Bible study Archives - Tony Funderburk

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Did you know the month of August was named after Augustus Caesar (or Caesar Augustus if you prefer) and was lengthened to 31 days by Julius Caesar? And did you know that Caesar never ate a Caesar salad because it wasn’t invented until 1924?

Well…with that information and a smartphone, you can connect to the internet and even make long distance calls. ha!

Caesar Augustus didn’t decree this, but…I wondered what a month would have to be called if it were named after me. Let’s see, using my nickname, Tony, we might have the month of Tonyary. Or Tonus. Or Tonember. Yeah, I think I like the sound of that last one. Because my birthday is in December. And we could maim two birds with one pickleball racquet with that month. What do you think? Sound good?

Here’s a rhyme about it, decreed by yours truly…

On August 1 2014
The congress did declare
A new month named Tonember
To people everywhere.
And every person big and small
Began to clap and cheer.
“Oh we can hardly wait,” they said,
Until Tonember’s here.
We’ll gather up the chocolate chips
And cashews and pecans
And bake Tonember cookies
Till they’re delicately bronze.
We’ll visit friends and family.
This year we’ll top the last.
Don’t hesitate to celebrate.
Tonember, please come fast. © 2014 TF

Science shows the earth revolves around the sun.So, scientifically speaking, there’s no such thing as a sunrise. But, when you know you were created by the one, true, living, loving, artful God of all of creation, the sun does rise.

A sunrise is a metaphor, an allegory, or even a simile. It’s how your creative mind “sees” things. Either as you’d like them to be, or as they appear to be. In both cases you get a sense of the imagination forged into your spirit. God didn’t have to give you imagination. He could have just designed you to see whatever He wants you to see. And to perceive only things He says are necessary for survival.

Yeah, He could’ve created your mind to work just like animals and bugs.

But God loves to see what you come up with. Not that silly here-today-gone-tomorrow kind of Hollywood luv. His is a real and enduring love. And your imagination is an intangible proof of His love. You can think with logic and reason. But you can also imagine and create worlds of your own. You can soar into the skies, dive into the depths of the oceans, paint rainbows into the leaves of trees, and even rise above whatever physical limitations you have.

So, where will you go…

When the sun does rise,And it surely will,
We will run straight to
The aroma hill.
We will pluck one rose
From its thorny vine,
And refresh our lips
With a sip of wine.
We will find delight
In the sweet bouquet
Of this flowered hill…
Of this brand new day.
It will be a feast
For the nose and eyes,
And it all begins
When the sun does rise. © 2014 TF

If you prefer the God-given gift of imagination over Caesar Augustus, let’s stay connected.
It’s super easy. Here’s how:

Get Rhyme and Reason delivered to your inbox for free.It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

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It’s Saturday as I write this. And I hope you have better things to do today than just go shopping or watch TV. Because it’s important, especially with everything going on in the world, to guard your heart and mind.

In Philippians 4:8-9 Paul shows you that focus is so important.

And I know focus is a buzzword, these days. Because it’s used by motivational speakers, marketing gurus, and so-called influencers. But the focus they talk about almost never helps you to see how the God of peace will be with you.

So, I’ll show you one of the better things to do today.But first, picture this in your mind’s eye. From the window in your kitchen you see a sunflower in your front yard. Standing there all alone in the middle of rocks and weeds. Bright and beautiful. So you open up your trusty camera app and snap a quick photo you can share with all your social media friends.

But the trouble is they don’t get the full effect. Because they see the rocks and weeds and whatever else shows up in the picture.

Now, imagine you take your camera outside, kneel down, and really focus in on the sunflower. And you capture the bright yellow petals with hues of sunset orange blended into interconnecting spirals.

Focused in like that you can clearly see the fruit and seeds of the flower. And it’ll help you appreciate that you have a camera with enough pixels to do it justice. Now, when you take this snapshot, you’ll have a picture that really shows off the beauty that caught your eyes. And most likely anyone who sees the picture will notice, even if it’s only subconsciously.

All because you just changed the focus.And, just like you focused in on the sunflower, you’ll get a much clearer picture of God’s peace when you focus in on better things.

Paul actually used a synonym for “focus” when he wrote a letter to the Philippians. He wrote the word “meditate.” And to meditate on something just means to think deeply and carefully. Then, he shared a focus list. One of the better things you can do today is go over whatever things are:

true,
noble,
just,
pure,
lovely,
of good report,
having any virtue, and
anything praiseworthy.

So, learn to do what you hear and see Paul doing. Because he learned by hearing and seeing what Jesus did. Then, the God of Peace will be with you. That sounds like something I’d like to work on today. How about you?

If you wanna focus more like this, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

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The post Better things to do today to help keep the blues away appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

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When you were conceived, they called your mom an “expectant mother.” But what exactly was she expecting?

An apple pie?
A new car?
New shoes?
A phone call?
None of the above?

Yep, the answer is “none of the above.”

An expectant human mother expects a human baby.It’s been that way for all of human existence. So, you would think you wouldn’t have to explain that to anybody anywhere. But millions and millions of abortions all across the world prove that human beings are willfully ignorant on a massive scale. Especially in this age of high resolution ultrasound.

It’s gotten so bad that nowadays a lot of people can’t acknowledge that unexpected mother can only give birth to a boy or a girl. No, fools and weirdos like to pretend there are lots of genders. And they angrily demand that we participate in their delusion. Of course, anyone who has received even a small amount of wisdom from God will never join in with that.

You and I know that God wrote, in his best selling book of all time, that he made them male and female. And “them” refers to human beings. Plus, he made every one of us unique from everyone else. For example, think about how no one else in the world has the same fingerprints as you. No one else has the same DNA. And those are just two major ways to show how you are…

YouNeekOK, look at your fingers, and what do you see?
Look at them now, and don’t point them at me.
On each of your fingers you have fingertips.
Maybe your mom touched hers to your lips.

Your fingertips make their very own prints
Like no one’s before and no one else since.
It’s true of the billions of people on earth.
It means you have value. It means you have worth.

And something inside you too tiny to see
Says you will be you and never be me.
It was God who designed it and made it that way.
He gave you a code, and it’s called DNA.

It controls if your eyes will be brown, green, or blue.
It makes you a human, not an odd kangaroo.
And under a microscope what do we find?
That your DNA makes you into one-of-a-kind.

OK, never forget to remember this news
There will never be three or even two you’s.
And even the voice you use when you speak
Will show the whole world you’re truly unique. © 2013 TF

If you agree with why you’re unique, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

Get my Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free.It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

Stay tuned,

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For about 20 years evolutionists and the media made the silly claim that human DNA and chimpanzee DNA were about 99% the same. Now keep in mind, no one had completed sequencing human DNA. And sequencing of chimpanzee DNA hadn’t even started. Sheesh. And evolutionists like to make fun of Christians for prophecy and predictions. But I guess you gotta expect such behavior from adults who believe in fairy tales and fables.

Ladies, you’re actually closer to call your man a “snake in the grass” instead of a big, dumb ape. According to evolution snakes should be more closely related to other reptiles. But a computer-based study found the genetic distance between a particular protein, cytochrome, from a snake was actually closer to the cytochrome protein from a man.

Wow! Imagine the poisonous fairy tales and fables and sci-fi movies around that.And speaking of computer-based measuring of genetic distance, the number of organisms that have had their genes sequenced is doubling every year? So, that means our molecular information bank has increased exponentially. And on the molecular level, there’s no evidence to support the evolutionary fairy tales and fables of how life began. None.

Now, I realize Christians are just supposed to have blind faith in “a god” we “created in our own image as a crutch.” But the Christian Faith is based on so much more evidence. And that’s important because Christians place their faith and hope in someone they’ve never seen. I say He’s the one true, living, loving Creator of the universe. And the universe of evidence backs up that claim. By the way., the Bible (bestselling book of all time and only book supported by evidence almost daily) talks about evidence and how important it is.

