Tag Archives: a valuable lesson

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I’m not a scientist. And I don’t play one on TV. And I’m not a physicist or alchemist or biologist. I’m a Christian writer and poet. A words and music guy. A guy made up of as much carbon as anyone in those other professions. But I’m a guy, who like those other guys, has a time limit on my LIFE here on earth.

And when my time limit is up, my carbon will still be here.

So my life did not arise from or depend on carbon. And true science (not the pseudoscience you see on TV) shows the undeniable complexity in human DNA. The code in a just one of your cells contains volumes of design information.

Yeah, you have your own unique DNA. So does everyone else. My finite mind can barely apprehend (and certainly not comprehend) the implications of that. But I can say this without hesitation. DNA clearly shows we’re information based, not carbon. And without information this whole world. would be lifeless. So, that certainly begs the question, “Where did all that information originate?”

Well, I believe in the unpopular idea that it didn’t all come from nothing.

Of course, when I say “unpopular,” that doesn’t mean hardly anyone agrees with me. In fact, millions and millions of people agree with me. But there are billions who disagree. And I predict eventually that will not go well for them.

I wish scientists who trust in carbon would get real and go where life’s information leads. Because I believe they get a much better understanding of life, love, and design. And they might even learn to trust in the Designer. I’ll just go ahead and say it, Jesus is that designer.

Secret Mission

In the first ray of light there was a message
That no one else, but me, could even see.
And I had to squint my eyes to decipher
A secret mission plotted just for me.
There were no dots or dashes or impulses.
No man-made codes and no neurology
Could infiltrate and then translate the mission,
The expedition meant for only me.
Then a voice, filled with thunder, in a whirlwind,
Spoke to me about peace and sanctity.
And my soul realized the secret mission
Is for everyone and not just for me.
I appeal, with an urgency of purpose,
To your heart where you’ll find eternity
Written down, as a not so secret mission,
To share God’s love for all with eyes to see. © 2025 TF

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Speaking into the air doesn’t work.

Here’s a childhood memory to illustrate why speaking into the air is an exercise in futility. And I hope I remember this correctly. But when I was around 6 years old, I remember going to a school playground with a couple of my stepsisters. And this was on a Saturday. Because we just wanted to play on the swings, slides, and the monkey bars. So, anyway…there we were at the playground…

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Speaking into the air and nobody will care

And I wasn’t speaking into the air. I was singing.

Yeah, as far back as I can remember, I loved to sing. I’d sing while I was playing in the back yard. On hikes. In the shower. And as I got older…on long drives (or even short ones for that matter). Basically anytime I had the chance.

So, there we were. Playing on the playground. It was a brisk and breezy late Autumn day. And I climbed up the steps of a tall slide and sat at the top prepared to slide down. And the whole time I was singing. My stepsisters liked my singing. And they said they couldn’t hear me. They yelled to sing louder.

At first I thought they were making fun of me. But they told me they liked my singing and just wanted to hear more. So, I started singing louder. But the cold breeze sort of stifled my voice. It felt like as soon as the words came out of my mouth they were swept up in the cold breezes and blown through the air.

And it started to get even windier, which made my eyes water. And all that, including the fact that I was starting to get really cold, made me slide down and give up entertaining the sisters.

But why do I bring up this seemingly insignificant memory?

Because I ran across a line in 1 Corinthians 14, again this morning, where Paul told the Christians in Corinth how speaking in tongues could be like speaking into the air. And he wanted them to see how seeking spiritual gifts is fine. But not if it doesn’t help unbelievers. And speaking in tongues no one can understand doesn’t help anybody.

So, I recommend…

Speak in the language you speak.
And speak to any people who seek
The truth that’s found in God’s Word.
It’s the only way you’ll be heard.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Invisible Song Machines

My songs are beginning to fade away. No, they’re not going away. Just fading away. I’m taking them out of the invisible song machines. And I’m putting them back into physical places. Places where they can be seen and held. Like in the good ol’ days of records, tapes, and CD’s. This digital world has some cool advantages. But sharing my musical projects ain’t one of them.

This isn’t some sort of rant or anything like that. I understand how well the online world works for so many businesses and endeavors. But the “free” mentality, when it comes to music, puts a serious damper on songwriters and music creators. So, while my “fix” for this might not be the popular one, I’m confident it’s the right way to go.

And that’s why my songs are beginning to fade away. I took a bunch of my song videos off my YouTube channel today. I’ve made the free versions unavailable from here on my website, too. Because if my music only has a digital “free” value to you, you’re probably not my audience anyway. The good news, though, is I’ll be doing some fun stuff to make songs available in other ways. Not gonna tell you what that is until I get more of it going. So, until then, thanks for understanding. And thanks for your support.

Invisible Song Machines

The times will come in everyone’s life
When changes have to occur.
The reasons could be obvious, or
They might even be a blur.
One of those times is happening now
It’s somewhere behind the scenes…
Where the melodies quickly become
Invisible song machines.
Value is lost down deep in a world
Increasingly wanting “free.”
So, I’m moving my music around
To places listeners can see.
Places where I think they’ll connect
With those who connect with me.
If you believe I’ve got it all wrong
Then certainly, by all means,
Continue to get your free songs from
Invisible song machines.

© 2019 Tony Funderburk

Stay tuned,

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If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Surely that’s happened to you. You learn some awesome information or a valuable lesson, and you say to yourself, “If only I knew then what I know now.”

Avoid that recording of you saying "if I only knew then what I know now".

Of course, we say that…thinking we would have or could have avoided all those mistakes if we only knew then what we know now. And, of course, that’s not true. We might have avoided a mistake or two, but given our track records, I’m certain we would have made other mistakes…and maybe just as bad or worse.

But that’s all based on what our limited human nature knows and understands. Fortunately, there’s a deeper and higher level of understanding things we can attain through the Spirit of God. Your eyes can’t see these things. Your ears can’t hear these things. And even your heart can’t comprehend these things.

These things I’m talking about are “the things which God has prepared for those who love Him”. No one can know these things simply by gathering or building mountains of intellect. No one can buy or borrow these things.

Yet these things are freely given by the Spirit of God to anyone who chooses to love Him. Through His Spirit we can receive the things of God, and they make sense. But to the man or woman steeped in the so-called “spirituality”of this world, it all sounds silly, judgmental, and sometimes even hateful.

But before you judge me too harshly, consider this…when I share the message that the only way to eternal life is through trust and faith in Jesus, it’s because I love my fellow human beings enough to tell them. And I know it won’t win me any popularity contest. But if it’s true (and it is), I’m not loving you to keep that from you.

Once I became a Christian I tapped into the mind of Christ. With access to that wisdom, only selfishness could keep my lips sealed. And so I write and sing about the wonderful paradise to come. I’d love for you to be there, too. All you need to do is acknowledge these things: There is a God. You’re not Him. And He loves you so much He made the ultimate sacrifice in order for you to live with forever…if you want to. I sure hope you don’t end up somewhere thinking “If I only knew then what I know now”.

In Faith, Hope, and Love”

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

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