Eat Whatever Is Sold In The Meat Market

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For thirteen years I was a vegetarian. It wasn’t for any reason other than health. At the time I had been given advice by doctors that my cholesterol was too high. Each time I’d take a little more meat products out of my diet I’d go back for a cholesterol check and each time the count would be higher. After thirteen years of that I went to a naturopath who asked me if I ate bacon. I said “no”. He asked “why?” I told him about my cholesterol. He asked what sort of diet my grandparents had lived on and how long they lived. I told him “bacon, eggs, etc.” He said eat some bacon. That’s a doctor I can respect. I did eat bacon, and eventually my cholesterol levels began to go down. Now I’m totally confident to eat whatever is sold in the meat market.

Eat whatever is sold in the meat market...and get some good BBQ sauce.

I told you that quick story because it’s one of the ways I relate and remember Paul talking about how meat and “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness”. Paul told us how we can eat whatever is set before us “asking no question for conscience’ sake”.

In other words, if we “do all to the glory of God” then the food we eat, whether meat or fruit or vegetables, is a gift from God. If you prefer a vegetarian diet, go for it. I wouldn’t think to tell you to eat differently. In the same regard, I’d ask you to leave my food choices to me, too. After all…what is it to you what I eat? Or vice-versa?

The main thing to remember is…men and women have no say over what food is “right” or “wrong”. All foods are from God. Our bodies need all sorts of nutrients and He put everything we need within arm’s reach. Just one of the millions of reasons why God gets the glory.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

The mutants are coming. No wait…they’re already here!

Imagine, if you will (and you must), a tiny speck of dust. We’ll call it dust for the sake of creating a word picture. Now that little speck of dust is just floating around in…uh, let’s call it space. Or is it a non-dimensional vacuum? Either way…this little speck of dust is floating around and begins to feel its oats…so to speak.

You see…this little speck of dust is actually a compressed version of all the matter that is about to explode and cause a “universe” to come into existence. Now, stick with me ’cause this fairy tale has a happy ending.

After much internal combustion this little speck of dust actually explodes and a vast universe with possibly thousands or millions of galaxies unfolds into a glorious spectacle that mere human minds can only marvel at. (I ended with “at” on purpose)

Now, here’s where it gets good. In a little corner (figuratively speaking) of the universe a little system of swirling, whirling masses of molten goo begin to spin around one larger mass of molten goo. (we now call this our Solar System) One particular little mass of molten goo begins to form into something. Hmm…what is it? An orb of interesting colors and combination of delightful chemicals.

Suddenly something (we’ll call it lightning) sparks a little puddle of warm goo and lo and behold…the mutants are born, or hatched, or seeded, or regurgitated or something. Anyway, here’s the point.

The mutants are the beginning of life on this little orb of molten goo.

Yowser, this is exciting stuff Maynard. The mutants immediately get to work on figuring out how to mutate into something better…whatever “better” is…it doesn’t matter…they just know they have to do it.

So…to reduce billions of years into a couple of sentences…the mutants eventually develop internal and external organs, skeletons, fingernails, skin, teeth, eyes, ears, Wonder bread, chewing tobacco, murderous video games, rap music, and thieving forms of government.

And to this day, according to many scientists, the mutants are still hard at work inside each and every organism. I can’t wait to see what they come up with next. Can you?

Excuse me…

I have to remove this speck of dust from under my fingernail.

Stay tuned,

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An Object Of Worship

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Can the God of the Bible be an object of worship?

Nope.

Why focus on an Object Of Worship when we can worship a living, loving God

Can anything else in the whole universe be an object of worship? Well…yeah. And we shouldn’t be impressed by any object to the point of thinking we need to worship it. However; a Creator who is intelligent enough to stretch out the heavens with His hands and cause things to exist by the words He speaks is certainly worthy of worship…

…at least He’s worthy of worship if He isn’t evil and devoid of righteousness.

How could anyone worship a tree and then cut it down and use it for firewood. And how could anyone take gold out of the ground, form it into a calf, or eagle, or three-headed rockstar and actually worship it? Maybe I’m dense and stodgy, but I don’t get that.

In 1 Corinthians 10:14-22 Paul calls this sort of thing “idolatry”. For most of America’s history we’ve been a country steeped in Christianity. We knew that having idols wasn’t a good thing. We knew it wouldn’t lead to good things. Now, we even celebrate a TV show about “idols”.

