fire and brimstone Archives

Posted on March 25, 2021 by TonyAugust 6, 2024

He said he had a dream where he heard Mexican trumpets. And I guess that’s how they became such a recognizable part of his hit song, “Ring of Fire.” In fact, it went to number 1 on March 25, 1963. And it stayed there for seven weeks. Not bad for a guy whose last name was Cash but was born into a family who didn’t have loads of it.

Johnny Cash made “Ring of Fire” one of his signature songs.

And it was actually written by his wife, June Carter Cash and Merle Kilgore. And you probably didn’t know this, but June’s sister, Anita, sang and recorded the song first. But Johnny put his signature style to it, and most people would never guess it was written or sung by anyone else.

Plus, Johnny Cash lived a life that synced up with many of the songs he recorded. So, people found it easy to associate him with the words and music. His biography reads like the sadly typical Hollywood drug addiction stereotype. Amphetamines, barbiturates, jail time, rehabilitation, and relapses.

No wonder he was so believable when he sang “Ring of Fire” and “Folsom Prison Blues” and “I Walk The Line.”

I can appreciate Johnny’s dedication to his craft. And I get how so many people might relate to a regular guy singin’ about real life troubles and challenges. But Mr. Cash wouldn’t have had much of a career if he depended on me for album sales.

As I’ve said before, I’m not a country music fan.

But I remember Johnny Cash songs playin’ in my parents’ house. And my Uncle Drexel, who played guitar and sang on an amateur level, certainly enjoyed those songs. So, I was indirectly connected to the music and the stories. And it seemed only natural to experience a little sadness when I heard Johnny died in September of 2003.

But the good news is…Johnny Cash, who was inducted into not only the Country Music Hall of Fame, but also the Rock-n-Roll AND Gospel Music halls of fame, went to Heaven.

Because, despite all his fame, and despite all his drug addiction and jail time problems, he was humble enough to admit he needed the salvation offered and provided by Jesus. So, instead of Johnny going down into a burnin’ ring of fire while the flames went higher, he went higher than anywhere in this world.

And I hope you’ll walk the line
And skip the prison blues
That trap your mortal soul
And steal your dancin’ shoes.
Because this life is short
And full of doubt and pain.
So, listen to that voice
That’s still inside your brain.
And give yourself the chance
For life and happiness.
The offer’s there and free.
Don’t hesitate. Say yes.

Stay tuned,

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Posted on September 17, 2020 by TonyOctober 10, 2020

A thousand fires but life still transpires

Transpire. I like that word. Because it feels like it has more depth and meaning than the word, “happen.” And, after all, if it “feels” right, it must BE right. Right? So, that’s part of why I chose the word “transpires” to rhyme with the phrase “a thousand fires.” Wow, I’m using a lot of quotation marks. Wonder if I’ve used my quota for the day, yet.

“Gee whiz, Tony. Get to the point. What’s it got to do with a thousand fires?”

Patience, good Pilgrim. All in good time.

First, let’s talk about climate change.

“Honey, where’s the TV directory? I gotta change the channel. This guy’s talkin’ about climate change.”

No, not really. Well, yeah. But not the way the silly Chicken-Little-sky-is-falling wackadoos talk about it. Because I DO believe in climate change. But we used to just call it travel. Or the Four Seasons. (no, not Frankie Valli & the Four Seasons…the actual seasons of climate change)

Anyway…

I’m confident that good ol’ seasonal climate change isn’t gonna destroy our little blue planet. And I’m fully aware of how and why most people on our little blue planet won’t share my confidence. But, after multiple decades of living on this little blue planet, I’ve discovered Truth actually exists. And I mean perfectly, trustable Truth.

And I’m talking about the Truth that says, “While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease.”

Call me crazy (you wouldn’t be the first), but doesn’t that sound way more reassuring than the trendy “climate change” rhetoric?

Especially when some would have you believe climate change started a thousand fires.

