Tony Funderburk Posted on by

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I remember watching certain kinds of sci-fi movies, way back in decades past, that showed unbelievable scenarios for the future. But here we are, IN that future, and some of those things actually came true. One thing, in particular, is how easy it has become to terminate people just because they annoy you.

Yeah, it has become acceptable to terminate people of ALL ages.

Starting in the womb.

Your own internet browser will give you the evidence for this. They’re called “suggestions.” Type something into your browser search bar. You don’t even have to type the whole phrase “terminate people.” Just type the word, terminate. Then, add a space. And then start to go through the alphabet. You won’t have to go past A to find the evidence I’m talking about.

Because one of the “suggestions” after you type “terminate a” is “terminate a pregnancy.” The other suggestions include contract, lease, and process. No problem. But then there’s pregnancy. Why is that a suggestion? Because that’s what people search for.

And that’s because nobody wants to do a search for “how to kill a baby in the womb.” That just sounds so bigoted, hateful, and mean. Why would anybody say that about a terminated pregnancy? They must be old or republican or something.

But have you noticed how many people act as thought they don’t even know what that is in a mother’s womb? And that’s in spite of the fact that ultrasound technology has made it SO simple to see it’s a baby.

So, what’s the problem, in these “more enlightened” days?

It has turned into a debate over location and connection.

One of the main reasons so many people are comfortable calling a baby in the womb just a “lifestyle choice” is the baby’s location. In the womb.

You’d have to be willfully ignorant (aka: X-tra Stupid), to see a woman who’s 6 months pregnant and not know what’s making her belly protrude. (side note: I know the explosion of grossly obese women has blurred this distinction a little. But the point stands.)

Anyway…

Point is, even if you’re a person who CHOOSES to act stupid, you know what it means when a woman is pregnant. There’s a baby in there.

So, when you “terminate pregnancies,” you terminate people. Period.

And if you support the murder of the most innocent human beings, where will you draw the line? The answer is, you won’t draw a line. Because you’re willing to buy into the idea that murder is an actual solution to problems.

So, since you can terminate an “unplanned pregnancy” it’s only a short step terminating people you disagree with or don’t like.

And one of the most disagreeable, unlikeable people you’re likely to run across is someone who holds the opposite political opinions.

You might have seen that in action on July 13th.

I haven’t been a Donald Trump supporter because of his willingness to compromise on the termination of babies whose fathers were criminals. And his willingness to turn his head when it comes to certain other issues that, let’s say, don’t meet with God’s approval.

That being said, I DO believe Mr. Trump is an American patriot on a fairly high level. But even if I disagreed with him on everything, including his compromise on abortion, it would never enter my mind to want him terminated.

I don’t even want that despicable, poor excuse for a human being, who currently occupies the big white house in Washington, D.C. to be terminated by a bullet. I WILL rejoice when I see God’s vengeance on him and all other God haters one day, though.

But someone decided it would be fine to put a bullet in Donald Trump’s head. And that person, with the backing of who knows who, came within an inch or two of doing exactly that.

Oh how I wish that close call would clarify Mr. Trump’s respect for human life. I wish he’d think, “Wow, that bullet zing across my ear hurt bad. I can only imagine what an unborn baby must feel when those cold steel clamps tear his or her arms and legs off. We’ve got to abolish abortion.”

But, sadly, I believe the close call will be another self-serving opportunity.

And if Donald’s brush with death helps seal a win for him this November, at least he won’t destroy America the way Joke Biden has. But without a connection to the True moral compass of the one, true, living, loving Creator, NO administration will save America from destruction.

Trump will possibly slow down the process, somewhat. But a nation that kills 3000 innocent babies every day, and teaches evolution in government indoctrination camps, will not last. And America has already been doing that for 50 years and more. Time is running out.

My audience is very small, compared to the population of the world. But thanks to internet technology, my message can be seen and heard around the globe. So, if you see or hear this, I hope it inspires you to do what you can to share the saving grace of Jesus.

Because as long as the idea that it’s OK to terminate people grows, you have a bullseye on your head, too. And you don’t have a secret service team to shield you from the assassin’s bullet.

It’s all in this rhyme:

Time is all you need to create
Evolution. There’s no debate.
And when fish turn into people, you’ll never need a steeple.
It’ll turn out fine. You just wait.

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Elgielene and I buy frozen blueberries. And we don’t thaw them out. Just thought I’d share that with you. Ha! No, I brought it up for a reason. And not because she says the frozen blueberries are like tiny, round popsicles. I mentioned them because they remind me of a frozen embryo story I wrote about.

You know a frozen embryo is a human being. Right?

Well, if it’s a frozen human embryo, it is. And the story I wanna share (again) is about the human kind. And I wanna share this story again because it’s so awesome for multiple reasons. Here you go:

Imagine you’re a 5 year old girl and a doctor tells your parents you have sickle-cell anemia. By the ripe ol’ age of 11 you get so sick your parents move to another country. Because they want to make sure you can get a bone transplant from your brother. Then, at 13, doctors decide you’ll need chemotherapy. They say kids endure this treatment much better than adults. But they also know you show signs of puberty. And they know chemo has a high risk of damaging your ovaries.

Are you with me so far? Great.

Now, imagine doctors and/or parents who have so much foresight they remove part of your right ovary and freeze it. Because they hope someone will be able to graft it back in when you mature.

Wow. That’s really thinking ahead. And it’s very optimistic (which I admire).

Anyway…

Let’s say about 10 years later doctors DO graft four parts of that frozen ovarian tissue back into your remaining ovary. Do you think that ovary could grow eggs? Even if it did, could that lead to pregnancy? Would you believe me if I told you it happened?

Yep, this is a true story.

It’s not some tale fresh out of my fruitful imagination. And the young woman, in her middle twenties, became pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy. A healthy baby boy who weighed in at almost 7 pounds. I’ve read a couple of articles about this event. And everyone is happy about how it turned out.

But I’ve yet to read if anyone else thinks it’s an incredible display of God’s design. Because the human gene pool is so diluted and broken now that it almost seems impossible to reuse a frozen ovary, much less a frozen embryo.

So, it’s like this. It’s one thing to remove and freeze a part of a 13 year old girl’s ovary. But it’s even more amazing to graft that part back in about 10 years later. And it’s even more amazing for the young woman to produce eggs. And, to top it off, the young woman gets pregnant?! Now, that’s design!

And not just any design. That’s infinitely complex and wonderful design only a loving God could or would do. He placed key information into each cell of your body. And from His Spirit, He poured life into that information. We humans have come a long way in our ability to understand that information. So far, in fact, that we can now freeze embryos and body parts and put them back into use years later.

We still can’t create Life.

We can only procreate.

So, it’s important to be grateful to the one true, living, loving God who designed you that way. Because He encoded your cells with information that determined the color of your eyes and hair. And whether you’d be a male or female (the only two choices) with human body parts.

And that information determined your heart would beat on its own, your brain would interpret sensory experiences, and your eyes would encode and decode images in nanoseconds.

God’s information is in your cells and your very soul. So, you have life. AND you can also be aware of your own existence. And He designed you to be fruitful and multiply. Even if you started out as a frozen embryo. So, pass on this information boldly. And with all the love you can muster.

Here’s a life-affirming rhyme to help you remember:

Intelligent design and DNA,
Scholars can’t explain it all away.
Get ready to be awed
By the handiwork of God.

