Tag Archives: the way

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There are lots of bad guys (and that includes the female part of “guys” too) out there everyday. You can’t swing a metal jump rope without hittin’ at least one.

In fact, I could tell you a story, three stories in fact, that happened one after another on three consecutive nights way back in the 20th century. Well, I’ll just share the short version of the first one.

I was beaten by a motorcycle gang. Yep. True story. A group of them arrived at a place where I worked, and I had been advised to let them know they wouldn’t be allowed in. The establishment had a dress code. And, as you might imagine, the bikers didn’t come close to meeting the standard.

They didn’t like being told to leave.

And they started to, let’s say, “raise some cane.” One thing led to another, and I found myself locked outside with no other workmates. And the biker dudes threw me on the hood of a VW and commenced to pound the daylights out of me. I knew I couldn’t take them on, so I just rolled onto my belly and protected my face and head as much as possible.

After what felt like too long, I heard sirens, and they hopped on their hawgs and took off.

Workers opened the front door after hearing the sirens and motorcycle engines. And they found me lying on the sidewalk. Of course, the management saw the huge swollen spots on my face and rushed me to a nearby hospital to be checked out. Fortunately I ended up with only minor cuts, bruises, and a concussion.

That was just the first night. Remind me to tell you what happened the next two nights.

But bad stuff ain’t all. There’s something else out there everyday, too.

The Way to be alert and aware. The Way to be prepared to avoid all, or at least most, of the baddies out there everyday. And the Way to get wiser and not just smarter.

Since too many good guys don’t have a clue how to properly handle bad guys, it’s a good idea for YOU to learn how to discern. And that’s just a fancy word that means figger some things out. But never worry. Never fear. Because, as I said, your Way is here.

Or at least the Way is a close as your bookshelf, table, or even your phone. That’s where I go when I need or want to know more about how to handle bad guy stuff. Here’s how it works:

When you wear the full armor of God,
You’ll be ready when the enemies attack.
You can’t see ’em, but beware, they are out there everywhere.
But with God’s help you can always fight them back.

Take a second and join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to 2 of my books and 2 songs, right away, that grownups AND kids can enjoy. Then, I’ll do my best to encourage you to sing a new song with the power of God’s love.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

You can go your own way.
And you can call it another lonely day.
You can go your own way.

And if you’re a Fleetwood Mac fan or even if you’re not, but you’ve heard their music, you probably recognize those lyrics. I recently read an article/blurb about how a lot of the lyrics and songs off their bestselling album, Rumors, were the results of breakups. Especially the songs where Stevie Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham fired lyrical shots at each other.

Go Your Own Way made me think of my Dad.

And I know he wouldn’t have been a Fleetwood Mac fan. So, the memory I’m talking about has nothing to do with that. Nope, I just remember how Dad made sure I understood how important it is to go your own way.

It would be great if ALL dads (and moms) would share this insight with their kids. Because this world is working 24/7/365 to scoop up kids and destroy them. I believe my Dad’s talk with me is one every kid should hear in some form or another.

Basically he said:

As you grow up you find out the crowd usually isn’t going somewhere good. In fact, most people are usually going someplace God doesn’t want you to go. And they don’t care what God wants. But YOU should care because God knows what’s best for you.

And that’s definitely NOT to be like everybody else.

You’ll be more effective, more contented, and wiser when you go your own way. But only if your own way follows God’s word and His Way. And that’s almost always the opposite direction of the crowds.

Your Creator made you a certain way. He knows how to keep your mind and your body working smoothly. And if and when you decide to do things His way, you can avoid some bad mistakes everybody else makes.

But if you’d rather be like everybody else, God won’t yell at you. Or put you in time-out. Or even send you to bed without dinner. He’ll let you make your own mistakes. Then He’ll be there for you to turn to and talk to. But there’s a place in the Bible where it says God DOES get mad and punishes everybody who disobeys Him.

Don’t be one of those.

God’s love is stronger than anything. He proved that with His Son, Jesus. So, get to know Jesus. And be more like Him each day. And don’t be like everybody else who’d rather jump off a cliff.

Here are two rhymes to help you remember:

If you wanna be like everybody else
Who play with fire and never love the Lord,
You’ll find yourself, like everybody else,
Without His love in a place forever bored.