So, don’t monkey around with evolutionary monkey business.Even though only about 4% of human DNA differs from that of chimpanzees, that 4% represents “thirty-five million single-nucleotide changes, five million insertions or deletions, and various chromosomal rearrangements.” And the differences between the males from each species is around 30%.

See what I mean, ladies? Guys are not apes. Nope. We’re just as fearfully and wonderfully made as you. Even if we aren’t the eye candy you are. Hey, too much candy isn’t healthy anyway.

Anyway…

For more information on genetic distance and the way it relates to how we all got here, click on most of the links I just shared. They’ll take you to Dr. Walt Brown’s online book, “In The Beginning“. While you’re there, be sure and check out so many other compelling reasons to believe in the Creator rather than evolution.

And save the fairytales and fables for reading to the kids at bedtime.

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 my song, Fast Forward)

If enjoyed this science-based shot of reality, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

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As I write this, it’s Sunday. So, time for a Bible study. And, now, anyone who’s still here, I’ve got this question for you. Why is it so difficult for most people to admit the Creator of the universe is real?

After all, the actual Creator of the universe left evidence literally everywhere.It’s simple really. When you look at a building, you know automatically that someone built it. Or when you spot a painting on a canvas, immediately you know someone painted it. And when you’re driving somewhere, you have no question in your mind of how cars got here. Or roads. You simply know someone built it all.

So, why is it so difficult for so many people to look at the complexity and variety of life on our planet and agree there must be a Creator of the universe?

And let’s just talk about your eyes for a sec.

No, not YOURS personally. Eyes in general.

They’re WAY more complex than any building, painting, or car you’ll ever see. But so many people blindly believe (pun strongly intended) they just happened by chance. You know. Because, like, well, everything evolved, dude.

Oh yeah? Well, splain this to me, then.

Each of your eyes has a muscle, known as the Superior Oblique muscle. And it’s attached to the top of the eye AND threaded through a tiny sling. That tiny sling is known as the Trochlea. But why does that tiny muscle go through that sling instead of just attaching directly to the forward part of your eye?

Well, it solves space requirements and improves things like angle of torque. And those are design considerations. Evolution or natural selection would require at least a little bit of the design to already be working in order to “evolve” further. And, as they say in certain circles, that don’t make no sense.

But I’ll tell ya what DOES make sense. All things were created by Jesus.Uh-oh. I just went and done it, didn’t I? Because most fools, uh folks, believe it’s a silly, outdated, and dogmatic notion to believe the whole world was created by a “science fiction” character named Jesus.

But, since this is a Bible study I’m sharin’, I’m here to say it’s a silly, outdated, and dogmatic notion to believe all the complexity in the universe evolved from nothing.

Because you can’t get everything from nothing. No matter how much you might want it to be true, it just isn’t possible. Even if you believe all you can know is what your five senses tell you, none of your five senses will detect something from nothing.

Logic and reason (which are not part of your five senses, by the way) should lead you to admit design requires a designer. And, in the case of the universe, that designer is Jesus.

Like I started out saying…it’s simple really. Unless you don’t want to answer to the Creator of the universe. That’s not you, is it?

All of CreationAll of creation points to the Savior.
We are all here by design.
All the environment and complex behavior…
The Glory of God makes it shine.

All of creation holds information…
Encoded within every cell…
All of the best minds in each generation
Won’t banish what Christians know well…

That all of creation is here by the Word of God.
All of creation mirrors His mind.
All of creation is saved by the Love of God
And all of creation…Jesus defined.

If you agree with the evidence for the existence of God, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

Get my Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free.It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, when you send me your email address, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. So, don’t wait another minute. Here’s the form.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

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The post Creator of the universe can save you from a fiery curse appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

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When I was a young boy, my mom saved S&H Green Stamps. They were like rewards you get on your apps these days. Stamps a shopper received at stores, gas stations, or just about anywhere housewives shopped. Yeah, I know. “Housewives” is a politically incorrect term. But it wasn’t back then. Ah…the good old days.

Especially the S&H Green Stamps good old days.Because when a woman saved enough Green Stamps, she could redeem them for all sorts of household items she found in the S&H catalog. It was like free money. I remember my mom talking with her friends and family about some clock radio or dish set she just got with her stamps. It made for fun, and sometimes lively, conversation. And they’d share the news of double stamps days at the local grocery store. Then, bam! Time to storm the grocery store.

Speaking of time, how is time like Green Stamps? And that’s not actually a trick question.

Answer. They can both be redeemed. Well, I don’t think Green Stamps can anymore. Because I don’t think there’s that kind of rewards program around anymore. But time can still be redeemed.

Dan don’t believe me? Don’t think you could redeem time and get something “for free?”

Well, you can. And guess what you get? OK, I won’t make you guess.

The answer is more time.Yeah, I don’t mean you can turn 24 hour days into 30 hour days. But you can buy more time by making good use of the time you have here on planet Earth. In fact, you can buy time that never runs out. How cool is that?!

But you can’t just sit on your time. You gotta redeem it. Here’s how you do that. First, become a Christian. And if you’re already a Christian, you gotta “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” That’s getting a lot harder to do. Because more and more the world doesn’t wanna hear the name Jesus mentioned under any circumstances. So, it’s important to emphasize the “grace” and “salt” part.

I do that here on my blog. I’m redeeming the time I have left by sharing the power of God’s love and His enduring message of eternal life with anyone who cares to listen and/or read.

Now, are you paying attention to the clock? Because there’s a lot more than green stamps at stake.

“All I need is some time to hold in my hands.
All I want is some time to hold in my arms.” ~Tony Funderburk

If this landed somewhere good with you, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free.It’s good stuff based on the power of God’s love. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

Stay tuned,

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Hey kids. Have you noticed, when you go to the grocery store, how you see the word enriched in just about everything? And did you know most of the time, if not all, that’s not a good thing?

But there is a time when it’s awesome to see enriched in everything.And that is when we’re talking about, get this, YOU. And me. Or anyone who’s not ashamed to call himself or herself a Christian.

For just a second or two think about the grace of God, which was given to you by the one whose name you use to describe yourself as a Christian. There’s a place in 1 Corinthians that shows how grace made sure you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you so that you come short in no gift

Hey, who doesn’t like gifts? How much would you be willing to give for those gifts? But wait! There’s more! Because in that same section of 1 Corinthians it says Jesus will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Hang on. I don’t know about you, but that sounds glorious to me. Because I know if there’s one thing I’m not, in this life and in this world, it’s blameless.

And I’m gonna go out on a limb and say you probably aren’t blameless either. But Jesus made sure that we will appear that way when we stand before God one day. And He did that by taking our blame and covering us in…

The GloryYou got the glory in you,
The glory of God.
When people don’t understand,
You just smile and nod…

And trust the good things in you,
The Spirit, The Word.
And you can know that it’s true,
This good news you heard.

One day, when Jesus comes back,
To make things all right,
He’ll lift you high up because
You walked in His Light. © 2013 TF

If you know you’re enriched in everything, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

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Here’s a short PSA to the world. Looks can be deceiving. And what you see in this world doesn’t last forever. But grace lasts forever. And that’s how humility is a virtue. Because God gives grace to the humble.

But being humble isn’t something to brag about.Yeah, that sort of cancels out your humility.

It’s OK to be confident. In fact, if you’re a Christian, you should be confident. Because you’ve been saved from a fate worse than death. Literally. If you’re not a Christian, the opposite is true. I didn’t make that up. Here are some key things to remember about God’s perspective. He…

Says the “perverse person is an abomination”
Keeps a secret counsel with upright people
Curses the houses of the wicked
Blesses the homes of the just
Scorns the scornful

Knowing all that, it would be a wise choice to choose to love God and His ways. It would be a wise choice to humble yourself because, like I mentioned before, God gives grace to the humble. And it would be a wise choice to realize you’re not God and that you need a savior.