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Wouldn’t it be great if you could condense the time it takes to learn valuable information from 6 years down to just 6 weeks? And wouldn’t that be even cooler if you could do that early on in your life? If you answered yes to those questions, then you might like this quote I just saw on social media:

“Homeschooling showed me you can teach the K-5 math curriculum to a 6 year old in six weeks with 1 hour of instruction per day.”

Yeah. Let that simmer in your head for a few seconds.

6 weeks for a 6 year old to learn 6 years worth of math.

Wow! You could call that the 6-6-…oh wait. Never mind. Let’s just call it a wonderful homeschool advantage, and leave it at that.

Anyway…

You’ve probably noticed I’ve been rattling on about homeschooling lately. And, of course, that’s not an accident. I’ve been sharing this info with my relatively small audience because I know how back-to-school messages will be everywhere very soon.

And I’d like all parents to consider the HUGE advantages, long-term AND short-term of homeschool. Not the least of those advantages would be how your 6 year old could go through 6 years of math in just 6 weeks. And remember, that’s with just “1 hour of instruction per day.”

Imagine taking one hour a day with your kids to help them go through all that learning in just 6 weeks.

Your kids are worth that. Right?!

OK, here’s another tip to help your kids learn better as you homeschool them (because I know you want to do that now)

I’ve shared this before, but it’s awesome enough to share it again.

Researchers say that listening to music “helps organize the firing of nerve cells in the right half of the cerebral cortex.” Because music helps tap into some other benefits of healthy neurons.

And I believe listening to more complex music gives your brain a much better workout. That’s probably why I have, oops, I mean, so many musicians have “unusual mathematical abilities.”

But, just to be clear, this isn’t a brain fix thing.

In other words, you can’t just listen to Mozart and become brilliant. The research also showed the effect might be somewhat temporary. But you certainly won’t be stupider. After all, the benefits of exercise are always temporary, too. That’s why you gotta keep exercising. Can I get an Amen?

So, if you’re looking for a way to build up your brain muscles, try some music from my favorite composer. And here’s a mathematical, musical rhyme to remember:

Workin’ out my brain as I sing a song’s refrain
Makes me smarter or at least that’s how it seems.
So, I’ll just sing my tunes mornings, evenings, afternoons,
And I’ll solve some math equations in my dreams.

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

There’s a scene in an episode of one of those old western TV shows where some “concerned citizens” are talking to a father who doesn’t send his son to school. And the citizens tell the dad that, of course, he’s free to teach his son however he sees fit. But they insist that his son will miss out on a more complete and well-rounded education.

Good thing that father was “free to teach” his own son.

Because, as those concerned citizens found out, the man’s son knew history facts even the public schoolmarm didn’t know. Plus, the boy could add, subtract, multiply, and divide above his age level. And his learning didn’t stop with readin’, writin’, and arithmetic.

No, the boy also had hands-on experience with botany and biology. Because he had to tend to the garden and the family livestock on a daily basis. So, that meant he had real-world skills for feeding a family a solid diet of meat and vegetables.

The man and his son were able to satisfy even the silly concerned citizens’ requirements for education. But several of them still believed the man wasn’t educating his son properly.

So typical.

Here in the 21st century, you are “free” to teach your kids in your own home. And that’s true across America. Of course, some states put more regulations on homeschooling than others. But it’s not difficult to find out what those regulations are.

I saw some great comments on homeschooling this morning. Here’s a few I’ll share with you:

“The success of homeschooling is based on freedom. Freedom to pick and choose curriculum. Freedom to pick the learning environment. And freedom to take breaks when needed. Freedom to pause and discuss concepts. ⁠Even freedom to let your child explore his or her interests. Every child is different and should have the freedom to learn in a safe, loving environment at their
own pace.”

(And that’s the way ALL education should be.)

Here’s another quote:

“Archery and Muy Thai for PE today. My helo squadron motto was: ‘Protect the Innocent, Punish the Guilty.’ I’m raising my boys to do just that. #raisingmen and #homeschooling”

I particularly like that one. Because it’s a dad who understands how important it is to raise MEN.

Someone else had this insightful recommendation:

“If you’re on the fence about homeschooling because you think you’ll mess up your kids, you should take a cursory look at what public school is doing: failing academics, confused biology, social justice…You can provide a completely different education and a better childhood.”

Yeah, if you believe your kid(s) will be better off learning how to feel than how to think, then, by all means, send them to your favorite government indoctrination camp.

Here’s a quote from Kevin Sorbos, the actor:

“Because of their grit, a potential revolution in U.S. public education is underway. Taking responsibility for their children’s education, parents across America are starting to turn away from Secularism’s indoctrinational teaching of fabricated principles.”

And I think many parents have “woke” up because of what’s described in this next quote:

“THINGS I NEVER LEARNED IN SCHOOL

  • How to do taxes
  • What taxes are
  • How to manage money
  • Anything to do with banking
  • How to grow food
  • How to handle rejection
  • How to handle interviews
  • How to buy my first home
  • How to survive in the wild
  • How to handle myself in dangerous situations

But I sure am glad I know the Pythagorean Theorem.”

That last part is funny. And I linked it to something I wrote about that theorem. There’s a little something more I said about it below, too.

Anyway…

Naturally, if it’s not important to you that your kid knows how to handle those essential parts of life, then, by all means, send them to your favorite government indoctrination camp. But if it IS important to you, and I believe most of my readers and listeners would say it is, then homeschool.

That’s the best way to follow God’s word when He says, “Train up a child in the way he should go.” And do it while you’re still free to teach your own kids. And here’s the theorem rhyme I mentioned:

Geometric shapes and angles
Help you understand triangles.
But they can show you even more,
Like what we’ve all been put here for.
Unless, of course, you’d rather not
Go where math leads and change your thought.
If that’s your choice, you’ve cooked your goose
And burned up your hypotenuse.

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

When it comes to truth, most politicians would rather not. I hope that’s not true, when it comes to YOU. And I hope you don’t leave yourself in a compromised position when it comes to life and truth.

Because compromise can sear your soul when it comes to you.

That doesn’t make you a special target. Compromise can sear any soul who gives in to it.

And, for the sake of easy-to-understand clarity, I’m not talking about the compromise you make on which music to listen to, or which curtains to buy, or which appetizer to order. A little compromise, in those kinds of decisions, can make life more pleasant.

But when it comes to life and truth, compromise should sound like profanity to you.

Eight years ago, around this time of year, I wrote an unpopular opinion post. Sure, I know. I write those all the time, and that’s why the number of people connect with me is small.

Anyway…

The reason my post was so unpopular was because I dared to say you shouldn’t vote for Hillary or Donald. I said, “I understand not wanting her for a president. But I’d like you to consider something much more important…the issue of life.”

But, as I suspected, my recommendation fell on mostly deaf ears.

And I read comments like:

“I’ll just hold my nose and vote for Trump.”

“Well, when these are your choices, you have to pick the lesser of two evils.”

“Sure, he’s not completely pro life, but he’s closer than Hillary. And he loves this country.”

“If you don’t vote for one of the 2 parties’ candidates, you’re throwing your vote away.”

Yeah, that last comment came around a lot. But nothing could be further from the Truth. Because you NEVER have only two choices in elections and politics. There’s ALWAYS a third option. Always.