AND

You can make God sad by saying angry words.
You can make Him happy when you don’t.
You can make God sad if you’ll keep telling lies.
You can make Him happy when you won’t.
You can make God sad when you decide to steal.
You can make Him happy giving back.
You can make God sad until you trust Him to
Keep your heart and mind on the right track.

Stay tuned,

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Happy Easter. And I only say that to you if you believe in the real reason this holiday (Holy-day) exists. If you don’t believe, then you can have a terrible day for all I care.

“Ouch, Tony. That’s harsh.”

Oh, did I write that out loud. Sorry, not sorry.

OK, now that I’ve thinned out the readers, here’s a little Happy Easter backstory.

A small bunch of years ago I shared an explanation of why Christians celebrate Resurrection Day (aka: Easter). And I’m gonna share it again for the 99% of the world that didn’t see it the first time. Plus, I’ll share the famous Easter song, “The Way,” written by your favorite rhyme and reason rabble-rouser.

If you don’t need to be convinced, awesome. You can skip this explanation and head to the video, below. Either way, here ya go…

To outsiders, it sometimes looks like we’re celebrating a bloody murder. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course. Easter isn’t about death at all. Quite the opposite. Christians all around the world celebrate the fact (yes, I said “fact”) that about 2000 years ago God became man and suffered a horrible death in order to offer us eternal life. That man, Jesus, was mocked, ridiculed, persecuted, prosecuted, and executed by the very people He came to save.

It’s unimaginable the torment He suffered just so you and I could avoid eternal suffering. You can say it’s a fairy tale. But that doesn’t erase the Truth. You can say the story of Jesus was simply written by men with an agenda. But that only shows me you haven’t actually read the book. You can even say eternity doesn’t exist for anyone. But that reveals your personal agenda.

Resurrection Day is all about what happened after Jesus was killed.

He rose from the dead, and the Bible says He was the “firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.” Simply put…that means He’s tip-top and no other name or person can be or ever shall be higher. And that means He can (and does) offer His eternal life to anyone who will follow Him.

Every day I more clearly understand why Jesus said to follow Him you must hate your “father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters” and even your own life. People will always let you down, but Jesus will never leave you nor forsake you. That “hate” isn’t the kind you’re seeing tossed around the internet and media. Jesus was saying your love for Him needs to be so full that anything else is hate in comparison. When you understand He is the only way you’re ever gonna receive eternal life, I believe your love for Him will increase all the time.

So, don’t let the big, bad world, or even the people to your left or your right, rob you of your joy and your celebration of Resurrection Day 2024. Or, for that matter, any other day of life your Creator has given you. Would you do me a favor and send me a story of how you celebrated the day? I’ll share it here and on my The Power of God’s Love Podcast. And until then, here’s an Easter rhyme for you…

Happy Easter Day

There’s a story you might know
Of a man who was killed some time ago.
He did nothing that was wrong,
But some people made Him suffer for so long.

Still there’s good news you can learn
‘Cause He died to give you what you’ll never earn.
He was nailed up on a cross,
But the people didn’t understand the loss.

Then they took Him to a tomb,
And they laid His lifeless body in that room,
But the story didn’t end there.
There would only be three days He would spend there.

Happy Easter day…He arose!

© 2007

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

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Do a Google search for “streets of San Francisco,” and you’ll probably only get results that point to the TV show from back in the 1970’s. And some of those results are links to videos of the opening credits from the original show.

Those streets of San Francisco certainly looked different than they do now.

Watch the opening credits closely enough and you’ll see snippets from the “bad side of town.” But that show was from a time when crime fighters at least tried to hold that boundary. So, the bad side, the seedy side, stayed put. Somewhat.

Fast forward 50 years, and I don’t think Michael Douglas or Karl Malden would recognize the city their characters once policed. Street zombies (I refuse to call them homeless people) are everywhere. But why shouldn’t they be? Free drugs. Freedom from prosecution when they steal in broad daylight. And free bathrooms on every street and even in elevators. Zombies love that stuff.

I watched a video that James Woods (Academy Award winning actor) shared on Twitter. And he posted a comment that said, “Guess which Democrat run hellhole this is. Hint: all of them.” It’s difficult to believe it’s America. The street zombies in the video look either demon possessed or void of a living soul.

It’s on a scale I could never have imagined when I was a kid.

But when you drug people up and dumb them down, how could the results be anything else?

Well, there IS a Way to fight it. The ONLY Way. And the Way is the person known as Jesus. But the very mention of His name (and the fact that I capitalize even the references to Him) is offensive to this world.