And that’s how humility is a virtue.So be wise when it comes to your eternal fate. When you are, you’ll inherit glory. When you aren’t, you can only leave behind a legacy of shame. Will you humble yourself before God today? Or will you make a foolish decision with negative eternal consequences.

Grace to the humble.
Grace to the wise.
And grace to the ones who
Choose truth over lies.

If this landed somewhere good with you, let’s stay connected. It’s super easy. Here’s how:

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Just imagine if God said something like this: I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live…

Wow, that almost sounds like God says you can choose between life and death.But there are a lot of people who call themselves Christians, who say that everything that happens is part of God’s plan. And they say that includes who will live forever and who won’t. And they say there’s nothing you can do to change it because it’s all part of God’s will. In other words, you can’t choose because God already chose your destiny for you.

But that statement, I said to imagine that God said, IS something God actually DID say. In the book of Deuteronomy in the Bible. And it shows a much more loving God who wants you and me to be able to freely love him. Because true love must be freely given. Otherwise, everyone is just a robot who can only do what we’re programmed to do.

But I don’t believe that for even a nanosecond. Because I’ve read too many beautiful passages in the Bible that completely contradict that kind of a creator. The power of God’s love is revealed on just about every page in every book of the Bible. Old Testament. And New Testament.

That’s why a few years ago I shared a bullet list of why I love life. Here’s what I said…

I love life and the opportunity to live it.I love the:

smooth sailing,
trials and tribulations
growing up,
gaining knowledge,
gaining friends,
awards and rewards,
challenges and failures,
clouds and sunshine,
joy and laughter,
pain and redemption, and
words and music…

Those are all components that help make up this journey through life. It’s not a two part journey. It’s a two place journey. And I’m eager and privileged to participate in both. This place we’re in right now is amazing and difficult. The next place will be unfathomably kinetic, energizing, and joyous. More reasons why I love life.

But the next place won’t be like that for everyone.That’s a shame because it’s really not difficult to achieve. You just need to believe. But here’s another bullet list of where you should not place your faith:

Dreams
Yourself.
a “force”
The “law of attraction”
Internal spirits
Mohammed
Confucious
Buddha
Allah
Oprah
Obama
and least of all, satan

Put your faith only in Jesus. I’m sure thankful I did that a long time ago. Because that one name is the key to choosing between life and death.

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free.I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

Stay tuned,

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Have you ever read the list of the perils of Paul? It’s an epic list, to say the least. And it was because he shared the unvarnished, hard truth. About the only peril preachers, in probably 99% of American churches, face these days is obesity. And my guess is, that’s not because they’re sharing that same unvarnished, hard truth in God’s word.

Here’s the list of the perils of Paul, as he wrote it:…in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness, besides the other things, what comes upon me daily

Dictionaries typically define peril as: serious and immediate danger

So, Paul certainly found out how correct that definition is.

But he didn’t let any of that stop him from delivering the message that Jesus gave him to share with the world. Of course, the world, most of it anyway, doesn’t want anything to do with the grace gift from Jesus. Because that would require the humility to acknowledge that He is the creator, the sovereign God, who has sealed the fate for anyone who denies who Jesus is.

“But that’s so harsh, Tony.”I guess, in a way, that’s true. But you wouldn’t say that if you had read what they did to Jesus. An innocent person who went around healing people, sharing a message of hope and love, and performing miracles for mostly small-minded people.

His own people falsely accused Him, had Him thrown in prison, and then had Him beaten and crucified. And all because they didn’t like His message. They preferred their tradition and visible pomp and circumstance.

Hmm, that sounds like so-called Christian churches in America these days. Big stages, light shows, fog, machines, loud repetitive mantra music, and anecdotal stories (what I call Sunday TED talks) from the pulpit.

Yeah, pretty much the only peril those so-called preachers face is obesity.

There won’t be a “well done, good and faithful servant” for those actions.

When you tell the actual truth in church today, it will be almost impossible to build a large church. Because most people who go to church fall under the itching ears category. And when you share the “harsh” truth with them, they’ll feel convicted. And they would rather feel good about themselves. So, they go to churches or the so-called pastor or preacher tells them they can live their best life now.

I bet that’s not you. And I bet you would rather live…

In The House Of The LordFather God,
You never leave me You never forsake me.
And Your Word…
Gives me courage to go where you take me.

You are with me through each dire upheaval.
With You in me I will fear no evil.
As I walk through the shadow of death…
I will sing till my very last breath…

Green pastures, still waters…
Goodness and mercy for your sons and daughters…
True love dwells in the House of the LORD.
Each person, each nation…
Can be renewed through Your sweet restoration…
True love dwells in the House of the LORD.

Father God,
You made a Way for my total redemption.
I believe…
Jesus died to provide that exemption.

He’s my shepherd through thorns and thru clover.
He’s my new wine, and my cup runs over.
As I walk through the shadow of death…
I will sing till my very last breath…Chorus © 2010 TF

Cheers to your day free from shipwrecks and prisons.

Get Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional delivered to your inbox for free. I share it with believers who want to focus on the power of God’s love and rightly divide the word of truth. Spend your time reading, listening, and watching good stuff based on the power of God’s love instead of looking for it. And, to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to music and The Very First 6 Days (a rhyming book for kids about the creation week) right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies. Just add your email to the form and let’s connect right away.

The form can be filled in the actual website url.

Stay tuned,

The post Perils of Paul don’t sound like ya’ll appeared first on Tony Funderburk.

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You have enough to think about today. So, don’t add tomorrow’s worries to today. And that’s not just some anecdotal thing I came up with. It’s advice that can also be found in red letters in the Bible. (for those of you unfamiliar with the Bible, red letters are used when it’s Jesus talking)

Yeah, your Creator actually said you have enough to think about today.But think about tomorrow for a second or two. It never really gets here. Right? It’s always “out there.” Somewhere beyond the next sunrise. Somewhere in the future. The future is coming. Always getting here. But it never actually gets here either. Because that slippery tomorrow always manages to fade away from your grasp the second the clock strikes midnight.

So, today is the only day you can actually do anything about. Tomorrow isn’t here yet, and yesterday is over and done with. And, since today is the only time you actually live in, shouldn’t your focus be on what you can do today? Of course, that should be a rhetorical question. But sadly too many people are so fearful of what the future holds they let today slip away.

And when today slips away, what does it become? Tomorrow? Nope. It immediately becomes yesterday. A saying I coined many years ago is this: “Today is yesterday’s tomorrow and tomorrow’s yesterday.” I’ve seen a lot of people use some version of it. But I never see any royalties.

Life ain’t fair I tell ya.Anyway…

Time is really a weird thing, isn’t it? When Jesus said “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things“, it was to illustrate how futile it is to worry about tomorrow. So futile, in fact, that we should let tomorrow worry about itself. Hmm…can a tomorrow do that? Well, I’ve certainly got enough to think about today. So, I’m not gonna worry about it. How about you?

The things you want to do
Are plans that just fall through.
The pieces just don’t fit.
You lose them bit by bit.
Oh, and it’s just so hard to see
Why tomorrow never ever came to me.

(from a mournful song I wrote in 1978: Tomorrow Never Came To Me)

Once you see the benefit, join the growing body of believers who’ve already signed up for the Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional. And I’ll send you daily flashes of light so we can stay focused on faith, hope, and love.

Stay tuned…

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Biblical knowledge is available to anyone who’s interested in finding out more. And the key points, and truth, of the Bible are easy enough to understand that even a child can learn about the love of our Creator. And that’s more important to know and understand than anything else anyone will ever learn.