The third option is to not compromise the Truth. Jesus is that Truth. And He told his followers that if someone does harm to the “little ones,” it would be better to be thrown into the sea tied to a large stone. Yikes!

Of course, we’d never do that now.

We’re much too caring, civilized, and loving. So, we reward child abusers and molesters with a lifelong studio apartment, three meals a day, and all their needs met.

But, back to those silly little presidential candidates and their ideas on what’s good for America.

If your presidential candidate compromises on the issue of life (our first and foremost God-given right), then what issue(s) do you suppose he or she won’t compromise? Budgets? Spending? Foreign policy? Entitlement programs? All of the above?

Let’s say, for the sake of thinking things through a little further, there was one candidate who compromised on all the financial and foreign policy issues. But let’s say that candid wouldn’t budge on the right to life of every human being. And that includes the whole life, from conception to natural death. You could still make a compromise and vote for that candidate.

Because no office holder can live up to a perfect standard. Nobody can.

But if a candidate comes right out and says (and they all do) they’ll compromise on how many unborn babies to kill, that one issue disqualifies them. Period.

It’s better to obey God and let the chips fall where they may. And Jesus said (in red letters) “inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these, my brethren, you did it to Me.”

Look at that statement carefully.

Jesus used words purposefully and meticulously. He said “one of the least.” He didn’t say “some” or “part” or “all.” And He said “one of the least of these.” And you can’t get any more “least” than unborn babies. When you take the compromising position that it’s OK to abort even one unborn baby, you disqualify yourself from having any wisdom.

And what America needs, in a leader, is wisdom. Not just somebody who can beat the opponent.

I know there are Christians who struggle with this issue of life because of their own past.

But, when it comes to YOU, remember that Jesus died for ALL your sins. And He wants you to use wisdom to help others see further down the road than you did. Just because you made poor decisions in your life doesn’t mean you can’t use and share God’s wisdom with others who might be struggling with the same decisions you once faced.

And one way you can help them is to show them you will no longer compromise on the basic human, and God-given, right to life.

And remember, God hopes you’ll stand up for His Truth.

He’s much more concerned about your eternal soul than who is elected president.

Elections, presidents, and even countries and nations will pass away. But God’s word will never pass away. And He says it’s never right, for any reason, to shed innocent blood.

So, consider whether or not your vote will leave you compromised with God’s word. And consider whether or not your vote endangers the eternal soul of your candidate.

You can’t run away from real truth.
And every word of truth is a knife.
A captivating voice might pigeonhole your choice,
Cut free…and choose life.

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the powerful Rhyme and Reason of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

From the moment you were conceived you took on the human form. Not that body you’re walking around in now. The body that has endured the harsh rays of sun, drops of rain, sheets of ice, and blasts of wind.

No, your human form started as one, tiny cell.

But here’s something you might not have thought about. Even before you were that one, tiny cell you were an idea in the mind of God.

Boom! Let that one sink in a second or two.

You. Were. Not. An. Accident.

But sadly, and shamefully, millions of people have bought into the everything-from-nothing fairy tale. And so, if some cell just happened to appear in a woman’s womb, that doesn’t mean it’s anything special. After all, that happens literally every day.

And every day, according to everything-from-nothing fairy tale believers, people just have to choose to leave the tiny cell alone and see what happens. Or NOT.

Yeah, this life is full of choices. And that tiny cell, inside a woman’s womb, is just one of them.

But we’re human beings. And we live in a world full of sin and temptation. So, we choose the stupid things. A LOT. Have you noticed this in your life. I know I have in mine.

Some bad choices have little or no consequences.

For example, you could wear a plaid shirt with striped pants. Sure, you’d look like a dork. But besides a little embarrassment, nobody gets hurt. Or you could have a third cup of coffee on an empty stomach, if you’re willing to deal with some backtalk from your stomach. But no big deal. Right?

Because nobody else is affected.

But when your choice causes someone else to suffer negative consequences, that’s a huge line you just crossed. And there’s NO justification for that choice when consequences include death.

Advocates of the so-called “pro-choice” movement are moving away from that label. Because they know it doesn’t measure up to the term “pro life.” After all, what does pro-choice mean in just about all circumstances? It means an unborn baby will be murdered with the mother’s consent.

In the vast majority of cases where a pregnant woman goes into an abortion clinic, a death occurs.

But the death is almost never the mother. It’s almost always an unborn baby who was given no opportunity for choice whatsoever. What’s “pro-choice” about that? And don’t even start to say “it’s a women’s health issue. Since when did it become necessary to kill an unborn baby, that tiny human form inside its mother’s womb, to assure a woman’s health?

Yes, life is full of choices.

Don’t you wish they were just choices about which job you take? Or what kind of car to buy? Or whether or not you’ll wear plaid with stripes?

If you’re reading this, you’re a person. You’ve been a person your whole life. And your whole life began at the beginning. And even if you can’t say for sure when that beginning was, you know, without a doubt, the human form you now inhabit, had a beginning.

Simple, easy logic. Someone I know would call that pure Rhyme and Reason.

Former President, Ronald Reagan, is quoted as saying something like: “I notice everybody that is for abortion has already been born.” Yeah, you’ve already been born. Because someone nurtured that tiny human form that turned into the one and only YOU.

Why not let others enjoy that right to life?

If you support abortion, I encourage you to stop being so selfish. You’re not more special than those other people who are being killed every day because horrible choices.

So, here’s a “crazy” idea.

Let’s make “choice” a beautiful word again. Choose to live. And to let live. Sure, life can be tough. But not as tough as what abortion does to tiny human forms.

Choose life. And that’s what I call a PRO CHOICE.

Everyone has a right to life, a gift from God before it even starts.
Everyone has a right to life. Your right is wrong when it stops innocent hearts.

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I haven’t counted them, personally. But I’ve read, from reliable sources, that the Bible gives instructions to “fear not” 365 times. So, clearly, you should live in fear. Right?

I can hear the voice of Spock, “That’s most illogical, Tony.”

And it IS most illogical to live in fear.

On the other hand (which would be the left one, by the way), this world is filling up with some mighty spooky things. But it’s important to understand that this didn’t start in the past 3 1/2 years.

Matter of fact, the destruction of America started probably close to the time America got started. And the plans to bring down the “American way” really kicked into gear during the twentieth century.

We were only about three-fourths of the way through the twentieth century when I started writing about the slippery slope of giving away freedom. And I wrote about that because, even my public school brain could see where that would lead.

After all, if you’ll believe that you evolved from apes, what will you NOT believe?

About 9 years ago I wrote a post, here on my website that mentioned a song I wrote 24 years before that. So, let’s see. If my math is correct (and if memory serves), that’s about 32 or 33 years ago now. But I’ll take you back to 9 years ago and show you what I said then:

~ In 1992 I wrote a song called “Say Yeah!.”  In it I sang about how the United States (and the rest of the world) was headed toward self-destruction. And in the 24 years since, I’ve seen matters only get much worse.

I’m not a pessimist.

In fact, most people who have ever known me would probably tell you I’m a very “up” person. And I’m proud to be an American. This is not the country it once was, but it’s still the best place to be on the planet. Consider that I’m able to sit here in my studio/office and type these words into a laptop computer and hit “publish” and watch my words go out to the world. Not just words approved by the state. Or words censored by a totally depraved and tyrannical government.