The “right politicians” aren’t the solution. They’ll most likely come up with a “$1 billion investment to address  homelessness.” Am I the only one who sees the idiotic irony? Address homelessness. Get it?

I’d rather eat a pan of biscuits made with Crisco than spend a second on the streets of San Francisco.

Over 30 years ago I wrote a song that talked about the end result of drugs. The lyrics are laced with drug references. And there are probably plenty, these days, I don’t know about. But the point is more valid now.

Nothin’s Gonna Happen To You

Well you’re human and it’s hum-drum,
So you find yourself in front of a screen.
The remote control slowly takes its toll.
Then you’re thumbing through a magazine.
Years ago you had to know.
You had to stand out brave and true.
You said, “Don’t wait for nothin’, or
Nothin’s gonna happen to you.”

You were Ghengis Khan and Napoleon.
You were king of cool to all your friends.
But the juggernaut fell into the pot,
And so this is how the story ends.
But I have to know what could change you so.
I have to see what cut you through.
And don’t tell me “nothin,” or
Nothin’s gonna happen to you.

Why the empty stare…nothin’ nothin’.
Tension in the air…nothin’ nothin’.
You just can’t admit, you’re too mortal to conquer it
And nothin’s gonna happen to you.

Well, it’s so posh how you whitewash,
And the truth starts falling through the crack.
So your winter scheme is a broken dream,
And the pieces stab you in the back.
Time gone by can make you cry.
And the tears can freeze inside your heart.
But don’t obsess in that icy mess.
Blow the danger and the pleasure apart.

On the inner side it feels like a ride
As you rollercoast into the sky.
But the outer side shows the demon lied.
Give him anything to keep you high.
Years from now they’ll wonder how,
How it ever got to you.
And I’ll just say “nothin”
Nothin’ ever happened to you.

© 1992

Stay tuned,

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A straight line is the shortest route between two points. One of the most difficult lessons I ever learned in Geometry. You know what I’m talkin’ about. Right? Yeah, the struggle is real. And so many people struggle to stay on that line from point A to point B.

But, c’mon man. What’s difficult to understand about a straight line?

Back in the “olden days,” there used to be these things called malls. And they were places where you could browse through shop after shop, safe inside a giant building, without a single care about the weather.

And when you first got there, if you didn’t know where everything was, you could just check the “mall maps.” You’d stand in front of a plexiglass case and look for the “you are here” spot. And then you’d know how to get where you were going. Because you knew the starting point.

Ok, where you are, in your life, right now is your “you are here” starting point. Your point A.

And your point B is where you want to go. Or where you’d rather be. Do you know where that is?

On the mall maps, you could locate the store you wanted, point yourself in that direction, and walk straight to it. Successful end result, in a fraction of the time. Easy peasy. No problemo. Sí?

But hold on there, Mister (or Missy). Not so fast.

That straight line from Point A to Point B ain’t quite that easy because of a little thing called distraction.

After all; you’re in a mall.

You’re bound to see something you just “gotta have.” Something you didn’t realize, till now, you couldn’t live without. Like that awesome surround sound digital high-rez giant screen TV. Or maybe, just maybe, you smelled it, and your nose won’t let you forget that scrumptious cinnamon roll you’ve “earned” for all your hard work this week.

Suddenly, without fair warning, distractions destroy your straight line mission.

And your “best efforts” to stay the course are obliterated for all eternity.

Hang on there, Bandwagon Buckaroo. Remember, you’re not in a mall anymore. And your past meanderings don’t have to define your so-called destiny.

Today is a new day. And you can start over. You can find your A and B Points and get back on a straight line. And this isn’t mystical, magical, or mind over matter stuff. It’s just what marketers call persistence. Or consistency. And, as ranchers will tell you, a matter of “git back on that horse that threw you and ride.”

Forget that “work harder, not smarter” mantra.

Do what your competition won’t do. Work harder AND smarter. Get better at what you do. And learn new stuff, too. Figure out how to do more in less time. Dive into more software programs that help you be the one others need. And streamline your efficiency.

And then, grind it out. Practice, practice, practice!  “Being smarter” isn’t enough. Here’s a line I came up with, years ago, that shows what I mean:

Education without Application leads to a Continuation of Frustration. (You may quote me on that. Just make sure my name is in the credits.)

One more point.

All your best efforts and successes won’t amount to a mountain of deer droppings if you don’t also have a straight line perspective on eternity.