Good thing Biblical knowledge isn’t being kept under a basket somewhere.Thankfully, Biblical knowledge is still boldly shared all over the internet. At least it is here in America. I’m sure other places in the world still “allow/tolerate” it. But, as an example of what’s shared here in America, I saw some interesting comments on social media today. Like this one:

“One of the biggest lies in society and unfortunately even in much of the church, is that everyone is basically good, rather than the biblical truth that there is NONE who are good except Jesus. That everyone is deserving of hell. That’s why a lot of what the Bible calls sin is justified, because people think – ‘well he’s a good person, why shouldn’t he be happy and allowed to be gay’ etc. This thinking leads to a lack of fear of the Lord, as well as a lukewarm passion for Jesus and a lack of absolute thankfulness that He saved us!!”

And that guy shared that post in response to a quote, by Jonathan Edwards, another guy shared. The quote is, “Almost every natural man that hears of hell flatters himself that he shall escape it.” And the guy who shared the quote added, “Don’t flatter yourself.”

Good point.Another post I saw showed wisdom and discernment you only get with Biblical knowledge. A young woman shared this, “Parents in Canyon, Texas call it a win after the Bible is allowed back in the school’s library. But if the school spends 7-8 hours every day teaching an anti-biblical worldview, what did they win? Christians should take their CHILDREN out of the secular, Marxist government schools. That’s how you win.”

Yes, it is.

And then, you’ll get plenty of the convoluted Biblical knowledge, too. Like this post from someone who uses the handle, Biblical and Reformed (red flag alert). This person simply quoted from scripture in order to justify an incorrect predestination position. He posted, “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom He predestined, He also called. And those whom He called, He also justified, and those whom He justified, He also glorified.”

I remember having a discussion with my mom, many moons ago, about how her idea that everything that happens was pre-ordained by God. And she found that very scripture and read it to me. So, I asked her one simple question.

“Mom, who did God NOT foreknow?”

And then I asked her to apply the implications of the answer to that question to her predestination position. I saw the light flicker in the eyes of her understanding. But then, just as quickly, I saw the regurgitation of all those years of flawed Biblical knowledge flood back into her head.

Last, but not least, for now.I saw a post that dared to say the TV series, “Yellowstone isn’t just a show it’s a blueprint for what it means to be a real man. This modern Western dives deep into masculinity, responsibility, and legacy. Let’s break it down through a biblical lens and see what every man can learn from the Duttons.” Ay yi yi!

I’ve never watched that show, but video snippets pop up all over the place. And they almost alway include a LOT of profanity and sexualized content. But the guy who posted that followed up with what he considers supportive info. Like this post, “If you’re a Christ follower, you can spot Christ in the series and movies get ready for some powerful lessons.” (his writing, not mine)

And that just ain’t so. Because it’s not Biblical or Christ-like to do so many anti Christ things but add a “redemptive” twist and call it good.

I know my Biblical knowledge doesn’t have the mass appeal of what passes for knowledge in the pop culture. But I’m totally confident that Jesus doesn’t think Yellowstone is a good show for Christians to watch.

Look, I get it. It’s good to see strong (even “white”) men portrayed in this day and age when soy boys rule so much. But I recommend your role models be Jesus, Paul, and the other patriarchs of the Bible.

So, maybe you don’t need any of this info. If that’s the case, then, as they say in Poland, Nessun problema. Continua con la tua giornata, ci sentiamo più tardi.

A Thousand Times, NOEverything is for a reason.
God is in control.
Everything He turns to good
For His higher goal.
So do you want to thank Him for
Destruction and despair?
Is He the author of confusion?
You see it everywhere…

(from my song, A Thousand Times, NO)

Stay tuned…

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Kris and Themum woke up to a thunderstorm filled with bright flashes of lightning. Thank goodness they had taken extra time to secure their tents and position them for protection. Because the thunderstorm turned into what Uncle Paulo would describe as “a real frog drowner.” But they weren’t gonna let a little rain put a damper on reaching the goal for the day.

Because the goal for the day was the ultimate hiker’s prize.The summit. The peak. A couple more vertical miles, and they’d see the tip-top of the goal they’d talked about for a long time. And they both thought about that as they fired up the little backpack grill to make breakfast and coffee.

Neither one said anything. Kris had pointed out, before they even started their climb, that he wasn’t a morning talker. And Themum said he just wasn’t a morning person, period. So, that worked out. Even though it sounds funny to say it, they could just enjoy the mountain sounds in silence.

After breakfast, and a jolt of adrenaline thanks to their Italian roast coffee, the guys gathered up their gear to get ready to press on.

And as most climbers (the honest ones at least) might tell you, they didn’t even fully understand WHY they pressed on. Because the thin air increased the challenge with each step up in elevation. So, it wasn’t like it was just a walk in the park.

But when set a goal, you gotta keep your eyes on the goal.Otherwise your mind, and aching muscles, can conjure up all kinds of reasons to turn back. And Kris and Themum certainly faced those distractions way up there above the tree line. But the awesome beauty of the summit, bathed in the orange-red-yellow glow of the morning sun, urged them forward.

After a few more switchbacks, the trail turned considerably narrower. And rockier.

As they approached a sharp turn, next to a wind-worn tree trunk, Themum felt a pebble in his hiking boot. So, he stopped to lean on the tree trunk for support and remove it. But just as he started to lift his foot to unlace the boot his other foot twisted slightly on another rock. And his hand slipped off the tree trunk. And he tumbled off the edge of the trail.

Kris had just made the sharp turn when he looked back to see Themum disappear over the edge. And, as you can well imagine, he dashed back down the trail to where his friend had fallen out of sight. He was afraid of what he might find. Or not find. But he quickly calmed that fear with faith.

“Themum!” he called out.

And thankfully Themum replied, “I’m right down here. Good thing there was a shrub to break my fall. But it’s pretty small. And I don’t know if it can hold me for long.”

So, Kris answered back, “OK, don’t worry. I’ll help you get back up here.”

And with that promise, Kris quickly looked around for something to hand down to his friend. There wasn’t much to choose from. But he DID find one solid limb, about 4 feet long, that looked like it had fallen off that wind-worn tree.

Then, he carefully approached the edge of the trail again.“Ok, buddy. I’m gonna hand you a branch to grab on to. Can you do that without falling?” he asked.

Themum answered, “Yeah, I think so. But I think we’d better hurry. The roots of this shrub seem to be shifting around a little bit.”

So, Kris grabbed on to another shrub with his left hand and lowered the branch down to his friend. And it was a good thing the branch was about 4 feet long. Because they needed every inch of it.

“Now, we’ve gotta sync up just right, buddy,” Kris told Themum. “When I pull, you gotta get the best footing you can and push at the same time. Are you ready?”

Themum dug his right hiking boot into the ground and answered, “Ready!”

“OK,” said Kris. We’re one unit. One force. Keep your eyes up here. On three. One! Two!”

And they both grunted out, “THREE!”Kris pulled the limb. Themum pushed into the ground and reached up to grab another root. And they repeated those moves a few more times till Themum was safely back on the trail. They both laid there in the warm sunlight, breathing deeply, and saying silent prayers of thanks. Because they had combined their efforts into one force, they got the job done right.

In case you’re wondering, yes, they DID go on to the summit. And they enjoyed reaching the goal they had weeks before. There were selfies. And pats on each other’s backs. Plus, they had a nail-biting adventure story they could share with their kids and grandkids.

Aren’t you glad you don’t have to rescue anybody off a mountainside today? And aren’t you glad you can just share stories with kids and grandkids the easy way? Just by going to the Rhyme and Reason Bookshop.

Yeah, do that today. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

I can see a dip in the mountainside
Where the wind shakes the pines like a rattle,
But no matter where I roam or ride
I dream best in the cool windy saddle.

Stay tuned…

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Have you ever made a rock? And how about a stick? Have you ever made one of those? Well, what about a drop of water? Surely you’ve at least made a drop of water in your life. And surely, somewhere, there’s a school science class where that has happened. Naturally, I don’t expect anyone to create a river. But surely at least one, single drop of water shouldn’t be that hard to do.

