Tag Archives: love is the key

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

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There I stood. In between the guitar player’s loud amp and the drummer’s crash cymbal. That’s where my equipment had been placed on a stage in front of business executives. Things had already fallen behind a bit. So, there was no time to rearrange anything. So, that’s where I was for an hour and a half. And take my advice. If you ever get the chance to be in that position, pass it up.

Because a loud amp and crash cymbal are bad for your ears.

And I’m not sure which was worse. The piercing guitar in my right ear. Or the crash cymbal in my left. Maybe it was a tie. Anyway, I can tell you my hearing was damaged, at least a little, from that day on.

But you know what’s worse than having your ears damaged? It’s having your soul damaged by somebody trying to impress you with their fancy skills just because it makes them feel “special.” And a wise man, named Paul, wrote about what happens to anyone who tries to do that. He talked about people who had special gifts from God like being able to predict things and speak other languages.

He said, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.”

Yikes. That ain’t good. And as I already showed you, a clanging (crash) cymbal can hurt your ears. So, if and when you’re like that, there’s a good chance you might be hurting more than just ears. Because someone might think you’re just trying to show off. So, they won’t even wanna listen to your noise.

Now, here’s something you gotta understand.

You wouldn’t even be here if it wasn’t for the power of God’s love. Yeah, He loved the world (which is another way of saying you and me and all the people) so much that He put Himself into a human body to be punished for all the bad stuff He did.

Wait a second! Read those last 6 words again.

NO. He wasn’t punished for all the bad stuff HE did. He let people beat Him, make fun of Him, and even put Him to death because of all the bad stuff YOU did. And all the bad stuff everybody did.

So, what He did is WAY more important than any so-called “special gifts” you and I might have. And He did it because of His love. That’s why you don’t wanna be a crash cymbal in this world. But that’s exactly what you’ll be if you go through your day without love. Because…

Without love there’s just no way out
Of all that noise in your head.
So, before you show off and shout,
Try sharing God’s love instead.

And I’d love for you to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional the easy way. Just add your email address and they’ll come to you and you won’t have to look for them. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, when you do, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Years ago I wrote about the reality of love. And this is another take on that message…

Love needs consistent care and attention. It doesn’t have a “one-size-fits-all” option like some gloves do. In fact, you’ll discover, over the course of your life, how your love can go through many changes. Young love, for example, is full of emotional passion. And it’s too often confused with and mixed with unrequited lust. Add some years to your life and you’ll notice you become much more focused about it. You do it on purpose.

The reality of Love is that it’s the smallest, most gigantic force there is.

As the length of your remaining days shortens, you discover it’s like the old song says, “a many splendored thing.” Or at least you should find that out. It turns into someone who:

  • kisses your forehead when you’re sleeping
  • brings you a bowl of hot soup or a cool cloth on your forehead when you’re sick
  • lets you know when you’ve said more than you should
  • cleans up the broken glass you dropped
  • does way more than I can list here

Love is an understanding ear opposed to a demanding mouth. It lifts up instead of lashing out. It’s a compliment instead of complaint. And it searches for solutions instead of pointing out problems. Love is found in kindness, not candy. And it endures, engages, and expects.

You wouldn’t exist it it weren’t for the love that flows from your Creator. So, you can’t believe in it, if you don’t believe in your Creator. And if that’s the case, no amount of candy, cards, romantic dinners, or romantic getaways will ever bring you love.

And here’s a song I wrote for my lifetime Valentine before she was mine. It’ll be in the The Power of God’s Love Podcast, soon:

Holding Out For The Dream

Smiling eyes and rosy lips
I’m waiting for the rhythm of those fingertips…through my hair.
Day and night I act it out.
No one else is sure of what I’m all about…but I don’t care…
Because I’m holding out for…I’m holding out for…
I’m holding out for the dream.

Violet skies and mountain tops…
I’m waiting for the kind of love that never stops…never dies.
A sailing ship; a crystal sea…
No one understands this inner part of me…this paradise.
And so I’m holding out for…I’m holding out for…
I’m holding out for the dream.

Sometimes the dream is the only thing…that sees me through.
Sometimes it seems it’s the only thing that I can do.

Quiet talk; a crackling fire.
I’m waiting for the kind of love that won’t expire…or fade away.

Instrumental…repeat chorus to end

© 1987 Tony Funderburk

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 flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

You can’t keep it all to yourself. In fact, if you think you can, it’s probably not in you anyway. Nope. If you want it to flourish, you’ve gotta give love away.

I read this great quote from C.S. Lewis. He talked about how you’ve gotta be willing to be vulnerable if you’re gonna love. He said,

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries: avoid all entanglements: lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket-safe, dark, motionless, airless-it will
change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable”

My favorite part of that quote is when he describes “the casket or coffin of your selfishness.” Yeah, that nails it.

Selfishness won’t let you give love away.

The apostle Paul told believers in Corinth that without love you’re nothing. And nothing you have or do will profit you without love.

And Jesus said all of God’s commandments can be boiled down to two. Love Him. And love your neighbor as yourself. So, give love away. Every chance you get. I’d say it’s the main thing to work on each and every day. Wouldn’t you?

Will you give your love today
In the little things you do?
Will you think of words to say
That will help your neighbor, too?
Will you think before you speak
And say things you might regret?
Will you think up ways to care…
Ways you haven’t thought up yet?
Will you try to keep your love
In a secret hideaway?
Jesus gives you all of His…
You should give your love today.