No. These are MY words.

I’m still free enough to write words of chastisement toward my country. And, at least for now, I can do that without fear of the gallows, or dungeons, or banishment to some frozen wasteland.

(emphasis on “at least for now”)

But I’m concerned that the day is coming when my words will not be allowed to go out to the world. The day is coming when my Christian belief will immediately label me a “hater”. Think not? Think again. That day is essentially already here. I’m not surprised about it. Jesus said it would happen. He even said “whoever kills you will think he does God a service“.

Don’t you see that happening in other parts of the world?

Is there any reason to think it can’t happen here? Or where you are? I say, no. ~

Well, there you go. That was from 2015. And it referred back to 1992. And I’ve just mentioned how I talked about this back in the 70’s. But the “powers that be,” who prefer you to live in fear, started sowing lies into the fertile soil of free minds over 100 years ago.

Good news is, God said “fear not” thousands of years before that. And His message is evergreen.

So, if you understand how it’s good to fear God and not the world, join me in these lyrics:

Say Yeah!

Would you like to reach the top
And never have the journey stop? Say Yeah! Say Yeah!
Could you try to hold a hand
Just to help somebody stand? Say Yeah!

Would you give a word or two
To win a soul or win a few? Say Yeah! Say Yeah!
Do you want to change the way
Public servants act today? Say Yeah!

How many laws have to be passed
Before we’re obscured in the shadows they cast?
And how many plans must we invent
Before we can step beyond mere intent?

Do you see the pattern form
How the wrong becomes the norm? Say Yeah! Say Yeah!
Would you like to stop the ride;
Could you dare to take a side? Say Yeah! Say Yeah!

How many cuts are we to take
Before we can see just whose blood is at stake?
We can’t leave the job to the land of the free
Cause when it boils down…that’s just you…you and me.

If we don’t watch, someone’ll be watching for us.
If we don’t care then how can we complain.
We don’t have to give it up and say it’s over.
And we can change it here, we don’t have to live in fear.
We don’t have to cry in vain.

© 1992 Tony Funderburk ~

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Let’s say, for the sake of starting a conversation about it, that you’re out in your back yard with kids. And let’s say, for the sake of setting up this little scenario a little more clearly, that a flower garden is there. Now, that’s what I’d call a blessed and beautiful opportunity.

And it’s a beautiful opportunity for a couple of reasons.

One is how it’s a great teaching moment. And the other is how it’s a great immune builder moment. The teaching part should be obvious. Because you can talk about flowers. Scientifically. AND from a perspective of how their beauty reflects a loving Designer.

Of course, the science part is about, well, parts. Like this:

  1. Sepals: the protective, leaf-like outer parts of a flower.
  2. Petals: the often colorful structures that attract pollinating animals to the flower.
  3. Stamens: the male parts of a flower. Each stamen consists of a stalk called a filament and a pollen-producing tip called an anther. The stamens of many flowers are designed to shed pollen onto a pollinating animal such as a bee or hummingbird.
  4. Carpels / Pistil: the female parts of a flower. A flower’s carpels are often fused into a single structure known as a pistil. At the tip of the carpel / pistil is a pollen-collecting area known as the stigma. This is where a pollen grain must be deposited in order for pollination to take place.

And, naturally, you can get into the whole reproductive versus non-reproductive aspect when kids are old enough and ready enough to hear that information. And that can also be a lead-in to how that happened.

Because a lot of so-called “science” classes and teachers will say the silliest things. Like this:

“Many flowers that rely on pollinators, such as birds and butterflies, have evolved to have brightly colored petals and appealing scents as a way to attract the attention of the pollinators.”

One thing you can say about evolution-believing teachers.

They’ll take every beautiful opportunity you give them to teach your kids that life on Earth doesn’t require a Creator God. So, that’s another reason, in a never-ending list of reasons, to homeschool your kids.

This world is a dark and sinister place. It’s filled with the people who want to feed innocent minds the junk food of and fearful selfishness. Beautiful opportunities are becoming scarcer with each passing year. But the sights and scents of a flower garden attract children almost as much as they attract bees.

So, even in a flower garden you can make the most of every opportunity to build up your kid’s immunity to the worldly virus. Stop and smell the flowers with them. Help them make a stronger connection to the living, loving God who made the flowers. The same Creator who spoke words and all the universe exploded into existence.

Every tiny, fragrant, magnetic blossom can be a magic little moment. Here’s a rhyme to share with them:

The Scent of Heaven

Take a look at the colors in a flower.
They’re as beautiful as anything you’ll see.
And God knows just exactly what they all need
To bring joy and delight to you and me.

Even more than the best and brightest flower
God loves you every moment of the day.
So the next time you stop and smell a lily
Take a minute just to thank the Lord and say…

“Lord I love to smell the lilies of the valley
And the roses, lavender, and lilacs too.
I love to know they come back every springtime.
Best of all I know the flowers came from You.”

© 2015

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It’s Saturday evening. And I meant to post this and send it out early this morning. Because I wanted to illustrate how homeschooling can carry on through the weekend. AND, when it’s done with love, kids will actually LUV that.

Here are some homeschooling social media posts that talk about this.

This first post appeals to my sense of Rhyme and Reason:

“Homeschooling enables parents to preserve and prolong their child’s natural sense of wonder and adventure.”

And I love this post that addresses the socialization nonsense anti homeschool dufuses (or is the plural of dufus, dufi? Not sure) love to bring up:

“Homeschooling gets criticized for not socializing the kids And after having 5 , 2 of my own and 3 step, I know how hard the peer pressure and social anxiety was and is for my kids. But now add drugs, sex, and crazy teachers to the mix. No thanks, kids are better at home in a safe sane environment. So, don’t let people tell you public school is better, it’s worse.”

And probably my favorite reason for teaching your kids is found in this post I see some form of all the time:

~ It is written: “train up a child in the way that they should go and when they are old they will not depart from it.” ~

Yeah, that one comes directly from the bestselling book of all time.

Notice how it did NOT say “put your child into a government school so THEY can train up your child?

If you haven’t homeschooled your kids, don’t beat yourself up about it. Because that’s not why I’m writing about this. Heck, I went to “public schools.” Wait, that might be the best reason of all to keep kids out.

Anyway…

Just remember this one point, if nothing else. Homeschooling means kids are taught by someone who actually loves them and wants them to succeed and prosper in life. And there’s almost zero chance kids will find that in 13 years of government school indoctrination.

Most kids LUV when you make all of life an opportunity to learn. And all of life is filled with opportunities to increase that LUV.

So start with true love.

Remember that God gave you a spirit of power. Not fear. And I bet this rhyme won’t help you a bit:

So, addition and subtraction
Show the truth of liquefaction
When your preconceived refraction
Turns to well-designed attraction.

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Me: “Of course I’m pro public education. Why would you want to keep education a secret?”

A friend: “Actually pro public education means you’re all for public schools.”

“Wait, what?! Well, of course I’m not THAT kind of pro public education!”

A friend: “Whew, thank goodness. I thought you might be a closet Brandon dude.”

Yeah, that’s an actual conversation on the pro public education subject.

That never happened. I just made it up to get you ready for this next rough stuff.

