Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Well, tomorrow (as I write this) is THE thankful Thursday of the year here in America. Aka: Thanksgiving.

Now, I think that many think that thankful Thursday isn’t theistic thanks.

But maybe I’m just thickheaded about it. And maybe it’s just a thoughtless theory. But I don’t think so. (whew, thank goodness I don’t have a writing lithsp…oh no, looks like I do)

Anyway…

My goal, in this message is to be as thoroughly thoughtful as possible. So, I’d like to thay, I mean say, a heartfelt thousandfold thanks for connecting with me. And I hope you’re able to celebrate a threefold throng of blessings as you sit down to your Thankful Thanksgiving Thursday tomorrow.

If you can’t think of things that ring a bell, then think of this. You were fearfully and wonderfully made by the one, true, living loving God of ALL creation. The one hanged that thermonuclear orb in the sky to bring you light. The one whose voice thunders and thwarts. And the one whose thaumaturgy provided a thornless eternity for you and me.

Yeah, think on those things during your thankful Thursday.

In The Middle of A Heartbeat

In the middle of a heartbeat
Something small stirs…
Like the sound that a kitten makes
With pulsing purrs.
Your blood goes whooshing through your veins
From head to toe,
And you might just kinda wonder
What makes it go.
It’s the code down deep inside you,
It’s yours alone,
A gift from the eternal King
On His white throne.
So, hold your breath, be very still,
And then you’ll hear
In the middle of a heartbeat…
A love so dear.

© 2013

Also, join the growing body of believers who signed up for the TRUTH Journal, if you haven’t already. And I’ll send you good stuff so you can focus on faith, hope, and love with me.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Several, if not most or all, search engines use something they call “predictive search” as you type in something you wanna find. And it’s actually pretty handy. For example, I started typing “nature is…” and one of the first results that showed up in the dropdown of my browser was “nature is healing.”

And, in a way, nature is healing. So, that’s cool.

More about that in a sec.

First, it’s sorta noteworthy that using the same term, in the search tool on Google.com, I saw:

  • god is love verse
  • god is good
  • god is love
  • god is a bullet cast
  • God Is a Bullet 2023 film
  • god is within her
  • God Is Good All the Time
  • god is love bible verse
  • god is a woman perfume

Most of those predictive suggestions are innocuous enough. But I’m more than a bit curious as to why God is associated with the female gender, so often, in the Google realm. Probably just a colossal coincidence.

But let’s forget about googly stuff right now. Because I like how pretty much all of what can help you get and/or stay well can be found and accessed in nature. And pretty easily for the most part. Of course, our more “modern” and “enlightened” culture has managed to chemicalize it into compounds for huge profits.

Oops…rabbit trail.

Anyway…

Do a little research and you can discover how nature, all the around the world, is filled with things that are amazingly good for you. Yeah, it literally bubbles over in abundance. And it works so well, and with such timed precision, you might even be tempted to think somebody designed it that way.

But resist the temptation. Because that could lead you into another rabbit hole. One that winds it way down and around, back and forth, through and through, and over and up to the God of the Bible. And you certainly don’t want THAT to happen. Well, you and I DO. But not most people.

So, here’s why I brought this up. You know me (and if you don’t you should click or tap the link below) and how it doesn’t take much for me to break out in rhyme. Yep. And this one is about what is…

Nestled In Nature

Nestled in nature, in evergreen fire,
A small cabin sits in its Autumn attire.
Some leaves have fallen and many remain
For just a while longer, to sing a refrain
Whispering breezes have brought to this place.
It’s so solitary and so full of Grace.
A scene so serene you might wonder why
The world goes berserk in the blink of an eye.
Answers are simple, and life can be, too.
Your Creator wants to restore it in you.
Silence and music, in sync and in tune,
Reveal His love from this burnished doubloon.

© 2022

Do you agree that nature is healing because God created it? If so, join the growing body of believers who signed up to get my no-cost-no-strings-attached TRUTH Journal, if you haven’t already. And I’ll send you good stuff, daily, so you can focus on faith, hope, and love with me.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Here we are in the last days of Autumn for 2024. They say history repeats itself. And it occurred to me, this morning, how often that’s so true.

50 years ago I experienced the last days of Autumn just up the road.