Why is this such a big deal to God? Why would He care that we might want to give a lot of attention to a good singer, or movie actor, or giant sculpture or work of art? Doesn’t He want us to “love our neighbor”?

Well…yeah, but not idolize them or any other object. So what makes God so special that He’s worthy of worship? The reasons are too numerous to even attempt to list. Suffice it to say that He has proved Himself worthy thousands of times over in the many stories you’ll find in the Bible. And most of all He sacrificed Himself in a most horrendous death to pay our debts.

You don’t have to believe what I’m saying. You can even make fun and do your best to “reason” it all away. But there’s only one reason you’re even able to contemplate your own existence. God.

There’s no observable science that shows something can come from nothing. For us to even exist, there must have been an uncaused first cause. You can call it “the universe”. I prefer to defer to the Creator of the universe. An object of worship is still merely an object. And if you tell me all objects are of equal value…I object.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

You know what chance and circumstance produce? Well, it’s certainly not any new species. I’ll tell you that right now.

Check out the racist undertones found in the chance and circumstance of Charles Darwin's work.

Click the pic to see a larger version

There are many characteristics found in the genetic code of the wonderful, wide variety of plant and animal life here on our blue planet.

Whether or not a flower will have blue, triangular petals or yellow, round petals is determined by this complex code. But the code doesn’t stop with mere appearances. It also provides for a certain amount of adaptation to environmental conditions and circumstances. This is how a natural selection occurs.

And it sure ain’t chance and circumstance.

When you go to the buffet table to make your selections, you don’t create any new foods. You merely select from the food that’s already there. And “selection” in the natural world works much this same way. When stressful environmental conditions occur, nature more or less selects characteristics in the code (aka gene pool) that can survive. In this process the characteristics that can’t survive are eliminated.

What does this mean exactly? Well, like I first said…chance and circumstance aren’t creating any new species. They’re just choosing from what’s already there, and variations are actually reduced…not evolving ever upward.

So…I totally agree that microevolution occurs. It’s nothing more than survival of the fittest. But macroevolution does not occur because natural selection prevents it. Increased complexity isn’t found in nature. It’s the figment of imagination of so-called scientists who refuse to base their conclusions on what is observed and reproducible.

Why do you suppose anyone would draw charts of animals showing a gradual increase in complexity when no intermediate fossils are found? Why would any scientist seeking truth ever have a problem with going where the evidence leads?

I suspect it’s more than a matter of science. It could be a matter of a rebellious heart. But maybe that’s just me…

Stay tuned,

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When Bad Examples Are Good

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Could there ever be times when bad examples are good in any way? Let me share a few ways I think this is possible. I’m sure you could think of dozens more.

A father curses at and beats his son…and the son discovers words of wisdom in the Bible and imparts compassion to his own son..

A mother drinks and belittles her daughter…and the daughter discovers the great women of Bible and passes on those stories to her own daughters, friends, and other women.

A famous athlete has a public tirade as a result of drugs and too much adoration for his abilities…a young Christian boy sees this and uses it as an opportunity to learn how to focus on others, establish foundations for the less fortunate, and create a legacy of giving.

In 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 Paul uses examples of the people who followed Moses out of captivity and into the wilderness. He says “but with most of them God was not well pleased” and that “their bodies were scattered in the wilderness”.

Paul shows us how we can use what they did as examples of what not to do. Most of them just wanted to eat, drink, have sex, and complain. Ironic isn’t it? After all…if all you had to do was eat, drink, and have sex…what would there be to complain about? Ponder that for a second.

Have you noticed anything like that in our present world? Here in America we have it exponentially easier than our forefathers. Most people can easily and comfortably sit around watching TV or playing video games…eat a cornucopia of foods and snacks…and even believe they can have sex anytime, anywhere, and with anyone they want.

Even while they’re doing all that they’re complaining about how rough and tough and unfair life is. They falsely believe that if only they could somehow get their hands on the wealth and resources others have attained…they’d miraculously have a more fulfilling life.

That, dear reader, is envy. And it’s not only a false assumption…it’s a sin. Sin is the word used to describe those things which will lead to death. God doesn’t want you to sin because He knows it’ll kill you. He designed you, and He knows what makes you tick…and what makes you sick. That’s why He put so many examples of sinful men in the Bible. And that’s why I said there are many times when bad examples are good. They can help you avoid becoming yet another statistic.

Will you look into it? If you do, I hope you’ll let me know.