Because I know what it means. And I know it only means trouble for kids. And parents of kids. The only reason I even brought it up is because of some social media posts I saw today. Check out these samples. They’re all from accounts on X.

~ Joe Biden leads the most pro-public education, pro-union administration in modern history. His positive and caring vision for America is one that educators share, and we know he will continue to deliver for students and families.

That was a quote from someone who’s obviously blind, deaf, and stupid. Here’s another.

~ i’m a kindergarten teacher and every day I make my students choose new pronouns and when they recite the pledge of allegiance they have to say “pride flag” instead of “flag of the United States of America” and “gay” instead of “God”

Notice the horrible grammar and typos. OK, depending on who says what, that post either is one of the stupidest ever, or it came from a public school teacher parody account. Even if the parody account version is true, you can bet there are plenty of teachers in government indoctrination camps who “feel” (and write) that way.

And here’s another post that’s even worse.

This “person” used a group of hashtags to send a despicable message out to the masses. Because they want to start their sexual orientation grooming of kids as early 3 and 4 years old.

#pride #pridemonth #drag #beyou
#earlychildhoodeducation
#PrePrimary
#learningthroughplay #art

Thankfully, there are social accounts who are out there fighting the fight. Like these two posting examples.

~ PSA: Don’t worry about the world’s standards for your kids. They are a failure, academically speaking, and are focused on pushing a culture of sex, racism, and socialism. Ditch the state. And raise counter-cultural children who read, write, and think with excellence.

I love that. Especially the part about counter-cultural children who read, write, and think with excellence.

And here’s the other post:

~ Our children deserve an environment that fosters true learning & critical thinking, not one that promotes fear & compliance. Public schools have shown time & again that they prioritize control over education.

That one tells the truth, but it focuses on the problem. Not the solution.

Maybe you, or someone you know, is still on the fence about it. Maybe you’re still pro public education. I hope not. But as long as you breathe it’s not too late to do something incomparably amazing for kids. And that’s to homeschool them.

Here’s a hint that it’s a terrible idea to send them to government schools:

The government says it’s a good idea.

This isn’t a problem that comes from politicians with a D by their name. It’s an issue supported, in some way, by 99.9% of ALL politicians. And that means 99.9% are socialists.

Socialism is HERE now. Despite what ANY politician with ANY letter next to his or her name says. And if your government officials have anything to say about it, and they do, socialism isn’t the last step. So, they’ll keep pushing the pro public education agenda till they completely ruin this once great nation.

Now, I’m gonna take my own advice and not just focus on the problem.

Here’s solution in a rhyme:

You might win a few things in this life,
And you might even win a whole lot.
But you’ll lose everything if you don’t trust the King
Who has given you all that He’s got.

Know that nothing is too hard for God.
He can help you through all of your fears.
If your gold turns to rust, or your diamonds to dust,
Only God can dry all of your tears.

Make the most of the moments you have.
They fly by in the blink of an eye.
Don’t waste time in the dark, jump inside of the ark
Of God’s love. Kiss the old life goodbye.

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I’ll let you know, up front, what I’m sharing with you today is based on what I said over ten years ago. And something I’ve talked about for most of my life. It’s about how you should take some time to read the Declaration of Independence. I recommend all Americans do that from time to time. A free people almost inevitably drifts toward a selective memory or even total forgetfulness when it comes to how those freedoms came about.

And Americans should never forget the courage it took for the founding fathers to stand up to tyranny. England was the superpower of that time. So, it was no small declaration. It meant that a fledgling band of colonies was now going to have to fend for itself, and gird itself up for certain war. And they’d have to find a way to afford to go up against one of the richest nations ever.

Those men who signed the Declaration of Independence had much to lose.

But they understood how a new government would have to do better than what they had been experiencing. So, they knew they had to acknowledge “that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

In the Declaration of Independence, the founding fathers carefully laid out a list of grievances and sound reason for their action. When you read it, you’ll see it wasn’t a matter of simply not liking King George and his politics. Far from it. The King, and his representatives, army, and navy actually plundered towns. And they took captives, and even killed some on the high seas. All that as they levied unreasonable taxes, and hired “foreign agents” to kill and destroy.

America was not founded by a band of revolutionaries. It was declared and established by men who knew the laws of God are the true source of justice and freedom.

On this Independence Day 2024 I pray that even more people in America make a personal Declaration of Independence and gain their own personal, eternal freedom from tyranny.

In case you can’t see the video, here’s the link: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_1nsshCbpw)

And here’s a rhyme that even kids can use to remember:

Those sparklers in your hand…
Those colors in the sky…
That barbecue and pop…
That tasty fish you fry…
The day off you enjoy…
The friends and family…
All reasons to recall…
How we came to be free.

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Teaching methods matter. Because spongy little minds soak up what they’re taught depending how it’s taught. At least that’s how Charlotte described it.

I never heard of Charlotte, or her teaching methods, before today.

And that’s probably because we didn’t raise any kids here in the FunderHaus. My wife and I missed out on that blessing. But we’ve certainly seen our fair share of kids with somewhere around 30 nieces and nephews between us.

Anyway…

Back to Charlotte. I read some very interesting stuff about her teaching methods, this morning, and I like what I discovered. Evidently she “using living books as schoolbooks.” She wrote about how “ living books help children gain knowledge through their own effort. They dig out the facts and information clothed in literary language, expressing what they’ve learned by narrating it in their own words (composing orally or in writing). And their thinking is personal, follows a train of thought, and isn’t stunted by a page of multiple-choice.”

By the way, Miss Charlotte Mason died a little over 100 years ago. But homeschoolers still use her teaching methods. Because apparently they still work. And, remember the old saying, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”

And she believed teachers didn’t need to be trained to give lectures. Because she also believed kids could educate themselves, to a degree, by “narrating from the well-chosen words of authors.” And she also said that “too much explaining by a teacher elicits boredom” and “true education is self-education.”

When you think about it, especially if you’re a life-long learner, you understand how that’s true. Because your mind should stay spongy. And ready to soak up information at your own pace. That’s why Miss Mason’s method provided:

No bells to announce the end of hour-long class periods.

I like this description of a typical day in one of Charlotte’s schools.

“Children are free to move promptly onto the next lesson. When drills and skills are kept short children develop the power of attention. Dawdling is discouraged. Students are encouraged to give their best effort. Education is a discipline. So, this means establishing good and helpful habits, built one action at a time, one day at a time.

Education is an atmosphere. With living books children are motivated by a love of knowledge rather than artificial stimulants such as prizes (stickers, candy, money), competition, and grades. They retained their inborn curiosity. Cramming for tests is avoided. Examinations require the child to narrate what was read during the semester.”

Maybe you’ve read or heard some version of this before: small minds focus on people, mediocre minds focus on things, and great minds focus on ideas. Yes? Miss Mason wanted to inspire a love for knowledge in her students. Because, as she said, “Ideas are what the mind feeds on.”

Another thing I really like about Charlotte’s teaching methods is how she included outdoor activities and exercise. She encouraged kids to get out and observe nature and to keep a Nature Notebook. These days it’s called a journal. But the point is, it’s a record of your observations.

And Charlotte encouraged adding drawings and poems.

(Hmm. Side note: just so happens I published a couple of songbook journals for your consideration. Links below.)