Right here in the “flatland,” the heart of the heartland. Also known as Kansas. Yeah, I was in Manhattan back then. I’ve cross-crossed the country and lived 30 years in Colorado since then. But here I am. Back in Kansasland.

People seem to enjoy dissing Kansas as being “so flat.” But, when they do, I just smile to myself. Because I remember struggling to ride my Western Flyer up those steep hills, under the hot summer sun, on my way to the swimming pool.

And I also smile to myself as I recall my long drives through the hilly countryside with my trusty spiral notebook and Bic pen by my side. And I remember finding a spot on the bank of a small river where I wrote about the trees sitting high above the water on the other side.

As the breeze whisked through their few remaining colorful leaves, during those last days of Autumn, the sound reminded me of applause. And I wrote a poem called “An Audience of Trees.”

Kansas is filled with memories, for me. It helped code a lot of my emotional and imagination DNA. And, across its highways, byways, and backroads you’ll see lots of Christian and pro life billboards. But most people certainly don’t wanna be reminded of all those innocent children who never saw any hills or trees during the last days of Autumn.

So, they focus on the flats. And they miss many little masterpieces.

An Audience of Trees

I sat before an audience of trees,
The wind, blowing through the leaves,
Became an applause.
Why were they clapping?
Surely not for me.
I was merely sitting there writing about them.
Maybe they enjoyed the attention.
These trees were attired in Autumn fashions.
And some were even dressing for the winter.
It’s really odd, though…
A tree thinks its stylish to be naked through the freeze.
Thank goodness I’ll never be that daring.
My stage for the multitude
Was a semi-dried embankment of dirt.
I’m not proud.
I’m also not an attraction, only attracted.
I’ve been alone before,
But never knowing such peace
As when I sat before that audience of trees.

© 1974 Tony Funderburk

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Once upon a time, way back in the dark ages, when men and women only knew how to grow food and build their own houses, they used to believe men were men and women were women. Of course, they suffered from ignorance bliss. And I’m sure they had no idea what amazing and emancipating revelations were in store for future generations.

Ignorance bliss was described like this:

The British Chronicle, a few years ago, in 1786, included a poem called “The Social Fire.” And one verse, in it, described ignorance bliss with these words:

Oh! grant kind Heav’n a state like this,
Where simple ignorance is bliss,
’Tis all that I require;
Then, then—to share the joys of life,
I’d seek a kind, indulgent wife,
And bless my Social Fire.

Now, I’ll tell you, up front, I have no idea what the poet’s intention was in writing that poem. But I DO understand how not knowing something (being ignorant of it) can be a kind of relief. I’m confident that Adam and Eve understood this on a deeper level than any other people since.

But I also know, there are some things too important to remain encased in your own ignorance of the truth. Like all the goings-on of the people of this world, and principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness. Yeah, don’t ignore them.

Because they thrive on conflict. And they flourish on ignorance. And they grow exponentially on apathy. Plus, they love stirring the pot AND the kettle of human discontent. I sang about this a long time ago.

It’s about how they keep on…

Dreaming it up, they keep on scheming it up,
And then they’re blowing it up in unsuspecting faces
Groundwork is laid; they’ve got it made in the shade
But there won’t be lemonade in some eternal places

Closing their eyes; they walk right into the lies
But every person who dies will have their eyes wide open
By then it’s too late for all the people who wait
You just can’t enter The Gate with all your earthly hopin’

(chorus)

With all their best laid plans they still just come to this.
I guess they’ll remain where they are while their ignorance is…

Bliss

© 1998 Tony Funderburk  (from my song “King of Hearts”)

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

So, I took the FunderVan to the car wash today. And, as I often do, when I’m alone in transit, I tuned in to the local classical music station. And I heard violins of hope. No, that’s not the name of a quirky quartet of stringed instrument musicians.

And the station didn’t even introduce any violins of hope.

The audial image just came up in me as I listened. And the image was like what you might see in a 19th-century optical toy consisting of a cylinder and a series of pictures on the inner surface. That’s called a zoetrope. And when you watch the pictures through slits with the cylinder rotating, you get the feeling of continuous motion.

That’s what the violin section, of that particular orchestra, and that particular piece of music, did for my audial vision. Now, I realize you might not appreciate the inner workings of someone’s mind that’ll come up with a zoetrope and violins of hope just because strings played certain combinations of musical notes.