And if someone HAS made a drop of water, imagine how proud they are.I can almost see the headline: Whiz Kid Invents World’s First Drop Of Water In A Laboratory

Yeah, that whiz kid’s gonna be able to boast about that street cred for a long time.

OK, a rock, a stick, and water seem like simple things. But no whiz kid on earth can make even a grain of sand or a seed. Because only God can make those things.

And I bet you’re fine with that. Right? I’m sure you don’t mope around wishing you could invent dirt and stuff. Because it’s a lot more fun throwing rocks, lying in the sand, and splashing in the water. Especially on hot summer days.

But, if you COULD invent a drop of water, everybody would wanna be your friend. And before you knew it, you could brag about how you have a million friends. And think about how proud that might make you feel.

But you gotta watch out for that proud part.

Because that’s where a lotta trouble starts.So, maybe you’re not a science whiz kid. But let’s say win a running race. Or you paint a picture that wins first place at the art chow. Or maybe you write a hit song people love to listen to on the radio. Nothin’ wrong with any of that. But I recommend you don’t get all caught up in being proud of yourself.

It’s a much better idea to thank the Lord that He gave you strong legs to win the race. Or thank Him for giving you the talent and good eyes to paint a beautiful picture. Or good ears and skills to write music.

After all, God was the one who created you. He designed your muscles and bones and eyes and ears. He gave you a brain. And He gave your brain the power to think your own thoughts. Dream your own dreams. And even sing your own songs. No, you wouldn’t have any of those things without Him.

So, God must love you a lot to make so many wonderful things for you to enjoy. Right?

And just so you know, it’s fine for others who love you to be proud of you. They wanna see you do good and awesome things. Because that means you’re growing and getting better and better at what they helped you learn how to do.

But don’t forget. You didn’t invent art and music, or even that one drop of water I mentioned earlier. And you certainly didn’t invent YOU. So, stay humble. Don’t fall into the pride and proud trap.

Remember, there ARE some things God hates. And at the top of His list is “a proud look.”

So, my hope for you, today, is that you’ll go do some great things. AND give thanks to God.

And here’s a rhyme to help you remember:If you’re proud of yourself for the things you do,
Pretty soon no one wants to be around you,
‘Cause you’ll sound just like an old clanging bell
That is out of tune and doesn’t ring so well.
Give a nod to God with a thankful prayer.
Let Him know you’re glad that He’s always there.
And be glad for the gifts that He’s given you.
It’s because of Him you can do what you do.

Before you go, jump on the Rhyme and Reason Bandwagon. And join the growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the Rhyme and Reason and power of God’s love.

Stay tuned,

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Gonna talk about truth and mercy right now. So, get ready to take some mental notes. Yeah, put away those silly tablets and other writing accoutrement. Because I don’t want your brain distracted by an urgent need to jot notes.

The value of truth and mercy is too important to miss.So, before I go any further, I know your brain is already distracted by the grammar in my headline, “Truth and mercy for what him and her say.” Right? C’mon, admit it. Your first thought was to call the grammar police and report some noun/verb abuse. But, hopefully you remembered I’m Mister Tony, the Rhyme and Reason Guy. And you thought, “Hey, wait a minute. I bet Tony’s using his poetic license to make his headline rhyme.”

And I’m so glad none of this caused a ruckus we can’t overcome. So, on to the main point(s).

Have you ever been called a loser? I hope not. But if you have, I’m sure you remember how much it hurt. Right? People who call you a loser or some other name have already lost something. I bet you didn’t know that, did you? Yep, people like that have lost 2 things you should never lose. Would you like to know what they are? Keep reading…

There are a lot of things in this life you could lose and it wouldn’t make much difference. Your pencil. Your paper. And your bubble gum. But those are just thingy things. You can almost always get more thingy things. But there are other things much more important.

And here are the 2 things you should never lose:Truth and Mercy. Did you already guess? If so, you win a big pat on your back. Go tell someone I said to give you one.

And you know what mercy is. Right? It’s kinda like telling someone you’re not mad at them for breaking your toy. In fact, instead of getting mad at them, you tell them they can play with another one of your toys. You should try that sometime. You might be surprised to see what a big smile you could put on your friend’s face. Yeah, mercy is a pretty special thing. You should have a lot of it in you.

And I bet you know what truth is, too. Right? It’s what you say that can stand any test. And it’s the same for everybody. Let’s say I tell you the sun is bigger and hotter than the moon. Am I telling you the truth? Sure am. And isn’t it true for everybody who lives here on Earth. Sure is. Everybody can see the sun is bigger. And they can feel how much hotter it is. So, if I tell someone those things…I’m telling them the truth. It’s good to know some things are true for everybody.

It makes it easier to understand the world.There’s something that ties mercy and truth together. Do you know what that is? It’s love.

When you love somebody, it’s much easier to show mercy and say, “You can play with this toy even though you broke that one.” And when you love, you want to know truth…because you might be curious where love comes from. Don’t you think so?

Here’s the biggest reason why it’s important to know these 2 things you should never lose. Because when you have those things in YOUR heart, you win a place in God’s heart.

And winning a place in God’s heart is the best thing you could ever win because that lasts forever. Go share some Truth and Mercy today. I’m counting on you. And here’s a rhyme to help you remember…

Mercy and truth are lighted lamps
To help you find your way…
So with God’s help, go share your love
For others every day.

Get some music and a book sent your way real fast. Just jump on the Rhyme and Reason Bandwagon. And join a growing band of believers who enjoy my books, daily rhymes, songs, and videos about the power of God’s Love.

Stay tuned,

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Cow secretions and bee vomit. Yum, yum. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be goin’ back for seconds. Oh yeah! But first, here’s my desire as I share a little something with you today:

Let my teaching drop as the rain,
My speech distill as the dew,
As raindrops on the tender herb,
And as showers on the grass.

I can’t (and don’t) take credit for that most pleasant prose. Because it was written by Mo very many years ago. And Mo was the one who put the dude in Deuteronomy. He was inspired, by God, to give an account of how the nation of Israel came to be. And how that nation was God’s chosen people who actually betrayed Him repeatedly. The prose I just shared comes from a section in Deuteronomy known as “The Song of Moses.”

What’s that? You didn’t know Moses was a poetic guy? A songwriter? Well, you learn somethin’ new every day.

And now you know he’s the guy I called Mo.

So, what does any of this have to do with me comin’ back for seconds?Especially when we’re talkin’ about cow secretions and bee vomit.

Well, imagine you’re in a desert land. And it’s quite the understatement to call it a terrible place. Because you have virtually no hope of getting out. No food or water or shelter. And no idea which way to go. Then, out of the blue, a ghost appears and leads you to food. In fact, you walk into fields of juicy, tasty produce. Not only that, but the ghost shows you how to get honey and good fats from the ground.

If all that happened, you’d probably think you just hit the best lottery ever!

OK, now imagine that the scenario I just shared isn’t make-believe. Because the “ghost” is a real person. And the story I just told is based on a true story found in the Bible. It’s about how God took a man named Jacob and made him into a nation. And that nation is Israel. The story I told you to imagine goes like this:

“He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness; He encircled him, He instructed him, He kept him as the apple of His eye. As an eagle stirs up its nest, Hovers over its young, Spreading out its wings, taking them up, Carrying them on its wings, So the Lord alone led him, And there was no foreign god with him. He made him ride in the heights of the earth, That he might eat the produce of the fields; He made him draw honey from the rock, And oil from the flinty rock…”

If someone did all that for you, would you betray him?

My guess is, on some level, you probably would.Because, on some level, we all have. And that’s because of the lowest common denominator we all have. Selfishness. Somewhere inside you is your desire to be your own king. To handle everything YOUR way. And you either fight against that desire or you give in. Most give in. Reminds me of these lyrics from The Who:

Out here in the fields
I fight for my meals.
I get my back into my living.
And I don’t need to fight
To prove I’m right.
I don’t need to be forgiven.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Don’t cry.
Don’t raise your eye.
It’s only teenage wasteland.