From a Nature Notebook (or journal), it’s just a small step to art and music appreciation. And Miss Mason believed those subjects were crucial to a young kid’s culture and heritage. And I believe those subjects, especially music, help develop a kid’s analytical thinking, not just the emotional gunk taught in government indoctrination camps these days.

Just in case you think your kid (or anybody’s kid, for that matter) wouldn’t like Charlotte’s “old-fashioned” teaching methods, here’s the clincher: no homework.

Well, no typical homework as you might remember it. The Charlotte Mason homeschooling method goes like this:

Children apply their minds during morning lessons. Afternoons are for running, climbing,  and yelling outdoors. And crafts, chores, life skills, music practice, and more playing, all at home, are their homework.

I don’t know about you, but I would have LOVED that kind of school. And it’s the kind of school I attend, on a daily basis, as a life-long learner.

And here’s a rhyme to help you remember why learning is so important. So you can:

Start learning about the one, living Lord.
Put knowledge inside your head,
And when you read something He has to say,
Go back and read what you read.
As you get older you’ll see what I mean…
Go add and subtract and spell.
Then learn all about the one, living Lord.
He made you and loves you well.

Get all my really refreshing rhymes and reasons the easy way. subscribe to The TRUTH Journal. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

https://www.tonyfunderburk.com

And here are the songbook journal links I mentioned before:

The Amen book (https://www.amazon.com/Amen-Tony-Funderburk/dp/B08CJWKTSH)

The Do Right book (https://www.amazon.com/Do-Right-Tony-Funderburk/dp/B08CWJ7HB7)

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I’m a freedom advocate. Have been my entire life. Because I grew up in the freest country in the world. That description barely fits America now. And information, like the blurb I’m about to share with you, where so-called “laws” advocate freedom for schools to do the most horrific things to your kids, is why I say that.

Freedom for schools should never include this kind of deception.

“AB665 goes into effect today, July 1, 2024. AB665 removes the due process requirement of proof of abuse or neglect to remove parental rights and emancipate a child out of the family home. So, under AB665, children 12+ can leave home, under any circumstance, to stay at a residential shelter facility with secret help from adults at school & private/public services. Now, Newsom (governor of California) has AB1955 on his desk to sign or veto. And it would force schools to lie to or hide from parents the active social transitioning of their children with gender dysphoria. Everyone everywhere can call Newsom’s office to veto AB1955 at 916-445-2841 Don’t let Newsom California the nation.”

So, obviously the AB, in those “laws” or “policies” or whatever you wanna call them, stands for AntiChrist Bureaucracy. Because no one, who even remotely cares what God thinks, would ever consider it even remotely OK to call for the “social transitioning of their children with gender dysphoria.”

Side note: there is NO SUCH THING as gender transitioning. So, there is NO SUCH THING as an actual “trans” person. When you’re born with the XX chromosome, you’re a girl. And the XY chromosome means  you’re a boy. And the only way you’re ever gonna change that is to mess with God’s design. But I don’t recommend that. Especially if you’re not into GMO (genetically modified organism) mutants.

One solution to this junk is to give parents more freedom for school at home.

There are even homeschool organizations in California (gasp! Even California?!) that fight to give parents more freedom for schooling their kids at home. I’m not from California. And I’m not familiar with their whole programs. But I’m impressed with the resources they provide to help you homeschool your kids.

If you’re a parent (or you know parents of) who’d like to homeschool, but you don’t feel qualified, don’t underestimate yourself. I know a woman, who moved to America from Romania, and she homeschooled all three of her American-born kids. AND English isn’t her first/native language.

And here’s a rhyme that I hope helps to encourage you:

Today, you should share your love and smile.
You might help somebody else a while.
And then they might wanna do it, too.
That’s how it all bounces back to you.
So try. Just go see if I am right.
And then, when you sleep and dream tonight,
You’ll rest with the peace you’re longing for
And wake ready to go share some more.

© 2020

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If you want more out of life AND more life, I’ve got 3 easy steps you can take to get it.

Disclaimer: These are 3 easy steps IF you’re willing to take them.

And there should be NO doubt about it. You are FREE to take these 3 easy steps or not. No one will force you take them. Not even God, in spite of what you might see or hear immature people say.

Now that I’ve gotten the legal and technical jargon out of the way, let’s start steppin’.

Step 1 – Find out if the God in the Bible is real. At first you’ll have to talk to people who know more about what the Bible says and how to understand what it says. And when you do, you can find out some great things. For example, I can tell you that God certainly is real. He’s just as the Bible describes Him. I found out about Him when I was 13. And He’s been with me the rest of my life. Lots of people in this world will try to tell you He’s not real because you can’t see Him. But I’m here (and millions of others are here) to tell you they’re wrong.

Once you look for God, He’s easy to find.

Step 2 – The next step is easy when you do Step 1 first. Too many people try to skip to this step. Or they start with this step. They either think there is no God because they can’t see Him or they think they ARE God. Or that they’re part of God. But since you started at Step 1 you understand Step 2 is knowing you’re not God. If you don’t know this yet, go back to Step 1. But if you do know you’re not God, keep going.

Step 3 – If you’ve gone through the first 2 steps, this one is the easiest. When you know there IS a God, and that you’re not Him, you can just bow your head and ask Him to change you forever. Then, it’s a good idea to tell Him you’re sorry that you’ve hurt others and yourself. And you can ask Him to help you not be like that anymore. When you ask for that kind of help, He does it! Simple as that. He just wants to know you’re sorry, that you love Him, and that you’d like to live with Him forever. He loves it when you do.

There you have it. 3 easy steps to a brighter future.

And when you do, your future will last forever in a place so beautiful you can’t even imagine it. Yeah, nothing in this whole world, and not even the whole world AND universe, can compare with the place God has waiting for you.

And here’s a couple of rhymes to help you start your 3 easy steps:

There IS a God, and He loves you.
There IS a God, and He’s not you.
He wants to hear you say you’re trusting Him today.
You’ll live with Him forever when you do.

You gotta walk together,
Walk in love and light.
You gotta walk in wisdom,
In the Way that’s right.
And then you’ll walk forever
With the Lord above,
And drink the Living Water,
Of forever love.

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God can think a new thought. And He can create an entirely new creature. Matter of fact, He could create a whole new universe AND then turn around and change His mind and decide to replace that new universe with a whole ‘nother universe. And before time began, who knows? Maybe He even did something like that.

“Wait, what?! Did he say, before time began?”

You betcha. But I don’t mean that God did (or didn’t do) something before ALL time began. I just mean the time, before you and I, and our ancestors all the way back to Adam and Eve, started. Because God has always been around. He lived forever in the past. So, there’s no such thing as before time began.

My, my, my. Heads are spinning. And imaginations are churning. Because there are full growed-up grownups, who should know better, who’ll try to tell you God lives outside of time. But time exists because God exists. And God has always done things in steps. And steps happen one AFTER another.

You know what AFTER means, right? It means there was a BEFORE. So, all you gotta do to see that God lives IN time is read His bestselling book of all time (see what I did there?)

And sometime, in the distant past, God started thinking about creating a planet filled with humans who could walk and talk with Him. Then, AFTER He thought up what He would do, He did it.

And that started the whole process for life on good ol’ planet Earth.

There’s a couple of places in the Bible where it says God was working things out “before time began.” But that means before YOUR time began. Before human beings began. But not before God. Time has always been here because God has always been here. He didn’t make it up. He made us. And our time began when He made us.