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Who you are, what you do, and what you know, all of it, means nothing without love. Absolutely nothing. Because if it isn’t in you, then neither is life.

So, that means you and I are nothing without love from God.

Because love didn’t evolve. It came from an eternal source. And that source is your Creator. Whether you believe in Him or not doesn’t matter. He exists, always existed, and always will exist. Because He is the one true, living, loving Spirit of Life.

I hope this stirs up something inside you if you haven’t let love live abundantly in your heart. But if, for some reason, what I say makes you uncomfortable, then examine yourself. Find out why. Why would talk about love and its source make you feel that way?

Of course, there’s no shortage of celebrities, politicians, and fake preachers out there touting their “message of love.” But their messages focus on things like “follow your heart” and “trust yourself.” When you hear that, run away as fast as your feet can fly.

You and your heart are not to be trusted.

Because you and your heart tend to be selfish. And self-serving. And you need help to not do that. Me too. Don’t think I exclude myself from selfish temptations. But it’s that selfishness that can make you prefer the sound of your own voice. Or it can make you wanna show what you know. Or boast about who you’ve helped. And so on.

But all that means nothing without love.

A couple of thousand years ago a guy named Paul put it like this…

“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.”

So, my wish for you today, is that you learn why this is important. Not because I made a good case to do it. But because your Creator says it’s one of two “laws” that lead to eternal life.

And if that’s not good enough reason to practice love, then good luck with your “profits.”

Because You love me so.
In spite of all You know.
Because You did the most that You could ever do.
Because I clearly see
Evidence of You in me.
Because I can love…I do love…You!

Stay tuned,
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subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional and tell everybody you know. (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 kids

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

The last word is most remembered

In a heated argument, it often seems like everyone wants to be the one to get in the last word. Sometimes it’s because they really DO have the most important thing to say. But most times it’s just to “win.” And that’s the kind of argument I recently overheard from a couple in a nearby booth at a restaurant.

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Each time the last word popped out, it ended up not being the last word.

The girl kept letting the guy know how he never listened to her. And the guy kept telling the girl, “Of course I listen! How can I not? You tell me over and over!”

Their conversation would get a little quieter for a couple of minutes. And I couldn’t tell if they were still arguing. But then, something would set them off again. And words got more heated. Biting jabs. Slicing remarks. Hurtful attacks. I started wishing I had ordered my food to go. And I kept hoping one of them would actually stop and think about what they were saying. And who they were saying it to.

But for the entire 20 minutes or so, I was there, their “lovers quarrel” played on.

I wish I could say I’d never seen or heard anything like that before. But that wouldn’t be the case at all. Because I’ve seen and heard way too many hard-hitting battles of the sexes. And rarely did they ever turn out well. But I said “rarely.” Not never. Once in a great while, men and women actually work things out and end up with a stronger love. And it’s almost always due to one thing.

They set aside their selfishness. And they think about what God says about love. When they do that, it turns out right. It’s not the easiest thing to do. I know too well. But it’s always the right thing to do.

If you find yourself in that position, not where you’d like to be with your loved one, stop trying to win. Just let love win. God will help.

The Last Word

Keep a bolt of lightning in your brain
And a jar of honey in your heart.
Let love be the last word from your lips
Whether you’re together or apart.

Lightning is your passion over pain.
Honey is your holy hope within.
Send those feelings through your fingertips
And remember, always let love win.

© 2020 Tony Funderburk

(to be continued)

Feelings are more intangible examples of how life has Rhyme and Reason because God made you.

Your email address is all it takes to get encouraging, regular issues of my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. It comes directly to your inbox so you spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my Christian books for kids and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy.

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Stay tuned,

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Because I Love I Am Something

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I’m not nothing. In fact, I am something. Not because of how particularly special I am just by being me…but because I love. Yep, love is the key.

Because I CAN love I am something in the love of God.

Without love I’m nothing. What does it matter what I do in my life, with my life, if I don’t have love? Without love everything and anything I do is motivated by selfishness. What else could it be? If I don’t love others, then my focus is on me by default. And as I’ve said many times here in my articles…self never gets enough. Self is never satisfied.

But I CAN love. And because I can love, it points me to a Creator who loves. Where else could love originate? It isn’t a necessary in a random, evolutionary process. Love doesn’t make a man a stronger hunter or gatherer. It doesn’t build muscles or enhance survival skills. In fact, love could actually hinder those things.

Love comes directly from our living, loving Creator. He says I am something worth loving and worth sacrificing for, and since He says so, I believe it. Do you? Here are the words and music I wrote to further express it…

Because I Can Love

What made You think
That I was worth the risk You took?
What made You take the time
To write Your Holy Book?
I don’t believe I’d give myself a second look,
But You did because You love.

You made a world
That was as perfect as could be,
But then I broke it
When You gave it all to me…
By going through the gate You made to set me free.
This You did because You love…me.

Because You love me so…in spite of all You know…
Because You did the most that You could ever do…
Because I clearly see…evidence of You in me…
Because I can love…I do love…You!

You put a life
And a will inside my soul.
You knew true love
Would be to give me full control.
But knowing You is all that ever makes me whole.
I trust You because You love…me.

I can live because You live!
I can love because You love!

© Copyright Tony Funderburk 2010

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