In Faith, Hope, and Love

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

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One Receives The Prize

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In the good ol’ days PPC (pre political correctness) competition meant going up against others in your chosen endeavor with the intention to win. And winning meant coming in first, or top of class, or number one. It’s good to compete. And it’s good to try your best to beat your competitors. And it’s not a bad thing when only one receives the prize.

Since one receives the prize you might as well be the one.

The Apostle Paul, the greatest theologian of all time, wrote that very thing: “but one receives the prize…run in such a way that you may obtain it.”

He encourages Christians to run…which could be interpreted “live”as though we’re competing for a prize. Then he describes the prize we might obtain in this world as “a perishable crown”. It won’t last. It’ll rust, or fade, or one day be lost or forgotten. But we Christians obtain “an imperishable crown”. It’s a crown of righteousness that will never rust, fade, or ever go away.

When we wrap our minds around that prize, which is the saving grace and knowledge of Jesus, we can run with assurance. We can fight the good fight and our “punches”will land where they’re needed. The ironic thing is we’re not looking for the fight, but standing for Truth means the fight often comes looking for us.

As I share this with you it’s good for me to read it, hear it, and take it into my heart. I need to know it as much as anyone else. So, as my fingers type the keys that form these words I’m telling myself to keep running this race as though only one receives the prize. The good news is…through God’s limitless love everyone has a chance at the prize. Are you living your life in that Truth? If not…why not?

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

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What Is My Reward In Heaven

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

If I become or am a Christian…then, when I die…what is my reward in Heaven?

Maybe you’ve heard preachers talk about the verses like “in my Father’s house there are many mansions…” or “indeed your reward is great in Heaven” or “knowing that from the Lord you will receive your inheritance“. Ok, there seems to be a reward…so…it’s a legitimate question to ask:

“What is my reward in Heaven?”

First, let me ask you: What would you like? What sort of reward do you think you’d deserve if and when you get to Heaven? Keep in mind that eternity is a very long time. Time without end in fact. What sort of reward do you think you’d deserve that could last that long?

Here’s how I see it. If I get a mansion in Heaven, I’m sure I’ll love it. And it’ll be the most awesome place I’ve ever lived. But I don’t deserve it. Because, if I receive some sort of seat at the table of importance, I’m sure I’ll be glad to be there. But I don’t deserve it.

And I don’t deserve any sort of reward. None. I haven’t lived an exemplary life. I haven’t brought millions, thousands, or even hundreds to the saving knowledge of Jesus. And I haven’t loved my fellow man the way I should have. Plus, I certainly haven’t lived a sinless life.

But one thing I did right.

I said yes to Jesus. I discovered the mountain of evidence that supports the truth of His birth as a human baby, His sinless life, His tortuous death, and His victorious resurrection. And I discovered how He did all that…for me.

And He did that for you, too.

But don’t take my word for it. Look into it. And if you can find where the Bible got it wrong…if you can find where the historical, manuscript, archaeological, and statistical facts are wrong, please let me know. But I believe, if you’re honest in your study, you’ll come to the same conclusion. Jesus really was and IS God.

What is my reward in Heaven? I get to see Him face to face and live with Him forever. I get to bask in His limitless glory and knowledge forever. And I will be completely satisfied if there isn’t another reward.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

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Words And Music Of Faith Hope And Love Podcast 19

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Play

Podcast Episode 19 is available for listening or downloading. Click the blue button to hear words and music of faith hope and love or follow links and read the articles.

As you start your week…

Think about what you could do to show the love of God in you to someone else. And while praying for them is great, I mean actually DO something. It doesn’t have to be big. And you sure don’t have to go out and tell the whole world you did it. Just make it something that will help someone else…without expecting anything in return…ever.

You’ve been give a great privilege and gift. It’s called life. You have self-awareness. You exist, and you know you exist. And if you don’t yet know Jesus, I suggest you put that on your busy to-do list. You’ll be making an investment that will pay off in eternal dividends.

Now…here’s what you’ll find in this week’s podcast. I shared the previous week’s articles about:

Stay tuned,

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

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can keep my words and music flowing.

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Love And Liberty for both you and me

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

A couple of articles ago I wrote “Liberty According To My Judgment“. And I based that article on Paul’s writing in 1 Corinthians 7:25-40. Now, I’d like to talk about love and liberty.