We don’t know what it’s like to have always existed because we all had a starting day. You and I didn’t live forever in the past. But we CAN live forever in the future, if we choose life. Because His love is so great.

By the way, did you know He loved you before you were even born? It’s true. He put you together inside your mom. And before He created Adam and Even, God started making plans for us. He wants us to live forever, and because He’s so smart, He figured out a way to do that even if we mess up.

Isn’t that cool?

The main thing to remember is He made you because He loves you. He wants you to live with Him forever. You don’t have to be perfect. Your mistakes won’t keep you out of Heaven, as long as you believe and trust in Jesus. And that might sound lame and old-fashioned. But it’s the only Truth that’ll make you free.

And that’s all a promise God made before YOUR time began. Here’s a rhyme to help you remember:

Even before you were born
God was making a plan
For us to live in His love.
Jesus became a man
Whose life would pay the full debt
For all the bad things done.
God made a way for your life,
And that Way is His Son.

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Have you ever made a rock? And how about a stick? Have you ever made one of those? Well, what about a drop of water? Surely you’ve at least made a drop of water in your life. And surely, somewhere, there’s a school science class where that has happened. Naturally, I don’t expect anyone to create a river. But surely at least one, single drop of water shouldn’t be that hard to do.

And if someone HAS made a drop of water, imagine how proud they are.

I can almost see the headline: Whiz Kid Invents World’s First Drop Of Water In A Laboratory

Yeah, that whiz kid’s gonna be able to boast about that street cred for a long time.

OK, a rock, a stick, and water seem like simple things. But no whiz kid on earth can make even a grain of sand or a seed. Because only God can make those things.

And I bet you’re fine with that. Right? I’m sure you don’t mope around wishing you could invent dirt and stuff. Because it’s a lot more fun throwing rocks, lying in the sand, and splashing in the water. Especially on hot summer days.

But, if you COULD invent a drop of water, everybody would wanna be your friend. And before you knew it, you could brag about how you have a million friends. And think about how proud that might make you feel.

But you gotta watch out for that proud part.

Because that’s where a lotta trouble starts.

So, maybe you’re not a science whiz kid. But let’s say win a running race. Or you paint a picture that wins first place at the art chow. Or maybe you write a hit song people love to listen to on the radio. Nothin’ wrong with any of that. But I recommend you don’t get all caught up in being proud of yourself.

It’s a much better idea to thank the Lord that He gave you strong legs to win the race. Or thank Him for giving you the talent and good eyes to paint a beautiful picture. Or good ears and skills to write music.

After all, God was the one who created you. He designed your muscles and bones and eyes and ears. He gave you a brain. And He gave your brain the power to think your own thoughts. Dream your own dreams. And even sing your own songs. No, you wouldn’t have any of those things without Him.

So, God must love you a lot to make so many wonderful things for you to enjoy. Right?

And just so you know, it’s fine for others who love you to be proud of you. They wanna see you do good and awesome things. Because that means you’re growing and getting better and better at what they helped you learn how to do.

But don’t forget. You didn’t invent art and music, or even that one drop of water I mentioned earlier. And you certainly didn’t invent YOU. So, stay humble. Don’t fall into the pride and proud trap.

Remember, there ARE some things God hates. And at the top of His list is “a proud look.”

So, my hope for you, today, is that you’ll go do some great things. AND give thanks to God.

And here’s a rhyme to help you remember:

If you’re proud of yourself for the things you do,
Pretty soon no one wants to be around you,
‘Cause you’ll sound just like an old clanging bell
That is out of tune and doesn’t ring so well.
Give a nod to God with a thankful prayer.
Let Him know you’re glad that He’s always there.
And be glad for the gifts that He’s given you.
It’s because of Him you can do what you do.

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I’ve said it before. A lot of times. This world is a mean, mean place. So many people wanna tell everybody else what to do, when to do it, and how to live. And they actually want to own you.

Yeah, they’re just like the devil who didn’t want to obey God. He told Adam and Eve some lies to make them believe the wrong thing about God. And he convinced to them disobey God, too. Bad people like to make other people feel, and be, as bad as them. So, you gotta be on the lookout for them.

And it’s super important to know how to live with your guard up.

The first step I recommend is to trust Jesus. Because, in spite of what most people will tell you, He made you. Then, discover His promises for you. Because only He can help you be ready to face this mean world. He can help you protect yourself from clever and cunning and silly and sinister tricks.

I hope you already know all this. But if you don’t, I suggest you don’t let another weekend pass without getting to know. You can learn lots more by going back through my thousands of rhymes and reasons. But, even if you’d rather not get your information on how to live from me, get it while the gettin’s good.

And the gettin’s good only as long as you’re still breathin’.

Here’s a rhyme to help you remember…

You gotta guard your heart with the Love of God.
You gotta guard your heart and your mind.
And you can be real smart in the Word of God
And when you trust in Him, you’re not blind.
You gotta guard your heart in this mean ol’ world
That wants to tie you up with a rope,
Remember you can turn to the Lord above.
He is your living, loving Hope.

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

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What if you were the only person on earth? Kinda spooky to think about isn’t it? It might make you think of movies about the last survivors on the planet. And what an awful place it would be. And that totally makes sense. Because it would be an awful place if you were all alone.

You might not have to fight off zombies like Will Smith did in “I Am Legend.” Or fight off creepy mutants like Charlton Heston did in “Omega Man.” But you might have to fight off depression and loneliness. Maybe not.

Because when you’re a child of God, you have a HUGE advantage.

So, even as the only person on earth, you’d never be all alone.

Even if you never saw, or see, another human being, you’re never all alone. Because the one who made you in His image and likeness, will never leave you. How can I be so sure about that? Because He said so.

That’s pretty cool, don’t you think? But why am I always talking about God and His love?

Because everything in this world is temporary. But eternity is found in God and His love. So, as someone who has known His mercy and truth for decades, I’d be a pretty lousy dude if I kept that awesomeness to myself.

And God went to a lot of trouble to write a book to let you know you can always depend on Him. As it just so happened (as it should be), His book is the bestselling book of all time. I’d love it if my books enjoyed even a tiny fraction of the popularity of the Bible.

He loves you so much that He made a way for you to never be all alone. And he made it super easy to live with Him forever. It cost Him more than you can ever repay. But the good news is, you don’t have to repay.

Why would anyone NOT wanna live forever in a beautiful paradise with the God who created them? Why would anyone NOT wanna be there with ALL their family and friends, too? It’s all SO do-able.

Even if you WERE the only person on Earth God would not leave you nor forsake you. So, take this solid advice that lots of other people have take. Trust the One who made you. Then, you’ll never ever be all alone.

And here’s a rhyme to help you remember. It’s called “Music Pajamas” You can hear it on the The Power of God’s Love Podcast, too.

Music Pajamas

It’s time…to let the daylight fly
Away, but we don’t have to cry
Because…another day will dawn real soon.
So smile…and say a sweet goodnight.
Sleep well. Don’t let the bedbugs bite.
They won’t, if you’ll just slip into this tune.

And wear your music pajamas.
And sing the songs of your mamas
Because they gave you a life of your own.
Through all the cartoons and dramas…
Through all the triumphs and traumas…
Slip on your music pajamas,
And know that God is on His throne.
And you’re never all alone.