By the way, that’s a metaphorical reference that means a lot of fires. Not literally 1000 fires. In fact, according to some data, there might have been over 7000 fires…just in California. But, who’s counting?

Even when you add up all the fires around the globe, you still discover something amazing and wonderful.

“Wonderful? What’s so wonderful about the world burning up, Tony?”

That’s just it. Do a little digging, and you’ll see the vast majority of the world is NOT burning up.

And that takes me right back to where I started this little story. As life and time transpires, it offers up opportunities to perpetuate either truth…or lies. Most of the people, on our little blue planet, prefer to believe and perpetuate the lies. Because they’ve chosen to believe the lies can invalidate God.

But Truth (which originates in God) can’t be invalidated. It will continue to rise through to the surface, be revealed, and come to be known. Those are examples of the origins of the word, transpire.

When the Truth is revealed, it transforms
And establishes reconciled norms.
And the people who care are both humble and rare,
Well-equipped to extinguish firestorms.

Stay tuned,

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My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself a cool tee

Or how about some music for kids

Posted on March 10, 2019 by TonyAugust 3, 2024

When in Rome don't do like the local Romans do

When in Rome, what do you do?

You’ve probably heard that old expression, when in Rome do like the Romans do. It was apparently started by a guy named Ambrose, maker of fine scents…uh…saints. And he apparently thought it was a good idea to adhere to the local customs and practices when visiting another city or country. But two or three hundred years before Ambrose was another guy, named Paul, who took the opposite approach. I like his style.

Paul didn’t act like a typical Roman when in Rome.

He got right down to business when he visited, or wrote to, the Christians in Rome. Side note: Instead of giving a special label to certain people, Paul called them all “saints”.

Anyway…

When you read Paul’s letter to the Romans, which is no small feat by the way, you detect a tone of directness and urgency from the git-go. He doesn’t pull any punches, which was his style, and yet you can easily see how much Paul cares about these young (translate “new”) believers.

In the very first chapter of his letter to the Romans, Paul expressed his love for them AND talked about God’s wrath on the unrighteous. Yikes. Talk about fire and brimstone. Oops, sorry. I forgot we’re not supposed to talk about fire and brimstone anymore.

When in Rome (or Ephesus or Galatia or Corinth, etc.) Paul shared the Truth.

The Truth is…we humans do a LOT of despicable things. Just when you think you’ve heard the worst, scroll through your news app. Sure enough, someone just came up with a way to be even more vile, gross, and wicked.

What you see, when you read the first chapter of Paul’s letter to the Romans, is how God won’t tolerate your rebellion against Him forever. He will give up on you if you decide you’d rather serve yourself than Him. And He WILL give you the death you prefer. Even though He prefers you to live with Him forever.

In the Rhyme and Reason Podcastversion of this article, I share my reading of the first chapter of Romans. My hope and prayer is you’ll give it a listen and be blessed. Not because of my voice, but because God’s Word is Living Water. And faith comes by hearing.

And remember, when in Rome, be more like Paul…not the Romans.

That doesn’t mean you can go visit somebody’s country and try to force your own customs and traditions on them. But you certainly don’t have to do what the Romans do, when they’re doing what they shouldn’t do.

If they don’t serve coffee the way you prefer, don’t demand your brew. Or if their drinks don’t have ice, make some adjustments and drink in the atmosphere. But don’t give yourself over to any part of their dark side.

Remember what Paul wrote about that?

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk

Your Life Has Rhyme And Reason Because God Made You

Tag Archives: fire and brimstone

Johnny Cash made “Ring of Fire” one of his signature songs.

As I’ve said before, I’m not a country music fan.

“Gee whiz, Tony. Get to the point. What’s it got to do with a thousand fires?”

Especially when some would have you believe climate change started a thousand fires.

When in Rome, what do you do?

Paul didn’t act like a typical Roman when in Rome.

When in Rome (or Ephesus or Galatia or Corinth, etc.) Paul shared the Truth.

And remember, when in Rome, be more like Paul…not the Romans.