As a Christian, God gives me great liberty. Another word for it is Grace. He allows me to make my own choices, have my own successes or failures, and even eat food that might have been sacrificed to idols. That’s an old-fashioned sounding phrase, but you might be surprised at how much food, especially meat, is still sacrificed to idols…even in this “modern” age.

Here’s how love and liberty connect.

And the first thing to understand is that love is more important than liberty. And, through Paul, God tells us we’re supposed to use and practice our liberty wisely.

For example, there are some Christians who might be weak in the area of meat sacrificed to idols. They might stumble in their Christian faith if they see a brother or sister eat the food they thought was for false gods and idols. They might find doubt in the promises of the one true God.

So Paul urges us to consider them. He doesn’t say not to eat meat that came from unbelievers. He just says we ought to be aware of what we do while in view of believers who don’t fully comprehend their liberty. And while it isn’t always possible to know who’s weak and who isn’t, it’s important to express equal shares of love and liberty to others.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Bacteria and evolution don’t get along so well together. In fact, bacteria just refuses to play games by evolution’s rules.

Evolution appears to be a bit schizophrenic when it comes to which organism will evolve the most. Let’s say that I.R. Bacterium (most bacteria self-replicate) is fruitful and multiplies at an amazing rate of…oh…about a million in only 7 hours. Wow, that’s a lot of room for variation and mutation.

 Humans, on the other hand, have a very long reproduction rate and only a few offspring. Yet, if evolution is to be believed, natural selection would have many more beneficial mutations to choose from in bacteria.

So why isn’t bacteria and evolution a much better relationship?

And what about M.E. Microbe? He started colonies in almost every environment on earth, and the number of Microbes is so ginormous they don’t even bother to publish their addresses anymore. But even with the amazing amount of Microbes in their family tree, the number of different ones is not so large. They just don’t appear to have any evolving features. Odd, isn’t it?

These examples are what scientists call “broad experimental verifications”. And thanks to extremely powerful microscopes and technology, they don’t have to guess whether or not a rapidly reproducing species will produce a wide variety of variations and beneficial mutations.

They can simply observe them in action.

According to the Cornell University Department of Microbiology, most bacteria reproduce through a process called binary fission. They say how “conceptually this is a simple process”. But they go on to say how in order “to remain viable and competitive, a bacterium must divide at the right time, in the right place, and must provide each offspring with a complete copy of its essential genetic material…”

You know…”essential genetic material” implies that what’s there needs to be there in order to exist. Guess what? In that microscopic world it’s all essential. And in order for a bacterium to “provide each offspring” what it needs to exist, there has to be a complex code of information. And that leads me to the conclusion I first reached when I was only 13…

God is the ultimate coder, and I trust him with my information.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can keep my words and music flowing. Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com or Smashwords
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Liberty According To My Judgment

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Liberty, according to my judgment, is found throughout Paul’s writings in the Bible.

According to my judgment, liberty is given to us out of God's love.

In 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 it’s easy to see how Paul is confidently conveys liberty to his readers. It’s a passage directed at “widows and orphans” according to the New King James version of the Bible. And it’s easy to see how we’re not commanded to marry. We’re also not commanded to remain single. Advised maybe…but not commanded.

Paul instructed the Corinthians on how, for many, marriage is a necessity. He knew that men have a difficult time controlling themselves…and left to their own they “will have trouble in the flesh”. He wanted to spare them that trouble. Paul also knew that to marry would bring its own kind of trouble…what he called “care”. He said “I want you to be without care” because he knew when a man or woman is married, care for a spouse is necessary. But “he who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord”.

All through these verses in 1 Corinthians 7:25-40 there is great liberty, according to my judgment, as to how men and women can go about their lives. I believe Paul points out that we need to do our best to focus on the Lord regardless of our married status. He even talks about how a woman can remarry if her husband dies. He recommends she serves the Lord instead, but she’s certainly not sinning to remarry.

This liberty should stir up your faith, hope, and love for God. He’s not the mean cosmic killjoy you may think He is. He wants you to have life and have it abundantly…eternally full of health and happiness.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can keep my words and music flowing. Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com or Smashwords
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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I hope you don’t mind if I seem a little forward…but…you look good in those genes.

Well, you sure better look good in those genes because they’re the only ones you’re gonna get. Don’t worry, though, they won’t wear out for a long time…at least not if you take decent care of them.

Whether you look good or not, one thing is true.

You can thank (or blame) your parents for the way you look. You received some of your genetic traits from dad and some from mom. And here’s a key thing to keep in mind…you didn’t receive any traits from any other species that ever lived. Ever.