But that’s the kind of stuff my mind does. And on that note (I know you see what did there), here’s a rhyme I wrote a couple of years ago. It was inspired by something visual instead of music notes. Somebody, on social media, shared a picture of the inside of a violin. I saw it and wrote…

The Violin

Maple and Spruce and Ebony
Make their way to the symphony.
And intestinal fortitude,
From overture to interlude,
Exude from deep within the space
Beneath a pensive, focused face.
A Pernambuco arrow glides,
And firmly wound white horse hair slides
Across fine-tuned Pirazzi strings.
Divine, inspired, a high voice sings,
Revealing Heaven from within
The soul inside the violin.

© 2022

Of course, the soul of a violin is metaphorical. And the little stringed instrument can make no sounds without the musician.

And that, naturally, reminds me of how the musician could make no sounds without the Maker of musicians. Because ultimately there can be NO sound, heavenly, musical, or otherwise, without the Creator of sound and music.

So, here’s the thing. God does exist. And He can be found (figuratively, not literally) even inside the inner workings of a violin. If you’re willing to open the eyes of your understanding. I hope you do.

Also, join the growing body of believers who signed up for the TRUTH Journal, if you haven’t already. And I’ll send you good stuff so you can focus on faith, hope, and love with me.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Business owners can’t be coasters. At least not if you wanna have any kind of shot at success. Because the only way to coast is downhill. And, last time I checked, that was the opposite direction of success.

Business owners who prefer to go the success route have to:

  • rent an office or design a own home office
  • buy the office supplies
  • get the phone line(s)
  • establish internet service
  • upgrade gear (computers, software, phone, printer, etc.)
  • pay the bills

And they also need (and want) to:

  • work on ideas
  • brainstorm
  • learn new software
  • design business promo materials
  • build a website (or have one built) for SEO, e-commerce, etc.

Wow! That’s a lotta stuff. And if describes you, I applaud you.

Because coasters don’t do that stuff.

They don’t brainstorm an idea and work hard to build it into a business. And they don’t work hard to build that business into something that’ll pay their bills. Plus, they don’t care about how even business owners who can work from home put in WAY more hours than job workers.

Yeah, they don’t care that business owners have to deal with knowing you can “build it and they still won’t come.”

There are only two kinds of good coasters.

  1. THE Coasters who told you to “take out the papers and the trash, or you don’t get no spendin’ cash.”  Matter of fact, the lyrics to Yakety Yak are filled with work orders. Check ’em out:
    If you don’t scrub that kitchen floor
    You ain’t gonna rock and roll no more
    Yakety yak (Don’t talk back)Just finish cleanin’ up your room
    Let’s see that dust fly with that broom
    Get all that garbage out of sight
    Or you don’t go out Friday night
    Yakety yak (Don’t talk back)You just put on your coat and hat
    And walk yourself to the laundromat
    And when you finish doin’ that
    Bring in the dog and put out the cat
    Yakety yak (Don’t talk back)

    Don’t you give me no dirty looks
    Your father’s hip; he knows what cooks
    Just tell your hoodlum friend outside
    You ain’t got time to take a ride
    Yakety yak (Don’t talk back)

  2. And those little knickknacks that go under your drink on the coffee or end tables.

When you get right down to it, those thingys under your drink DO something. Sure, they’re obviously motionless. But they’re doing the work they were designed to do. Man, there’s that work word again.

And here are the kinds of things life’s coasters do.

They play video games in mom and/or dad’s basement. Into their 30’s and 40’s. They illegally sneak across borders of countries at all hours of the day and latch onto government “benefits” that the government stole from you to give to them. And many of them beg on street corners and live in tarp-topped communities along what used to be lovely river walks and neighborhoods.

And they buy chemical-filled foods and gulp them down till they have to waddle, at a snail’s pace, to get anywhere. Plus, they jump on every social media channel and cry, scream, and whine about how “rich people need to pay their fair share.”

Oh, if only there was some way to know what to do about them.

Wait a sec.

I believe I DO know the Way.

But I think I’ll save that for the next time.

