality squelching you.

But as an adult, maybe you begin to falter in your quest for the impossible dream. Maybe you come to realize there’s no such thing as a flying pony. Then, your heart sinks, and your mind begins to focus on the day-to-day tasks…making a living, taking care of a family or household, paying the bills.

Those so called “day-to-day” tasks are vitally important, and the Apostle Paul, in the Bible, admonishes us with his letter to “put away childish things” when we become adults. So, it’s good to embrace the reality of how the world truly works.

It doesn’t mean you have to give up or throw away your imagination.

It just means you can’t live in that make believe world anymore. However, this world has so much brightly colored, multi-textured, and glorious sensuous reality you don’t need to make believe to behold it.

You’ve been given a great, big, beautiful, blue planet with everything your body needs to survive and thrive. God gives you day and night, light and dark, feelings and intellect, and you have the freedom to explore the wonders of the world. And you can pursue the passion in your heart and mind…at least when you don’t make believe it all just happened by chance. When you reach that level of make believe, you’re denying the existence of the only One who gives any meaning to your life.

As a kid of thirteen I asked Jesus to come into my heart. He did. And even though I didn’t live a completely moral and exemplary life, I knew He’d never leave me nor forsake me. I don’t have to make believe He loves me or that He’s made a place for me to live with Him forever. And though I put away childish things when I became a man, I’m still a child of the Living God. You can be, too. Don’t put it off till tomorrow…tomorrow may be too late.

They lyrics to "As A Kid", a song from the seventies by singer songwriter, Tony Funderburk.

If you have kids or know someone who does, I recommend my books for kids.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Pssst…hey you. Yeah, you. C’mere. I got some valuable information…a code…and I need someone I can trust with it just in case I’m not around to get it into the right hands. Yeah, some earth-shattering things might happen real soon, and just in case they do…maybe you can use this code and help yourself and some others get out of a jam.

Maybe you’ve heard the expression, “don’t take any wooden nickels”. That just means be careful in your endeavors, rendezvous, and dealings. There’s always somebody out there who wants to sell you a load of fertilizer. And if what I’m about to tell you isn’t true, then it falls under that same fertilizer category…and you can treat it as such.

However; the code I’m talking about is true and profitable. And when I say profitable, I don’t mean wooden nickels, solid silver nickels, or even gold doubloons. I mean the kind of profitable where you’ll be “rich” forever. I’m not kidding. You see, the fountain of youth doesn’t exist here in this space/time continuum. But it does exist. And the code I’m sharing with you will show you where to go to drink from that Water.

Here’s an important detail, though. I’m gonna need you to be very careful with this code. You won’t be able to share it with just anyone. But I need you to share it with as many as you can. If it falls into the wrong hands, it could mean your days are numbered. But there will be quite a few people who will want to know about this valuable information. It’ll be your duty to give it to them. Are you up for it? Think before you answer…

OK…here’s the secret. When you see the word “code” anywhere in this article, click on it. Read the information there, and be sure to click on any other links in the text there, too. You’ll find the code completely revealed with no crazy questions to answer, no forms to fill out, no places where you’ll be required to sign up for anything. And you WILL discover the Way to change the course of your eternity. Make no mistake…eternity is out there for you. Where you’ll be depends on you and what you do with this information right now. Life and death is set before you…choose LIFE.

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

No-cost, low-cost, and premium ways you can help me spread the Word…

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

Why Is Not The Question

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Why is not the question we should be asking.

Why leads to lie.

OK, I admit that sounds harsh, but that’s really not my intention. What I’d like you see is how easy it is to get an answer we don’t want or need when we ask “why?”. When you’re seeking answers to astronomy, or geography, or biology, or any other ology, it’s OK (recommended) to ask why…and why not.

But when we’re dealing with relationships, why ends up being the most counter-productive question I can think of. Most of the time the response is merely something the other party thinks we want to hear. Or they’re put on the defensive and simply reply with a similar why question.