One of the ways we know this is often referred to as “Mendel’s Law of Genetics”. It’s also sometimes called the “Law of Segregation”. That has nothing to do with race. It’s talking about your gene makeup. The science behind it came from a rather obscure man named Johann Mendel. He later became an Augustinian monk and was given the name Gregor. And Gregor showed how important even little peas can be.

When Mendel was a boy, he learned the art of “grafting” by working in the orchards of his father’s landlord. This knowledge served him well and got him through most of his education. However; when it seemed he wouldn’t be able to continue, his physics teacher recommended he enter the monastery where he would be able to finish his studies.

Between 1856 and 1863 Gregor cultivated around 29,000 pea plants and discovered that different combinations of genes can be formed through the generations…but new genes are never formed. In other words, he could never graft any pea genes and get corn or beans.

Why is this important?

Well, as a Christian, I can see how it confirms the many verses in the Bible where God says “according to its kind” or “after its kind”. God’s amazing creativity provides a huge capacity for variation within each species. But He gave each species its own genetic code. So a duck will never be a deer. A bug will never be a bird. And a monkey will never be a man…

…even if some man monkeys around with genetics.

OK I get it…if Christians are wrong about what God said…or the fact that God even exists, this is a moot point. But if we’re not, hmm…

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

If your great, great, great grandfather had been more into stretching, strength training, and tattoos, then maybe you and/or your descendants could have long necks, big muscles, and camouflage skin. OK, maybe it would have have taken a few more generations, but it could happen. Right?

No. C’mon everybody, say it with me: “characteristics gained after birth cannot be inherited.”

Something that CAN happen; though, is that stressful environmental conditions for some plants and animals might (and often do) trigger their offspring’s various natural defenses. They’re not creating new genetic traits. It’s simply (and I use that word as a figure of speech) the genetic machinery already programmed into them that kicks in.

(side note: who’d want long necks anyway?)

Our modern abilities to look closely and deeply into the structure of DNA have revealed so much more of the marvelous, complex design within a single cell. Scientists are discovering how each creature, big and small, is coded with amazing information that can adjust to stressful situations like starvation, dehydration, and even a global flood. (Yeah, even that last one)

I know I’m kicking sand in the face of believing that time, the environment, and “needs” can produce acquired characteristics. But I’m also enthusiastically fanning the flames of beautiful, creative reality. And that’s a reality where spectacular and optimum genetic machinery is already programmed. Yep, it’s programmed into every living thing to meet or exceed its stressful environment.

This is just one of dozens of reasons why real science gives me such faith, hope, and love for my Creator.

So, are you sure you truly can’t live without long necks, big muscles, and camouflage? Then, go buy some beer, pump some iron, and join the marines.

Stay tuned,

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Your support means more than you know. And in case you’d like to know how you can…

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No One Has Broken The Law of Biogenesis

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Hey guys…if your wife or girlfriend says she wishes you could be more spontaneous, do you think it’s because she wants to live dangerously and break the law of biogenesis? I can hear you now…

“Break the law of biogenesis?!”

What’s that got to do with being more spontaneous?”

Well, actually…everything. The law of biogenesis states that life comes only from life. When you say that life emerged from non-living matter, the term for that is spontaneous generation. It’s important to understand that spontaneous generation of life has never been observed. That’s why the “law of biogenesis” is a law of science. No one has broken it, and even evolutionary scientists accept it. They don’t want to, but they do.

If I could tell you 131 stories that make 131 valid points why the theory of organic evolution is flawed and even invalid, would you even care? I believe most people who hold onto the theory of evolution wouldn’t care because of where the opposing view might take them.

The supernatural creator.

Maybe that’s not the reason. Maybe they think their science will back them up. But I’ve just given you story number 1 that shows how, based on scientific observations, life comes only from life. If spontaneous generation gives life to an opposing view, I’d love to hear from you. Or if you have some video proof of life coming from non-living matter, I’ll be glad to post it here for everyone to see.

But here’s a suggestion for any science buff…let your observations take you where they will…and don’t work them like a Ouija board toward your pre-conceived bias. My hope is that you’ll come to an eternally valuable conclusion…that you were “fearfully and wonderfully made“.

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)

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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

Words And Music of Faith Hope And Love

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

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Podcast Episode 18 is available for listening or downloading. Click the blue button to hear words and music of faith hope and love or follow links and read the articles.