In the meantime, join the growing body of believers who signed up for the TRUTH Journal, if you haven’t already. And I’ll send you good stuff so you can focus on faith, hope, and love with me.

Stay tuned…

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Thursday rhymes are so Thursday-ish. I don’t know why I even bother. Because this fourth day of the so-called “work week” is just a nod to Viking mythology. Thor’s Day. Whatever.

But here we are.

And I guess I’ll share one of my Thursday Rhymes anyway.

But I’m not gonna get all excited about it. Matter of fact I’m just gonna share a section of a much longer rhyme (aka: poem). Because it’s the only section in the rhyme that points to Thor’s Day. Here ya go.

Thursday turned around and saw
The look on Wednesday’s face.
“You must have seen the sign,” he said,
“That pointed to this place.
The sign that said to come inside
And have a nice cool drink.
That must be why you’re here today.
At least that’s what I think.”

There. Are you happy out there all you It’s-Thursday-so-I-better-share-a-special-rhyme-for-this-day people? I feel like I need to go wash my hands after stooping to typing something so obviously full of appeasement to the social expectations of the day.

Just in case you get any ideas that I should do up some special treatment for the rest of week, well I’m way ahead of you. Because I knew somebody wouldn’t be satisfied with just some Thursday rhymes. You every-day-deserves-special-rhymes people are so predictable.

Anyway…

I’m not gonna share where you can get the rhymes for those other days. Only my TRUTH Journal subscribers get that information. If you’re one of those subscribers, you’ll see the link below. If you’re not one of those subscribers, your link is also below.

But it’s the link where you can join the growing body of believers who signed up for the TRUTH Journal. And I’ll send you good stuff so you can focus on faith, hope, and love with me.

Stay tuned…

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

It’s larynx. Not lairnix. Or larenix. Or however one would have to misspell that mispronunciation. But we don’t have to get all wrangled up and out of joint about it. We can just call it a voice box. And I bet more than half the people you say that to will know what you mean. The others probably wouldn’t know because they still think Biden was a smart guy and Kam-what’s-her-name was a great speaker.

Anyway. I’m not here to get all political.

I’m here to talk about the paramount value of the voice box.

Before I go further with that, though, here’s a message about the paramount voice that didn’t require a voice box. I think you’ll see why I say that.

Then the Angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time out of heaven, and said: “By Myself I have sworn, says the Lord, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies. In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”

In case it wasn’t already clear, that’s a passage from the book of Genesis in the Bible.

Now, here’s a snippet about your larenix. I mean, larynx.

~It’s the part of your throat that allows you to speak and make sounds. Your larynx does more than that, though. It plays a key role in enabling and protecting your respiratory system.

And the larynx is a hollow tube, about 2 inches long, that connects the back of your throat to the windpipe, or trachea. Larynx function includes three jobs:

  • Aid in breathing
  • Create vocal sounds
  • Prevent food and particles from entering your respiratory system

Because of the larynx’s role in speaking and making vocal sounds, it’s sometimes referred to as the voice box.~

So, there you go. Straight from the internet, so it’s gotta be true.

I’ve shared all this, so far, because I want you to get a feel, if you don’t have it already, of how important your voice is. It’s always been of HUGE importance in my life. Because I used mine to make a living for over a quarter of a century. And using it came so naturally to me, that I took it for granted that I’d always be able to use it at will.

However…

During the last almost 7 years, that has been FAR from true. And my most favorite things to do, sing and talk for a living, were just not there. My voice has sounded just plain awful due to some respiratory issues brought on by exposure to junky stuff. But I don’t wanna get into that.

Because, just in the past three weeks, or so, I’ve regained enough clarity in my voice to actually step back into the voice talent pool. And the good news is people have liked the sound of my voice box enough to pay me to read their books.

So, cool beans, my bruthus and sistuhs.

I’m grateful how my wife has been such a constant prayer and health warrior for me. With her help (and the Lord’s, of course), I’ve waged a vigilant battle to clear things up. I’m not 100%. But I’m also not 5% either. And let me tell you, I’d only wish that 5% (and that’s being generous) on the aforementioned Kam-what’s-her-name.

OK, you may go back to your regularly scheduled activities. And thank you to those of you who’ve prayed for me during these almost seven years too. Proof that prayers don’t fall on deaf ears.