Yeah, that whole selfish concept of “I don’t need to be forgiven.” But, even though Pete Townshend didn’t realize it at the time, it’s actually that kind of selfishness that keeps you in the wasteland. Keeps you in the desert.

But there IS a Way out of that desert and into the land of cow secretions and bee vomit.

I keep saying that to poke fun at so-called “nutrition influencers.”That’s their descriptions of milk and honey. Cow secretions and bee vomit. But God inspired Mo (aka: Moses) to call the “promised land” the “land of milk and honey. And that was a description meant to entice. Not repulse. And if God says something is good, it is good.

This is just one of the many reasons why the Bible is the bestselling book of all time.

And I’m convinced that, if you read it with an open mind and heart, it will change your teenage wasteland heart to one full of love, purpose, and focus. Plus, I believe you’ll love the amazing force of life you can feel, when you KNOW you’re gonna live forever in paradise.

And don’t be surprised, once you’ve discovered the truth I’m talking about, how you’ll want to go back for seconds. And thirds, fourths, fifths, etc.

Dig deep and find the treasures for your heart.
The Bible is the perfect place to start.
And as the words unfold, revealing love and gold,
The life God gave you never will depart.

Now, jump on the Rhyme and Reason Bandwagon. And be part of the growing band of believers who wanna show the world that life has Rhyme and Reason because God is Real.

Stay tuned,

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You’ve probably experienced faith and doubt at the same time. It’s OK to admit it because it’s part of your human flaws. I know. How dare I say you have flaws, right? Easy. Because everybody does.

I talk about the Apostle Paul a lot. And that’s because he’s the best example of where you and I are right now. And he expressed his concerns about his own ways when he wrote to the new Christians in Rome. Check out what he said and see if you detect yourself in his words:

“…we know that the law is spiritual, but I am carnal, sold under sin. For what I am doing, I do not understand. For what I will to do, that I do not practice; but what I hate, that I do. If, then, I do what I will not to do, I agree with the law that it is good. But now, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) nothing good dwells; for to will is present with me, but how to perform what is good I do not find. For the good that I will to do, I do not do; but the evil I will not to do, that I practice. Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.”

And a few lines later, you can see those weren’t just idle thoughts. Paul was so deeply affected by that inner conflict that he said, “O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?” Yikes!

Yeah, flaws, like the ones Paul described, can allow doubt seep into your mind. That doubt can affect your day, your decisions, and your dreams. And that’s even if you’ve expressed a true faith in the One who made you. I’m not talking about the skepticism kind of doubt, the kind of uncertainty of how we even got here.

No, this is about Christian faith. And doubt in yourself or your future.Uncertainty and insecurity can sneak into your life if you don’t watch out. Regardless of that, I want you to know it’s not an unforgivable sin for that to happen in your life. But doubt can grow when you focus on it instead of the solution.

Faith and doubt are mentioned, a lot, in the Bible.

Doubt is often referred to as fear, or a lack of courage, or unbelief. But, no matter what kind of doubt it is, the solution is always presented as faith. God wants you to have courage. He wants you to be powerful and loving. And He gives you the tool to get the job done.

His word.

His word is also called “the sword of the Spirit.” It’s an invisible sword, more powerful than brass, iron, or steel. And yet it’s sharp enough to “divide soul and spirit.” Wow, that’s difficult to even imagine.

Anyway…

Here’s my main point. I just want you to know that if you’re bouncing back and forth between faith and doubt, it means you’re doing something wrong. Not evil, but wrong. And it’s probably that you put most of your trust in yourself. But that’s leaning on limited understanding. And certainly not trusting in the Lord with all your heart.

There are successful people who don’t trust in the Lord. That’s undeniably true.

But what profits will you enjoy if you gain the whole world and lose your soul?

Most millionaires and billionaires go to hell.

I’m not picking on wealthy people because most poor people are going to hell, too. Because most PEOPLE are not going to Heaven. For one stupid reason. They choose not to go. If you have any doubt about where you’ll go if you die today, I suggest putting your faith in Jesus. Without Him, you face a life full of…

False MovesI seem to make so many false moves.
So many have misunderstood.
I guess I must expect the worst results,
And I’d deal with them, if I could.

False moves, like shadows, fall behind.
You might go look for them, but they’re difficult to find.
False moves, like liquor, bring a sense of doubt.
So hard to live with, and so easy to live without.

I always seem to see the empty spots
And fill them up with simple words,
But when I think I’ve got the right idea,
It disappears like Autumn birds.

I sit and dream of traveling so far,
And then I end up standing still.
Part of me says that I will make it.
Part of me says I never will.
False moves”

Since I referenced Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, I’m gonna share a link to my own lyrical perspective on that book of the Bible. It’s called “Rhyme and Reason in Ephesians.” Get a digital copy from your choice of stores:

https://books2read.com/u/baEaeP

Stay tuned,

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Your life design is unique. No one else who ever lived, is living now, or will ever live will have the same life as you. But your life is also no different from anybody else either. Here’s what I mean. And why it matters.

The DNA found in every cell of your body is incredibly complex and completely yours. The odds that it exists by chance are so small, you’d be more likely to win the powerball AND get struck by lightning on 3 birthdays in a row.

Yeah, your living, loving Creator gave you your life design.And He put the code inside you that makes sure no one else will be you. So, are you starting to realize how special you are? Great.

But here’s the other side of the coin…

You’re not so special, unique, or one-of-a-kind when it comes to how your life plays out.

Because you’ll experience awesome days and disappointing days. You’ll have to go through pain. And you’ll enjoy great pleasures. You will. And so will about seven billion other people. So did countless other people throughout history. It’s life.

But just because God gave you your life design doesn’t mean He designed how you’d live out your life.

That’s why you’ll find forks in roads where you’ll have to choose a direction, an option, a judgment call. Because, in your life design, God gave you a brain to use. A mind to store data and make options based on using that data well.

So, what’s the best way to make wise choices when you find one of the forks in the road? It depends on who you’re willing to trust for help. Do you think your best friends have the solution? How about mom? Or dad? Those can be good choices. But what if they’re not available when you’re faced with a situation that needs a “right away” answer?

Who can you turn to in those times?I suggest that same living, loving Creator I mentioned before.

Remember, He designed you. He formed you in your mother’s womb. And He installed that unique code inside you. He knows what makes you tick. And He’s available 24 hours a day. Every day of your life. And He’s as close as your breath. In fact, He’s closer. He’s the Spirit of Life. For you, me, and everyone who wants him to be. Without Him nobody would exist. And His word is how you get to know Him and discover His advice for those forks in your road.

God’s word says you can plan your way. And it says He will direct your steps. That means He won’t make your decisions for you. And He didn’t plan your life for you. But when you trust Him, He won’t lead you the wrong way. He’ll lead you the direct way. That means you’ll get where you need to be.

Here’s a challenge for you.

Give up self-trust today. Read God’s word even more to understand your life design. Especially Paul’s writings, from Romans through Philemon, in the New Testament. Because Paul’s message is the most relevant part of the Bible for what’s going on right now.

OK, here’s a rhyme to share with kids about their life design.

Your Story MattersInside a trillion tiny cells,
Where no one’s eyes can see,
A trillion times your story flies
On sparks of energy.

That energy is life itself,
The fire to light your way,
To write your story and to live
And love someone today.

Be thankful for your source of life
And bow or smile and nod
Because your story matters most,
When it reveals our God.

Jump on the Rhyme and Reason Bandwagon and be part of the growing band of believers who wanna show the world that life has Rhyme and Reason because God made us.

Stay tuned,

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Slim and None. Those are the probable answers to the question. But, naturally, that begs the question. And at least one version of the question would be, “What are the odds that everything happens for a reason?” And I’d say chances are also slim and none that people who believe everything happens for a reason would agree with Jesus on that.