Why doesn’t show the qualities we should aspire to that are found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7. And why doesn’t suffer long and isn’t kind. Why IS envious, and it parades itself around demanding to be answered. Why is puffed up and behaves rudely because it feels as though it’s the only question worthy of an answer. And why is provoked easily and seeks its own.

Why generally assumes the worst.

Why isn’t patient, and so it strays far from the peace found in other questions such as Where, Who, What, and When. And why makes us forget there’s a day after today. Why says that even if there is a day after today, it will still need to be answered.

Why is not the question for so many reasons. I’d like to share some of my lyrics from 27 years ago that dwelled on “why”. The guy who wrote the words could not see the guy writing these words. He couldn’t see the answers that have now replaced those questions. He couldn’t see because he stood firmly behind a big, fat, giant…

Why is not the question you should be asking most of the time.

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

When we ride our high horses, we often have much further to fall. Before I go on let me ask you this: Have you ever heard that expression…high horses?

I remember my elders saying things like that when I was a kid.

You better get down off your high horse young man…before you get your comeuppance. There’s another one, comeuppance. Wow, these expressions really sound old-fashioned don’t they. But you know what…they have so much relevance for today. It doesn’t really matter if most people don’t remember or say them anymore. The older expressions really embodied a lot of lessons about humility and gratitude.

I wrote a song a few years back about how a snooty attitude can even be found in Christian ranks…and how it’s even more detrimental there. Christians are to be “salt and light” in this world, but it’s hard to be either if we appear to look down our noses…even at fellow Christians.

So many times we think we can live up on the foothills of peace and stay out of the blood, sweat, and tears of everyday life. We think we can maintain a higher, more positive outlook by “giving to the cause” and simply being “a good person”.

Well, I’ve never met a truly “good person”.

Let me clarify that a bit. I’ve met lots of good people, but their goodness wasn’t their own. Their goodness was bought and paid for with the love of Jesus. And they acknowledge that…and that’s what makes them good people. They’re generally interesting and kind people to be around. However…

…the only truly good person is Jesus. He never measured another man or woman by how much leather and lace they owned. He, being God the Son, didn’t even measure Himself against others in this world. His standard was always God’s standard, and He never failed in even one detail. So, we should only measure ourselves against His standard. Then we have a much better chance at humility…and avoid riding on our…

When we ride our high horses, we often have much further to fall.

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Leftovers can be quite delicious. I’ll concede that right off the bat. However; as a general rule, I’m not a big fan.

My preference is simply this…the fresher the food, the more life there is in it. And speaking of life (how’s that for an abrupt, clunk segue?)…when it comes to human anatomy, there’s no such thing as leftovers. I’m talking about what some evolutionary minded scientists and lay people still posit. I can’t believe, in this day and age of ultra micro cameras and cellular biology, there could still be some who believe certain parts of the human anatomy are nothing more than vestigial organs.

Are you kidding me?

There has been at least “some function” discovered for all the so-called vestigial organs. I can remember when doctors thought taking out tonsils or an appendix was really no big deal. After all, they didn’t serve a real purpose (they thought), and the person’s body could still function without the tonsils or appendix. Nowadays we know, for example, the appendix appears to play an important role in the production of antibodies. And it actually helps protect the intestines from tumor growth and infections.

Hmm…doesn’t sound much like leftovers.

That seems like a pretty significant purpose, if you ask me. I realize you didn’t, but I wanted you to know how important it is to know that our bodies are incredible feats of design. The fact that that we don’t really have vestigial organs…in other words, leftovers… at the very least implies that evolution never happened, isn’t happening now, and will not happen. The information found in every cell of your body is crying out to you as a testimony to your design.

I personally love the Designer. God. Check out His story, and I’ll wager you will too.

Stay tuned,

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Unknown

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There’s the unknown road, the unknown composer, and most famously, the unknown soldier. We humans seem to like our mysteries. Alfred Hitchcock proved that.

There have been times in my writing life where I assumed the role of a character in something I read…or I decided to speak for a particular voiceless character in a painting…or I mixed some different media together and created a morphed mish-mash just for the fun of it.