Keep an eye, and your ears, open for more books and other places where you’ll hear the Tony Voice.

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

The TRUTH

Stay tuned,

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

What is your brand here on good ol’ planet Earth? You have one. So, what’s yours?

I remember an article I read about business brands. It mentioned how you should seriously consider branding yourself. Because, the article said, if you don’t someone else will. Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret I’ve observed.

Sometimes your brand here brings out other branding irons.

At least I’ve found that to be true when you brand yourself a Christian. Yeah, when you do that, most people in the world form an immediate opinion. And they love to dish out their own brand for you. For example, I’ve been called:

  • “arrogant”
  • “bigoted”
  • “a nazi”
  • “ignorant”
  • “old-fashioned”
  • and many more.

Many times those labels (or brands) came from “friends and family.”

Much of the time, in your personal life, branding yourself a Christian means losing “friends.” And, in your business life, it can often mean losing out to your more “tolerant” competition. At least if you don’t keep your Christian faith “under a basket.” And my website makes it pretty clear I don’t.

I know there are still plenty of people who aren’t Christians who appreciate Christian values applied to business. Even if they don’t outwardly admit how much they like working with someone who doesn’t lie to them or about them. Or working with someone who won’t steal from them.

Boost your brand boldly.

So, if you’re a Christian doing business in this more “tolerant” and “accepting” world of ours, don’t be surprised when people make fun of your brand here. Or outright refuse to work with you. In fact, take it as a compliment. A sign that you’re on the right track. More importantly…

You’re on the right team.
And you’re swimming upstream
To headwaters crystal and clear.
And love is in store.
So worry no more
’Cause God is inside your brand here.

Join the growing body of believers who signed up for the TRUTH Journal. And receive daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love.

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Tony Funderburk Posted on by

You know that Paul was an apostle. Even if you’re not “into” Bible stuff, you’ve heard of him. But you might not think about how tough he was. I mean, this was a guy who was beaten, tossed into prison, shipwrecked, beaten some more, and imprisoned more too. And in spite of all that he urged believers to go for love before and above all else.

As I write this it’s Monday. So I urge you to go for love this week, starting now.

Don’t just make a bunch of noise about it. And don’t try to show how big your faith is. Because it’s microscopic compared to your Maker’s faith.

And PLEASE, do NOT tell me about how much good you’re doing in this world. Because all of what you’re doing doesn’t amount to, as they used to say (and maybe some still say) a hill of beans.

Yeah, all your deeds, sowing seeds, into lives filled with needs, are just weeds.

At least they are if you don’t have love.

Now, if a tough guy like Paul says it’s the greatest thing you can have or give, then it’s definitely not just for girls and women. It’s even for tough guys. Which, of course, makes it perfect for you and me.

I know, for me, I’d much rather spend 8 seconds with Jesus than to have a whole lifetime of worldly accolades and awards.

I wanna go for love and pass it on the best ways I know how. And I’d like to encourage you to do the same. Not the all-you-need-is-stuff the Beatles sang about. But the kind that comes from a heart full of gratitude for the Grace of God, which I know is real…

Because I CAN Love

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

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

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

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

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

© 2010 Tony Funderburk

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It’s probably juxta-me, but I get a kick out of the word “juxtaposition.” Not for what it means. But for how it jumps out of your mouth when you speak it out loud. It demands to be heard.

And you probably know that juxtaposition is a literary device.

Just like personification or portmanteau, two words I thought of during a beast of a brunch.

Anyway…

What? Oh, what would cause such an onslaught of offbeat verbosity. Well, if you must know (and yes, you must) these thoughts popped into my head after I watched crybabies whining about the presidential election. Grown women literally bawling crocodile tears over how their lives are, for all intents and purposes, over.

Some women even shaved their heads. And a bunch of them decided to ” shave their heads, don blue bracelets, leave their husbands, abandon their homes, and take vows of celibacy.”

I imagine that might come as quite a relief to many of their husbands. But, again, maybe that’s juxta-me. Regardless, most responses I’ve seen included hysterical laughter and mocking.

Rightfully so.

But what does that kind of news have to do with juxtaposition?

Oh, thanks for asking and getting me back on track.