Uh-oh. I done went and done it that time. So, before I move on, I’d like to know if you agree with this:

Chances are slim and/or none that God didn’t author the Bible.My option, on that statement, is NONE. But I’ll play the Lord’s advocate (because I prefer never to advocate for the devil) and assume not everyone agrees with me.

If that’s you, bear with me as I blast out some info that maybe you haven’t considered before. And this doesn’t come from some marketer. It’s not from a metaphysicalized so-called “pastor” or “minister.” This word, that affirms accidental circumstances, comes right out of the Bible in at least three different places. Actually four places. And maybe even five. But I don’t want you to start with the first place it’s found in case you’re the type who’s easily confused.

So. Are you ready for the affirmation word? Are you sure? Because this gets kinda complicated and it triggers people.

OK, if you’re still reading, it means your mind is fortified and you’re ready to hear some truth.

So, here’s the word. Chance.

Bam! Oh yeah, that word IS in the Bible. Four times when you do a search in the New King James version. And are you ready for the high octane Spirit chaser? One of the times the word “chance” is used, it’s in RED. Bam again! (for the initiated, red letters mean those words were spoken by Jesus)

Anyway…

The reason I brought it up is because I see, literally every day, Christians debating whether or not everything happens because God ordained everything. And anyone who says He does has NOT yet comprehended the book He wrote. Because He’s infinitely creative (meaning His creative abilities have no end). And He’s infinitely brilliant (meaning He knows how to create worlds and beings that don’t require Him for day-to-day operations.

So, that means God designed you to be able to think for yourself. And decide for yourself.

But THAT is why there is so much evil and horror in the world.Because there seems to be no depth of depravity that human beings aren’t willing to go. People have done things to each other so horribly wicked that it never entered God’s mind they would do them.

Sure, God knows everything knowable. And everything He wants to know. But do you think for a moment, that God, for eternity past, had any thoughts of burning children on altars to sacrifice them to Baal? No, that’s not His nature. It’s ours.

OK, I just had to get that out there for your consideration. And I know chances are slim that everyone will agree with me. But I also know there’s a chance somebody’s mind could be changed. And that notion motivates me to share the info. Here’s a little outro rhyme of chance…

Maybe. Maybe not.Will the sun rise in the morning?
Will the temperature be hot?
And will skies be blue and sunny?
Well, maybe…maybe not.

Will the songbirds all be singing?
Will the breezes blow a lot?
And will leaves lift up their laughter?
Well, maybe…maybe not.

Will some words of wisdom visit?
Will the books all have a plot?
And will we read some happy stories?
Well, maybe…maybe not.

Will the world go on forever?
Will the getting all be got?
And will we all be nice to others?
Well, maybe…maybe not.

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The end of April is fast approaching. So, get read for all those May flowers. Of course, that leads to Mother’s Day and then Memorial Day and backyard barbecues. All that wonderful evidence of Spring can help you forget that God hates you.

Anyway…

So, last week I had a nice conversation with some people who walked their Yorkie by the bungalow. We got to talkin’ about how they don’t make houses like the ones in our neighborhood anymore. And…pardon me?

What do you mean I left you hanging with the God hates you comment?Oh, OK. I just read what I’ve written so far. And you’re right. I did write that “God hates you.” Yeah, I suppose that’s a bit harsh. And maybe I should clear that up a little. I didn’t actually mean He hates YOU. I meant He hates YOU, if and when you hate Him and when you prefer to riff on your own merry way.

But hat’s not YOU. Right?

OK. We’re clear now. So, let’s move on.

Yeah, these bungalows, from over 100 years ago, are certainly a lot more solid than modern houses. Oak flooring. Local stone foundations that surround the basement. It’s cool to see the workmanship and hand-nailed cabinetry, rafters, and trim. And you can tell they cared more because…huh? What’s that?

You don’t want me to talk about this old bungalow? You’d rather I explain what I mean about God’s hate?

OK, I will. But I sure didn’t think you’d be so curious about it. After all, it’s not like it’s a secret. He came right out and said it in His best-selling book of all time. And He made it clear who and what He hates.

So, if you don’t fit into the categories, don’t worry.God says He hates the wicked. And I believe Him. Because He’s not a man. And He doesn’t lie.

But I also know He’d rather not hate anyone. It’s not His first choice to serve up a cup of fire. Or brimstone. Or burning wind. And that’s why He holds all those things in reserve for only those who hate Him or His children.

I don’t know about you. But I enjoy a good steaming cup of coffee on a brisk, quiet morning. And I’ve been known to partake of some spicy, hot barbecue sauce on my brisket. But I’d rather not even sample any of that hot stuff God will serve up for the wicked. No sir. I’m saving room for dessert (aka: Heaven).

I’d rather have an ice cream cone
Than a cup of fire and brimstone.
And I’d rather enjoy God’s love
Than burning winds from up above.
So, I say “yes” to all His word,
The parts I’ve read, the parts I’ve heard.
I know someday I’ll leave this place
And live forever in His grace.

It certainly will be much better than fire and brimstone when you jump on the Rhyme and Reason Bandwagon. So, don’t put it off another second. Get some complimentary goodies now: https://www.TonyFunderburk,com

Stay tuned,

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It makes me mad how some people feel a deep-down, dastardly need to rule over others. Yeah, for them, rule number one is “Do unto others before they can do unto you.” But that rule number one only lasts a … Read the rest

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Here’s a tough one, even for Christians. God is not currently in charge of this world. And again, Jesus tells us that. Three times! He WILL rule this world one day. But He currently does NOT rule. And the evidence … Read the rest

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Remind me to tell you my thoughts on human sovereignty one of these days. I’ve got an interesting perspective on it. But that’s not what I’m sharing with you today. Something else occurred to me, today, as I saw the … Read the rest

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The first century Christians were committed to one another. Christians today? Not so much. Sure, there are small cliques. But, as a whole, it’s a divided faith. And splintered, sometimes, by just the meaning of a single verse. Or even … Read the rest

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Ever wonder why God made everything the way He did? If you don’t believe in God, you might as well skip past me and my writing. Because I’m gonna be wondering around creation for just a bit. And you might … Read the rest

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Today, America is a messed up vision. A shadow of its former somewhat shadowy self. Because right and wrong is a concept blurred by propaganda. And good and bad are now in the “eye of the beholder.” So, those who … Read the rest

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Favor and grace sound favorable and gracious to me. But maybe I’m just being too literal. And maybe those words aren’t conducive to your ability, or willingness, to sharing information about eternity. And maybe I should clarify why I’m bringing … Read the rest

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Tomorrow is not the time to start something new. Because tomorrow is a concept. Because humans need that concept to help us understand the flowing of time. And even though it helps to include tomorrow in your understanding of time, … Read the rest

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Got some health challenges? Or other physical obstacles? How about emotional or relational problems? And let’s not forget your mental well-being. Have you discovered you’re not as young as you used to be? And wouldn’t you like to know why … Read the rest

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I know that you know that words can be deceiving. When I was a kid, we had a rhyme to thwart something somebody might say about us. It went like this: “Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words … Read the rest

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How about this expression? “The bad apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” You’ve heard that, right? Hmm, maybe that’s acorn. Or lemon. Doesn’t matter. The point’s the same. But there’s another expression, too. “One bad apple don’t spoil the … Read the rest

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Throw away your daytimer (does anybody have one of those anymore?). Toss out your to-do lists, your notes to self, your calendar apps, and your reminders. Because everything has already been painstakingly planned out for you. You just need to … Read the rest

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I’m happy to celebrate when a church moves in the direction of rightly dividing the word of truth. But you almost never see that anymore. In fact, most establishments calling themselves churches move in the opposite direction. Sometimes the move … Read the rest