Oftentimes this would give the appearance I was writing my own thoughts down…telling my own story. But it just wasn’t the case.

An unknown reason until now.

For me, writing has always been an adventure in the world of words. Nonsensical nouns. Vibrating verbs. And alluring adjectives. And as you can tell by now, I adore alliteration.

So, I sometimes find it’s more interesting to sing a new song or perambulate through a poem or stroll through a story or languish in a lyric as someone else. That way I can hear the notes or feel the steps or dwell on the details without getting involved. Does that make sense at all?

The past few days I’ve been going over some old poems and lyrics and sharing some of their story here on my website. Yesterday I wrote about summer never being the same for me as for others. Today, I saw the very next words in the same writing pad, and they were lyrics to a song called “Unknown”. Now, I’ve gone a very long way around to explaining how they even came to be, and I’ll bet it’s all clear as mud. So, I’ll just close with…

The lyrics to a song called "Unknown" by singer songwriter Tony Funderburk

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

My parents were divorced before I reached the first grade. Then my mom remarried and moved to Kansas. And my dad remarried and moved to Texas. My brother and I would go to school for nine months in Texas. And then we’d spend our summer vacations in Kansas. So our friends, in Texas, never saw us during the summer. And our friends, in Kansas, never saw us during the winter. Years after I graduated high school I recalled a girlfriend I’d had during that time. And I put the thoughts into a sentimental sounding song called “I Never Knew You In Summer”.

After all the time I spent on dates, going to the prom, and attending school functions, I realized I didn’t know anything about my friends’ summer habits. For some reason, on a hot summer day in the late 70’s it dawned on me in a slightly befuddling way.

I don’t ever remember being angry about leaving friends in one state to go see others in another state. And I never got angry with my parents for the arrangement. There were some inconveniences…like no involvement in team sports. Because we weren’t there for summer practice. But there were also advantages. I got to travel for 18 hours on a very cool train twice a year. And I lived both a suburban and a rural life.

So…you won’t find any bitter prose or poetry about my childhood anywhere in any of my many notebooks. However, you might just happen upon an occasional melancholy meandering in a lyrical la-la land. And I make no apologies or excuses for those. After all I got a lot of songs in my head, like…

I Never Knew You In Summer

In fact, I savor those sentiments because they hearken back to my exuberant youth. Because they fly me back to my years of wide-eyed wonder. And I hover above the younger me like the ghost of Christmas future watching myself pen the words on brand new pads of paper.

If you’re one of those people I went to school with in Texas…and if you remember how I was…and if you can remember me and smile…this is for you…

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

“For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.” That short phrase found in 2 Corinthians 3:6 makes me a minister. Imagine that.

However; I’m not a minister in the way you might imagine. If a picture of someone who wears black with a white collar came to mind…or if a picture of a red-faced preacher behind a pulpit came to mind…or if a barefoot, soft-talking, robe-wearing person came to mind, you didn’t conjure up the kind of minister I am.

The kind of minister I am really needs more emphasis on the verb “minister” than the noun. To minister to someone simply means to tend to or care for or help. Because I believe in and trust God I know He exists in three persons…Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

And God the Spirit gives life, eternal life, to those who love Him.

And since I’ve been given such a wonderful gift, I’ve been given sufficient abilities to minister the new covenant to anyone else who would like it.

The new covenant is really easy to understand when you take a second to soak it in. In the “old covenant”, salvation came through keeping the letter of the law and sacrificing animals and other things when you fell short. But as Paul said in 2 Corinthians 3:6 “the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life”.

Yes, there was a time when you had to be born a certain kind of person or become one of those people in order to make your way to God. And even when you fell into one of those categories, there were a multitude of laws you had to follow. Thank God for His new Way. Now anyone, regardless of race, sex, or social stature can enter the Kingdom of Heaven. You only need to want to. You only need to believe. If you ever need any help with that, I want you to know I’m here…ready to minister to you how the Spirit gives life.

Stay tuned,
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A Whole Lot Like Me

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Once upon a time back in 1981 I found a guy who was a whole lot like me. He was living in the lyrics to a song. It was a song I had just written.