As you start your week…stop a minute or two and thank God for some little things. Things like protons, electrons, and neutrons. Things like the tens of trillions of cells that make up your body while being irreducibly complex. Things like the genetic code (DNA) that determines whether you have blue eyes or brown or green…or how tall you’ll be…or whether your a male or female. You know…the tiny things.

Life in this world can seem so complicated and fast paced. But it’s nothing compared to the inner workings of the human body. Just ponder, for a minute, how many synapses are firing every second of every day in your very own body. Could you also at least consider that for something to be so complex there might at least be a possibility for an even more complex designer?

OK…I know you’re busy, so I’ll stop pestering you about creation and just tell about this week’s podcast. In this episode I shared the previous week’s articles about:

Stay tuned,

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

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Do Not Become Slaves Of Men

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

You’ve probably heard the expression “the truth shall make you free“. Well, this isn’t truth according to your feelings or interpretations. This isn’t some “organic” or changing truth devised by mere men. It’s THE truth found in God’s word in the Bible. And God says (through Paul’s letter to the Corinthians) “do not become slaves of men“.

Know the truth of God, and do not become Slaves Of Men

Mere men make up all kinds of rules for you. Don’t believe me? Just look at the United States Congress. They’re “job”, day in and day out, is to come up with more rules, or to amend current rules, or to nullify rules they determine to be inconvenient to current events.

They remind of little kids who make up the rules to a game as they go along. Little kids have a good excuse for their tiny minds. Grown men and women do not.

If you’ve been saved by the Grace of Jesus, you can still be the you God designed you to be. You don’t have to or need to become like anyone else. For obvious reasons, let me use this example…if you’re a musician, and you feel God’s calling on your heart, you can still be a musician. You don’t have to become a banker. God can use you where you’re called.

Paul wrote “he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave”. That’s a metaphor for how God bought and paid for you with the blood of his Son, Jesus. So if you’re gonna be anyone’s slave, make it Jesus. But for Heaven’s sake…do not become slaves of men.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can keep my words and music flowing. Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com or Smashwords
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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

There’s a sentence in 1 Corinthians 7:10-16 that really stands out to me…in a passage where Paul says to keep your marriage vows.

Before I get to that stand-out sentence I’d like to talk about the gist of Paul’s words. If you’re already married, a wife is “not to depart from her husband” and “a husband is not to divorce his wife”. Read that passage and see how Paul calls it a command…but then he says “but even if she does depart…”.

This shows that God commands you to keep your marriage vows

Because He doesn’t want you to live in a constant state of unhealthy sexual behavior. But He allows for divorce. He knows many men and women have a lack of self control and will not keep their vows.

God doesn’t want you to divorce, but He doesn’t want you to be a whipping post for a neglectful, abusive, or unfaithful spouse. Paul writes how this applies even when a believer has married an unbeliever. The vows are still in effect. And I believe the reason Paul writes so much about this is found in the stand-out sentence I mentioned before.

“But God has called us to peace.”

As I look at all the other text, in context, that sentence doesn’t seem to fit in with marriage vows or divorce clauses or whether or not a believer should be married to an unbeliever. But when you think about how much violence occurs in households where vows are forgotten, it makes total sense.

God wants you to have peace.

He wants you to be healthy, happy, and have life…abundantly. If you want peace, give peace. If you want love, give love. And if you want to be cared for in sickness and in health, care for your spouse in sickness and in health.

When you keep your marriage vows, it doesn’t guarantee your husband or wife will too. But if you don’t keep them, it does guarantee you won’t have the peace you’ve been called to by God.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can keep my words and music flowing. Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com or Smashwords
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Lack Of Self Control

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Is your lack of self control a good enough reason to get married?

Lack Of Self Control is a good reason to marry...but not a commandment.

Maybe.

In 1 Corinthians Paul wrote “it is good for a man not to touch a woman“. At first glance that sounds like you shouldn’t get married. But he’s showing us how we distract one another from a more focused service to God. I’m thankful Paul doesn’t stop there because I can’t imagine not touching a woman. I mean…why would God create such beautiful creatures and not let us touch them.

Paul goes on to say that marriage is a good thing. It keeps us from doing all those sexual things that aren’t good for us. It’s an indicator of God’s approval of sex between a man and a woman…but within the constraints of marriage.