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Yes, God does have a plan. A MasterPlan. But He most definitely does not have a plan for your day. As I’ve said many times…He’s far too brilliant a designer than to create a bunch of humans who can’t do … Read the rest

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I had my eyes examined (no, not my head) a couple of weeks ago. And this week I got my new glasses. Plus, this is my 2020th post here on TonyFunderburk.com. So, those two things, and a couple of other … Read the rest

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You and I should cling to what is good. Not because it’s some kind of law. But because there’s much benefit to it. Sometimes eternal benefits. But you can’t do it. And I can’t either. We just can’t do it. … Read the rest

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I just saw three weak references to time by Christians. And all three of them talked about when time shall be no more. Sadly, those Christians are perpetuating an impossibility. Because there will never be a time when there is … Read the rest

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“It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” You’ve heard that more than once I bet. And it sure applies to Christian doctrinal differences. Because I see it more and more, with each passing year, how Christians put words … Read the rest

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Do you speak Psalms? And how fluent is your Hymns? Or what about Spiritualese? What’s that you say? You don’t speak any of those languages? And you don’t even believe they ARE languages. Well, I guess, technically, they aren’t languages. … Read the rest

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This comes from back in the days of knights and lords and ladies. Apparently it was customary for a knight to wear the name of a certain lady during a tournament. And it was typically the lady he loved…or would … Read the rest

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47 years ago? Can it truly be that long? But you know what they say. Math don’t lie. And the numbers add up to (or subtract to) 47 years. I’m ramblin’ on about it because 1974 was the year, and … Read the rest

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“Alright. We ain’t talkin’ no politics or religion around here. See? And I better not catch you playin’ the stool pigeon, or you’ll be wearin’ a pine overcoat. See?” Yeah, those gangsters, from the movies of the 30’s and 40’s … Read the rest

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The good ol’ American can do attitude. Remember that? If you’re only a couple of decades old (or less), you might not. But it’s what truly made America a force to be reckoned with. Because when you have a nation … Read the rest

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If you’ve spent even a little bit of time online, you’ve probably noticed a common “item” in the world of internet marketing. And you might have taken advantage of it more than once. I have. In fact, I have one … Read the rest

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OK, kids. Gather ’round. Because I’m gonna tell you a story that’s true, even though it sounds like a fairy tale. “Once upon a time, when I was a kid, my whole family would sit down in the same room … Read the rest

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Have you ever noticed how easy it is to be selfish? And how difficult it is to be merciful, kind, patient, and humble? And it all starts when you’re a little kid. Don’t believe me? Then, I’d say you either … Read the rest

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OK. I’m gonna give you the keys to self-empowerment today. And they’re found in these four words. Forgive everyone for everything. Do that, and you’ll be a god. But… Forgive everyone for everything and you won’t be like God. Because, … Read the rest

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There’s a fast-growing cancer just under the surface of this world. It used to be held in check by a country known as the land of the free and the home of the brave. But the cancer is spreading like … Read the rest

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Did you see the movie “Ghost”with Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore? The silly plot to the movie was that Patrick’s character was murdered but he didn’t immediately leave the planet. And he didn’t go to Heaven or hell. Because, according … Read the rest

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Some say the way you write says a lot about you. And I don’t mean the words you choose. I’m talking about the way you push your pen. I recently read an article that said if you write with an … Read the rest

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OK, I’ll admit it. I’m human. And at least a part of me doesn’t like to be told I’m wrong. Sure, I’m the only person in the world who feels this way. Yeah, right. But the truth is…Truth needs to … Read the rest

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Before I say anything else right now, I want you to know I don’t deny miracles exist. But there’s a long list of things people mistakenly claim as miracles. And I’m talking especially about Christian people. Examples of things that … Read the rest

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Who doesn’t like to break stuff for fun? C’mon, admit it. And if you could make a six figure income just for breaking stuff, wouldn’t you have the perfect job? But who wants a job you gotta show up for … Read the rest

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Gotta be careful singing in prison Because singing in prison could cause a jailbreak. What’s that? You think that sounds PREposterous? And you think I’m just gonna make up a story just to get some attention. Well, have I got … Read the rest

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Who can sing the immortality song? The Bee Gees wrote a version of it. And they sang background vocals when Celine Dion recorded it back in 1997. Pearl Jam also wrote and recorded their own Immortality song. And plenty of … Read the rest

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Guess who needs a manly Bible study Men. Guys. And every person who was born a male. I think that covers it. And why do I say men need a manly Bible study? Because most men, at least most of … Read the rest

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Life got you down? Count your blessings. I’d like to encourage you, today, to count your blessings. But I don’t want you to spend the whole day on it. And you certainly could. Because you have way more than you … Read the rest

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Everybody has selfish desires Yeah, it’s a fact. An unflattering fact. But a fact nevertheless. You have selfish desires. And I do, too. But they don’t have to rule over you. Trouble is…most people in the world allow that to … Read the rest

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Have you noticed how bad news travels fast? How does that happen? Short answer, of course, is…people. Because people tend to have itching ears. And dark hearts. And bad news travels fast from hearts to ears and back to hearts. … Read the rest

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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 … Read the rest

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“Why is love so hard?” Wow. I’ve heard that question so many times. In real life. And in movies, tv shows, and talk shows. But most people who ask, why is love so hard, actually don’t have a clue what … Read the rest

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Wanna read a great confidence building Bible verse? Anyone who’s focused on the regular news regurgitation might be feeling a little worse right now. After all, a lot of reports are saying there’s an alarming rise in virus cases. And … Read the rest

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One thing I do… Social media is so anti-social. Because many (if not most) people spending a lot of time there are clueless about how conversation works. Interaction. Exchanges of ideas. So, one thing I do, when I’m on social … Read the rest

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Some positive words for the day I shared a few sections of positive words for the day on another website I used to have. And this is something from around 15 years ago. And it still applies. But read to … Read the rest

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Fight the good fight Do you fight the good fight? Or do you avoid it altogether? Or worse yet, do you allow yourself to be a punching bag for all those knuckleheads out there fighting the bad fight? And does … Read the rest

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Yeah, confidence is key There once was a guy who had everything a human being could want. At least as far what most people could see. He also had a lot of things nobody would want. Including enemies everywhere. But … Read the rest

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Beware the Back Stabbers “They smile in your face…All the time they want to take your place…The back stabbers.” Yeah, the Ojays song was telling guys to watch out. Because there are other guys out there who wanna take your … Read the rest

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Maybe it’s time to stir it up Back in days of musicians getting paid like they were actually providing a good service, I used to sing that song. A Bob Marley song called, Stir It Up. And it was real … Read the rest

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“There is no God” Says the fool. Only a fool could or would dare to make the claim that there is no God. Because it’s a self-refuting assertion. In order to say it so absolutely, you’d have to know everything … Read the rest

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How long? More than just a question One day, back in 1975, I was driving on a small highway in Kansas with my radio on. I know…what are the odds? And I remember a song started playing, and I liked … Read the rest

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Who could use a little Sunday morning inspiration? Show of hands…yeah, there’s a few of you. OK, so here it is. You can do it! Now, go out there and get it done! There. How’s that? Are you pumped and … Read the rest

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My songwriting for hope has a much broader scope And when I say, songwriting for hope, I’m not talking about a person’s name. I’m talking about actual hope. Yes, it’s a real thing. In spite of all the negativity media … Read the rest

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Jesus is the one way I see social media posts and internet articles talking about the forgiving nature of God. And His immense love. Of course, God forgives and loves. Certainly He does. But, unlike most Christians will tell you, … Read the rest

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Be fruitful and multiply Even if you’re not a Christian or Jew, you’ve probably heard the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. And you might remember how God told them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth … Read the rest

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Do you wonder why God kept the best secret ever a secret for so long? Since His secret was so full of good news”why did He wait so long to share it with us? Well, you might read Bible stories … Read the rest

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