It was one of those songs I sometimes write by just letting words flow out to a background rhythm. As the words begin to flow by I check to see if they’re keeping a rhythm and making any sense. But otherwise I don’t stop them because I’m curious to see where they’ll lead and if they’ll tell me a story.

This time was a little different. It wrote about a guy I know pretty darn well. Me. I didn’t start out to do that. It just happened to happen. For what it’s worth…the lyrics are…

He’s A Whole Lot Like Me

He’s got stars in his eyes,
But he humbly denies,
And the harder he tries the brighter they shine.

He’s a lot like me
With a love that’s free
And he gives it away so easily.
Oh I wish I knew
What it is that carries him through…
‘Cause he’s a whole lot like me.

He’s got joy in his soul.
He’s in total control,
And he burns like a coal in an unending fire.

(chorus)

He knows life isn’t long.
Do your best while you’re strong.
Gotta sing your best song before you grow old.
So he gives all he’s got
And without second thought,
And his mind can’t be bought with a pocket of gold.

He’s a lot like me
With a love that’s free
And he gives it away so easily.
Oh I wish I knew
What it is that carries him through…
‘Cause he’s a whole lot like me.
Oh I think I know what it is that’s driving him so…
‘Cause he’s a whole lot like me.

In Faith, Hope, and Love,

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.

Cowboy On Every Corner

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In America…and especially in the south…there’s an expression we use to describe a trend or fad that’s really catching on. We say something like “yeah, there’s one on every corner”. It just means you can find it anywhere.

A Cowboy On Every Corner was a fad in the 80's that singer songwriter, Tony Funderburk wrote about.

Back in the 80’s I was living in the Houston, Texas area, and there was a big urban cowboy phenomenon. It seemed like every guy wanted to wear a cowboy hat and drive a cool truck. Outlaw country music by Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Jerry Jeff Walker, and others was big, too. I oughta know. My brother and I were playing the music scene then, and we got requests for those songs everywhere we went.

I didn’t adopt the cowboy hat look, but I did have some really cool boots, jeans, and a few snazzy “cowboy” stage shirts. Of course, it didn’t hurt that I sort of had the same outlaw look of those guys I mentioned before…long hair, beard, mustache.

When I started seeing fashion stores pop up with “the cowboy look”, I just couldn’t take it anymore. It seemed a bit like an insult to real cowboys who work hard and aren’t trying to make some sort of fashion statement. After all…most of the urban cowboys had never seen a ranch, much less ever worked on one.

So, I wrote a song about it. I never recorded it, so I don’t have an audio version to share. And I’ve been trying to remember the melody this evening, but I can’t. I think I may have sung it only a couple of times, and it wasn’t very good, but it blipped on my radar today, so I figured I’d share it with you. Put on your ten gallon hat and check out…

Cowboy On Every Corner

Have you seen lately, as you go your busy way,
The latest in fashion that all the people say
Is bound to be the standard of the day?
There’s just no mistakin’ when someone wears that style,
A hat, boots, and blue jeans…and a lopsided smile,
And then, no doubt, you’re set for awhile.

And there’s a cowboy on every corner.
There’s a little hay in everybody’s heart,
But if everyone becomes a cowboy
How we ever gonna tell us all apart?

It’s big in the city, there’s a store on every street.
It even shows up where the business people meet.
When somethin’s hot, you know it’s hard to beat.

And there’s a cowboy on every corner.
Every day they’re easier to find.
He’s surely not a dying legend…
At least not in the city cowboy’s mind.

There’s so much attention put into fashion names,
And there’s so many people who would play those games,
But a true-blooded cowboy would throw them in the flames.

And there’s a cowboy on every corner.
There’s a little hay in everybody’s heart,
But if everyone becomes a cowboy
How we ever gonna tell us all apart?

And there’s a cowboy on every corner.
Every day they’re easier to find.
He’s surely not a dying legend…
At least not in the city cowboy’s mind.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

Tony Funderburk's signature can be found on almost all of his writing for kids.