God knows how almost all men have a harmful lack of self control. And God, after all, is the One who invented sex. He could have made it terrible chore, but instead He made it a very pleasurable thing for enjoyment so we would “be fruitful and multiply“.

Paul explains how a man is supposed to have A wife and woman is to have A husband. And you’re not supposed to withhold your affection from one another because that’s how you’ll make sure “Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control”.

We’re not commanded to marry. It’s not a requirement for salvation, grace, or any other thing. Marriage is for your health and abundant life is you have a lack of self-control over your own body. In other words, if you know you burn with passion, find a good woman or man and marry. Then share all the love and affection you have within you, and give your bodies over to one another in passion that springs from that love.

And, of course, if you have self-control in matters of sex, then consider serving God and not getting married because you’ll have a sharper focus on Him without the distractions and needs of a helpmate. But married or not…seek ways you can serve the God who knit you together in the womb. You exist at the hands of the Ultimate Designer, and He knows what it takes for your best health and happiness.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can keep my words and music flowing. Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com or Smashwords
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You Were Bought At A Price

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

When Paul wrote, in 1 Corinthians “all things are lawful for me“, he was talking about Grace…the Grace offered to everyone by Jesus. Jesus paid for the Grace that’s freely offered to you. But Grace and you were bought at a price…the highest price ever paid for anything in the history of the world for anything…His Life.

You were Bought At a Price...the highest price.

These days, all around me, I see people of all sizes, colors, ethnicities, and persuasions seeking to become “more enlightened”…more “spiritual”. While you should aspire to regain your spirit (found only in Jesus) I think it’s important to remember that you’re still a physical being. You inhabit a physical body, and you should also seek to hold it in higher regard.

I’m not talking about some new trendy diet or exercise regimen. Although putting good food into your body and taking it out for some fresh air and sunshine is an awesome idea…treating it better, sexually, has healthy spiritual benefits.

Paul admonished us to “flee sexual immorality“. That means run, don’t walk, away from it. He talked about how every other sin “that a man does is outside the body”. But whoever “commits sexual immorality (and don’t fool yourself, you know what that means) sins against his own body”.

In other words, you hurt your own body. Almost everyone has done this, but that’s no excuse. Paul thought this was an issue important enough to include it in his letter to the Corinthians. He told them “for you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s”.

If you’re a Christian, maybe it will help to remember that the Holy Spirit dwells in you, and “you are not your own”.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

P.S.  I really appreciate your support here on my website. Here are some other awesome ways you can keep my words and music flowing. Get my ebooks for kids on Amazon.com or Smashwords
Get my Podcast
Circle me on Google +
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I Once Was Lost

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Even people who have no love at all for the Bible, Jesus, or God have heard the famous line from the song “Amazing Grace”. You know the one I’m talking about…”I once was lost, but now am found”

Being “lost” in the world isn’t a sin or a crime. It can certainly be an inconvenience, but the only punishment you’ll receive for being lost is time lost.

However; the “lost” that “Amazing Grace” describes is the condition of the world you’re born into. And the condition of your soul/spirit. You’re born into sin. And the punishment of sin is time lost, too. However; it’s time without end…eternity.

If you’re not a Christian, you’re still in this condition.

And this condition wreaks havoc with the physical, emotional, and spiritual health of everyone…even Christians. That’s because no matter what worldview you follow, you do wield some influence on others around you. Because you’re a free will personality, if you have a general disregard for love and human life, you can spread your apathy to anyone not equipped to deal with it.

Christians aren’t immune to the negative temptations of the world. Even someone who genuinely loves and trusts Jesus needs to guard against being deceived…or worse…becoming a deceiver. Sin is a powerful force. A mere man (or woman) cannot completely resist or overcome it. Giving in to it causes even Christian brothers to seek to do one another harm. I know this is true from personal experience.

The apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians, “Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?“He was talking about how some of the Corinthians were taking “a matter against another”to the courts of the day. He described those courts as “unrighteous”. Courts today are the same. Paul knew that Christians need to solve their differences among themselves with the help of the wisdom of God from the Holy Spirit. As Christians, we’re eventually going to “judge the world.”

“I once was lost, but now am found.”

So, can you sing that from a redeemed heart? Then, you should also be able to confidently sing “was blind, but now I see.”

Don’t be deceived. Not everyone will inherit the kingdom the kingdom of God. But it’s offered to everyone. If you can’t seem to find it, or don’t know where to look, contact me right now. I can show you The Way.

Stay tuned,

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