Tag Archives: human nature

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I just watched a video about wolves re-introduced into Yellowstone (The park. Not the show.) And the video producers showed how much those wolves changed the ecosystem. Yes, nature is amazing. And connected. But here’s how the person who shared the video described it…

“🦩Ecosystem restoration hinges on supporting nature 🍁create a balance⚖️; biodiversity richness and ecological integrity With more balance between predator🦑 and prey,

Everything 🗻is connected🤝🏻……❣️”

Just in case you can’t see all the crucial emojis (*eyeroll*) they include a flamingo, a maple leaf, scales, a squid or octopus or something to represent “predator,” a mountain, handshake hands, and a heart exclamation point.

Anyway…

The video included text so you could see the wildlife AND read the story.

And each step of the story showed how nature IS amazing.

They talked about how the wolves helped reduce the deer population. And that helped increase vegetation. And that helped solve erosion problems. Then, with more plant life, different animal and bird species returned to the area. Like beaver and eagles. And so much more changed for the better.

So, the video ended with a statement that said “share this if you think nature is incredible.”

But what videos like that almost never say is “share this if you think our Creator must love us incredibly to give us such diversity of beauty and life.”

And that’s something I find incredulous.

Because all that “biodiversity richness and ecological integrity” is far too complicated and connected to be the result of random mutations.

Of course, you can exercise your own will and choose to ignore science and where it points. But, as for me, I can appreciate how amazing nature is, but LOVE the one, true, living, loving God who created it all.

And I know He’s giving us time to consider His offer of eternal life. But I can’t imagine how much longer He’ll have patience for the world’s fascination with the creation instead of Him. Matter of fact, it seems likely the world will come to a blazing end way sooner than most people would ever dream.

In awe of all creation and how it all could be
The fairy tale illusions increase with every year.
The wrinkled plans expand…exponentially…
Until one day, perhaps, a duck becomes a deer…yeah, right. (from “Fast Forward”)

Stay tuned,
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Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tell everybody you know to subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional
(emails with good stuff for Fa-Ree)

Get my Rhyme & Reason Podcast delivered right to your device. (also Fa-Ree)

My books are also on Amazon.com or Apple Books

Grab yourself an un-cool T-shirt

Or how about some music for believers, dreamers, and thinkers

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

One week from today is Christmas 2021. And in just about every part of the world there are Christians who will celebrate the birth of Jesus. But have you ever stopped to think (or even thought about it without stopping) how that celebration is unique to humans?

No animals, birds, fish, or reptiles can be found putting up Christmas trees. Or buying presents. Or even gathering together to sing and talk about their Creator.

And that’s true, partly, because of something else unique to humans.

Speech.

It’s unique to humans for three main reasons.

Your larynx is low in your neck with a long air column above your vocal cords. Because of this physical design you can make clear vowel sounds. And the back of your tongue extends deep down into your neck and modulates air flow to make clear consonant sounds.

And guess who can’t do that.

Apes. Because apes have flat, horizontal tongues that leave them unable to make consonant sounds.

But here’s something even cooler than that.

You have a prewired brain that can learn and convey abstract ideas. Ponder that in your prewired brain for a moment. I’ll wait. (cue the Jeopardy music)

OK, stop the ponder.

Now, think about your favorite color.

Because there are so many things you can conjure up just by thinking of a color. But even better than that, you can describe the pictures you conjure up with words that other humans can understand. Then, they can actually understand what you mean. Even if it doesn’t jive with the mere scientific facts of why your eyes see color.

Are you pickin’ up what I’m layin’ down?

Can you see the significance of this trio of design traits?

Scientists admit they can find no evolutionary development to explain the speech center in your brain. Of course, Christians aren’t stumped. At least not the ones who believe God’s word that says He created us in His image and likeness. And we know that we’re prewired, by the most intelligent being in the universe, to make and understand speech.

So, speech is unique to humans.

But if you disagree…I’m willing to talk about it.

It does my heart good to know I’m not some inconsequential little animated pile of carbon. I’m confident I’ll leave more than a footprint here on earth. I’m going to live forever with the One who gave me awareness of my own existence. And I’m going to love every minute.

Now, that’s a Christmas present for the ages.
I’m in a book that’s filled with endless pages.
And who I am was written by a Savior
Whose love for me helped change my heart’s behavior.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Who is your own worst enemy?

Have you ever done something you know you shouldn’t do…and then later, wonder why you did that? How about this? Did you ever pass up on the chance to do something good or right? You knew you should do it, but you just didn’t do it. If you’ve ever found yourself in either of those scenarios, you probably felt like your own worst enemy. Right? Well, don’t feel like it’s just you. I’ve been there. And so have just about everyone else on the planet. Even Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, struggled with that problem. But he knew why.

We all have the tendency to wanna be our own kings (or queens). It’s part of our human nature. Paul described it as “the sin that dwells within me“. You can bet if he struggled with it, you’re gonna have to deal with it, too. But how can you deal with it, when your very nature lures you into things you shouldn’t do and away from things you should do?

You are your own worst enemy when you trust in YOU.

Yeah, you might be one of the best and brightest minds of our time. But when you trust in yourself to do the right thing, all that intelligence flies out the window. There’s a great Proverb that says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Because the allure of this world is so powerful, you and I need supernatural help. Fortunately it’s abundantly available. Even though many would have you believe all hope is lost.

Hope springs eternal when you trust in the one true, living, loving eternal Creator of Heaven, Earth, and you. Yeah, He made you, so He knows what makes you tick…better than the finest Swiss watch. Rather than trusting in your own limited knowledge, and becoming your own worst enemy in the process…why not just admit that maybe God knows the best way to live your life?

I’ve heard some Christians use that Proverb I mentioned earlier to say God is in control. They say, “see…He shall direct your paths.” And that’s not the meaning at all. Sure God will lead you, or direct you, in the right direction. But He won’t MAKE you go there. To do that He’d have to remove your freedom to choose. And He loves you too much to simply turn you into a mindless robot.

The first step is admitting you have a problem.

Maybe you’ve heard that line from the 12 step program for alcoholics…yes? It’s true for just about anything wrong in your life. Not just drinking. So, no matter what issues you’re dealing with, when you admit you have a problem that you can’t overcome on your own, and then ask God for help, you’re getting back on the path He’s directing you to.

What do you say? Can you admit you’re not all that today…and ask God to direct your paths? If so, send me a message and tell me about it. I love to hear those testimonies.

Now, maybe you don’t know me well enough to buy something from me, yet. Ok, let’s change that. Get to know more about me and my worldview. Join the growing body of believers who’ve signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And bask in daily, delightful rhymes and reasons from the power of God’s love.

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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