Night winds…float down from falling stars.
Lights blink…from Jupiter and Mars.
They bounce…across the water on the grass.
Inside…you’re in a soft cocoon
Of down…the color of the moon.
Dreams come…when you just let the sandman pass.

Chorus

©  2011

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

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I’m not kidding you right now. This is what they said. “The Bone Bow is a Light Bow found in Elden Ring’s Shadow of the Erdtree expansion.”

But the news about the Bone Bow doesn’t stop there.

Here’s some more you should know. And I’ll tell you why I brought it up in a couple of minutes. “Though it may not seem particularly exciting at a glance, its Ash of War provides you with homing arrows, making it a fun bow for both PVE and PVP encounters, especially given its low stat requirements make it work with nearly any build.”

OK, I know you’re getting excited and can’t sit still. So…

“Here’s what you need to know about the Bone Bow and where to find it.

Bone Bow stats and features

The Bone Bow has a weight of 3.0 and requires the following stats to wield:

  • STR – 8
  • DEX – 11

The weapon comes equipped with Ash of War: Rancor Shot. This Ash of War essentially grants you homing arrows. It imbues your arrows with vengeful spirits that chase down enemies after you fire them, which could make it especially useful in some PVP situations.”

Still with me? Great. ‘Cause there’s more.

“The Bone Bow can be upgraded to +10 with Somber Smithing Stones.”

What’s that? You don’t know what a bone bow is? Or why it’s important? Fine. Here you go.

“It’s a crude shortbow fashioned from sickly bone. A medium for spirit-calling, and a product of the ancient hexing arts of the tower.”

OK, yeah, the lights came on then, didn’t they?! Oh yeah!

So, now you wanna know where you can get your own Bone Bow.

Well, the information I saw says it can be found within the Belurat Tower Settlement legacy dungeon on the western side of Gravesite Plain.” And that, of course, makes it “relatively easy to get early in your adventure.”

Yeah, basically all you gotta do is “advance through the very beginning of the dungeon until you reach the Small Private Altar Site of Grace. From there, take the door out and up a few flights of stairs until there’s a path leading to the right, next to some rubble. Then, “take this path to the end, bear left, and then enter the door located in an alcove on the right. Take the ladder up, go through the door ahead, then walk up the stairs. At the top, go left down another flight of stairs before taking a final right turn.”

You’re almost there. But a few more instructions and things to be aware of: “Straight ahead of you is a door leading into a room with an item very clearly visible in the distance. Be careful. Because this room is home to a few large scorpion enemies that will drop in when you get close. They go down easily. But they can still put some hurt on you if you’re not expecting them. But once they’ve been defeated, you can loot the corpse here for the Bone Bow.”

Now, I’m sure I’m not telling you a bunch of stuff you don’t already know.

So, all this information is just for newcomers to TonyFunderburk.com AND me.

Yeah, ME!

Because I never heard of any of this before this morning in late June of 2024. And if I never hear of it again, I can guarantee I won’t feel a sense of loss. Because. It’s. A. Game.

A GAME?! Are you kidding me?

Have you ever heard kids, of any age, complain about how hard it is to read the Bible? Yeah, it’s most kids. And they complain because they believe the Bible is filled with a bunch of old-fashioned rules to stop all their fun. And parents and preachers and teachers (for the most part) don’t them kids how much adventure is in the Bible.

I don’t mean the obvious stories about Samson’s strength, David’s bravery, and Noah’s gigantic ship. Almost everyone knows those stories. No, I’m talking about Paul and the dungeons. And a dragon with seven heads and ten horns. Oh yeah, how about the beast with feet like a bear and a mouth like a lion?

Wow, certainly seems like a Bone Bow would come in pretty handy dealing with those odds. But a make-believe weapon wouldn’t stand up to much of the reality in The Revelation. No, dealing with all the obstacles you can find in that story is gonna take some serious brain power.

And if you have enough brain power to play a game that’ll never get you to Heaven, you have enough power to read the Bible. Bible readers can be the biggest winners. Because the ultimate prize is you get to live forever.

So, what’s it gonna be, kids?

Lame Brain or Brainy Brain

A lame brain can’t drive a train.
A lame brain can’t fly a plane.
And a lame brain can’t add or spell.
A lame brain don’t talk so well.

A brainy brain reads poems and books.
A brainy brain takes second looks.
And a brainy brain eats meats and fruit.
A brainy brain has pep to boot.

So, a lame brain or brainy brain?
Which one will your head contain?
From breakfast, and all through the day,
Go for brainy brain, all the way.

© 2018

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

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OK, let me tell you the story the old character in my head told me. And you can share it with your little kids. Or share it with someone who has little kids. Anyway, here it is.

One morning, about three years ago. Or was it three years from now? No matter. Let me tell you what happened to Ivanto. But whatever you do, don’t fall asleep. Because you’ll miss the ending. And if you miss the ending, the same thing could happen to YOU.

Anyway…

Back to Ivanto. He woke up before sunrise and saw beautiful colors swirling around in his room. They looked like they were made of glass. There were thousands of the beautiful, colorful little bubbles.

And every few seconds one would smash into the wall and burst. And tiny pieces of light would vaporize into the air. Like fog in early sunlight.

And let me tell you, that’s an awesome way to wake up.

Ivanto rubbed his eyes and looked again. But the swirling bubbles didn’t disappear. In fact, there were lots more of them. And many of them were crashing into the wall with the same effect.

“What could this be?” he wondered. “Am I still sleeping? Am I dreaming? Surely that’s what it is.”

And right then, a voice in the middle of the swirling bubbles, whispered…

“Do you want to see more?”

Ivanto pulled the covers up to the bottom of his nose. But he couldn’t…no, he didn’t dare look away. So, he said, from the safety of his covers and bed,

“Uh…yes…yes, I do.”

“Well then…hold out your right hand,” the voice commanded.

And Ivanto did as he was told.

One of the beautiful, colorful, swirling bubbles almost instantly floated over the bed and hovered and rotated. And it was just above the palm of Ivanto’s hand.

“Look closely,” the voice whispered.

Ivanto put his hand next to his face. And the beautiful bubble followed.

He stared deeply into the glass circle and saw a tiny boy running. He squinted his eyes, and he saw the boy chasing something.

What was it? He wasn’t sure. But whatever it was, Ivanto couldn’t take his eyes away.

“Look closer. Deeper. And open your eyes AND your heart,” whispered the voice.

So, that’s what Ivanto did. And when he did, he could see the tiny boy was him!

And that thing, the tiny version of him chased, started to take form.

With each second it became more beautiful.

Ivanto wasn’t sure why. But he was suddenly filled with Joy. Everything started to make sense. And, as his joy grew, the tiny Ivanto dived forward and grabbed the form in his arms.

It was another beautiful, colorful, swirling glass bubble.

And, the very second Ivanto grabbed the glass bubble, it burst into vapor. And a tiny puff of light crystals floated into Ivanto’s eyes. Then, he fell back asleep.

When he woke up early the next morning, he remembered.

So, he quickly got out of bed, found his note paper, and scribbled down five words. And he kept that piece of paper with him for the rest of his life.

What do you think those five words were?

Oh sure, you could let me tell you. But I’d like you to tell me.

Before you go, jump on the The TRUTH. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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