I’m always harping on about how this life ain’t all there is. And I’m 100% confident I’m right about that. And if I AM right, it means there are two places where you could end up after this life. Each one is a place where you could be forever. And if I’m right (and I am), one of those places will be unimaginably awful. But it’s also undeniably easy to avoid.

And right now, your Point A is here on Earth.

My suggestion is to make sure Point B is Heaven. And there’s only one Way to make sure.

Do you know the Way?

If you take a stand and you stand for the Way,
You might never be rich.
But no gold here beats the treasure in Heaven,
And you’ll know which is which.

(from the song, Take A Stand)

Stay tuned,

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Everybody’s trying to be nicer than God. Even real estate websites like to show off their “LGBT legal protections.” Which, of course, are bigoted policies. And I oppose any ideology that singles out individuals or groups who hate God and give them their own so-called “legal protections.”

Instead, I wholeheartedly support the MJSPBR and their God-given legal protections.

What? You’ve never heard of the MJSPBR organization? I’m guessing you have. But you just never heard ’em called that before. Because MJSPBR people don’t identify themselves by their sexual preferences. Gasp! Can such a group actually exist? Yes, Poindexter. And I won’t leave you in the dark. Because this is important…even to you.

And, if you haven’t already, I encourage you to seek out the MJSPBR organization. And grab your free lifetime membership while the limited time offer lasts. You won’t find another body of people in the world as long as you live. Because the owner paid up each and every member’s dues. And you can get that same deal. Guaranteed.

All you gotta do is ask.

What’s that? You’d like to know more about who these MJSPBR people are before you join?

OK. No problem. Would you believe they’re just like you. And they’re quite possibly, literally, all around you and your community. Right now. Yeah, they had to discover, for themselves, all the lasting (dare I say everlasting) benefits of membership. And they had to ask to join, too.

Every single person, who’s ever joined, identifies with a single individual.

An individual who started the organization in hopes of overcoming the world with graceful love. And an individual who was Manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory.

I highly recommend you join today. Like I said…limited time offer. When you expire, the offer expires, too. And it will never be available again.

Membership has its rewards. But be warned. Most of the world will do its best to make fun of you, mock you, and create policies designed to shut down the MJSPBR body of members.

But we have legal protections the whole world will never remove.

Trust the Judge, trust the Judge
Who will never ever budge
From what’s right. He’s the light.
He will lead you out of night
Into day, He’s the Way.
Seek Him out. Join today.

Stay tuned,

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I might be right. Hey, I’ve been right before.

Any time you and I disagree on something, there’s the possibility (even if it’s only a tiny one) I might be right. At least from our limited human perspectives that’s true. You might think I’m wrong about something. And I might think your opposite opinion is wrong. But then…there’s the truth. The truth won’t be wrong. And if I’m on the side of truth, I’m right. Right?

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I might be right when I shed this light.

Billy Joel had a hit song, back in 1980 called “You May Be Right”.

I remember covering that song many times during my live performance career days. The reason I bring it up is because it had these lines…

Turn out the light
Don’t try to save me
You may be wrong for all I know
You may be right.

That kind of sums up the way the world wants to deal with guys like me. “Turn out the light. Don’t try to save me.” Or as my Dad used to say, “Don’t confuse me with the facts. My mind’s made up.”

Any argument or disagreement can either lead to solutions and agreement or worse problems and separation. But there’s nothing in life more important than where you’re headed when you die. I say there’s a Heaven and a hell, and that we’re all gonna be in one place or the other. Others say there’s only an endless void. And no matter how much you disagree with me, I might be right. So…

What If I’m Right?

You think it’s wrong to talk of only one Way.
Live and let live is something you always say.
How could there be a God who no one can see?
When bad things happen, you say “Where can He be?”

You want some proof; maybe a word or a sign
That our existence could be all by design.
I say the proof is in the feel of a song.
But it’s invisible so you say I’m wrong.

But what if I’m right? What if it’s true
All of these things I’ve been sayin’ to you?
What if you die and it’s not the end?
What if your life is nothing you can defend?
You think I’m wrong…and that I don’t walk in the light,
But what if I’m right?

So many people living inside a dream
Making a choice that even God won’t redeem.
I say choose Jesus because this life’s not long.
You say it’s nonsense, and you tell me I’m wrong.

But what if I’m right?

©  2008 Tony Funderburk

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