Turns out that on this day, November 17, all the way back in 1962 The Four Seasons had  a #1 hit on the U.S. charts. It was their second #1 hit of that year. And it stayed at that level for five weeks. It also made it to #13 in the UK.

And that #1 hit was “Big Girls Don’t Cry.” (cue some more hysterical laughter)

Isn’t that juxta perfect example of irony? Or at least pretty darn decent example?

Yeah, back in 1962 American girls and women were more mature. And they knew what they were made of. And they were made of good stuff. Because God made them. And they knew it. Do you see a pattern forming?

Sadly, WAY too many women (yeah, yeah, men too) have decided to go the way of the world. And they’ve decided their fragile feelings are more important than reality. But the reality of that kind of behavior is where it leads.

You’ve heard of the “road to perdition?”

Uh-huh. That’s where.

I bet a shaved head, blue bracelet, and lots of crying are not on your to-do list. And that means there’s probably a juxtaposition lurking somewhere in a comparison between you and the bald women-like women. But I’ll leave that to someone else.

I’ve got

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This message might not be for you at all. Because you might be the picture of perkiness. And you have no concerns at all about your holiday health. Or any other time of the year either. If so, fantastic. Share your regimen with me. And I’ll share it with my readers and listeners.

But some people are facing serious holiday health issues.

Because some people haven’t been taking very good care of themselves.

Just in case you hadn’t noticed, sickness and health are opposites. You don’t need sickness. But you sure need your health. It’s not just something that’s nice to have around. It’s the core essential to any job you do or any career you have. And it’s so important that even marriage ceremonies bring up “in sickness and in health” and till death do us part.

I’m not saying you can avoid sickness altogether. Because no one can. But I AM saying there are things you can do to give yourself more of a fighting chance and keep you more “in the game” even when you’re sick.

Take this sickness and health pledge:

Yeah, put down that diet cola and repeat after me:

  • “I want to be healthy. I need to be healthy (are you repeating after me?)
  • If I’m not healthy, I’m no good to anyone. (say it, it’s true)
  • And if I’m healthy, I can overcome obstacles in my mind, body, and work.

OK. Do you believe it? If not, then start over. And repeat until you believe it.

Now, chew on this.

Let’s say you eat fast food everyday. But no exercise. You definitely don’t drink enough water. And even when you’re drinking it, you mix it with tea or coffee. And you think you can take your little one-a-day so-called vitamins and keep the bad times away.

Wrong.

Sickness and health are both something you’re responsible for.

(Yeah, I know left a preposition hanging out there…so, sue me)

It’s essential for you to stay well. People depend on you to do your best. And when you constantly reach for a tissue to honk your nose, or run for an umpteenth bathroom break, how much good work can you get done?

Did you ever see that commercial where the guy didn’t know how to get dressed or make breakfast or even get in his car? Because he gave up smoking. And he had to re-learn how to do everything without a cigarette in his hand. Habits are a pretty big deal.

Don’t be like that guy. Nobody’s smokin’ hot, smokin’ hot cigarettes.

Anyway…

Be well. Stay well. Start now. It’s so much more enjoyable and easier to work on being well than fighting sickness.  So…

Be happy. Grin. It’s good for you.

And try these 3 things today. They’re easy:

  1. Drink a good amount of purified water
  2. Go outside and get some fresh air and sunshine
  3. Find something to laugh about and Laugh!

That last one’s easy. Just watch videos of people who voted for the loser presidential candidate. Two words for you: hill arias.

Yeah, do things like that, and even your holiday health could be good in spite of all that pumpkin stuff you stuff inside you.

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I like this famous quote from Yogi Berra (a famous Yankee ball player). His answer to one of the questions journalists tossed at him was, “It’s like deja vu all over again.” And I thought of that, yesterday, after seeing a bunch of reminders for Black Friday 2024.

The same thing is happening again this year that happens every year now. And, as an example of what I mean, here’s what I wrote about it, six years ago, weeks before the actual day was supposed to take place.

I’ve never participated in Black Friday events.

Never. They’re so black. As in dark-cloud-hanging-over-the-day black. Ever since I was old enough to shop with my own money I avoided shopping on that day like the plague. And just this morning I’ve already seen Black Friday news stories showing how emotional shoppers are complaining about lines and horrible checkout experiences. That was 4 in the morning! I can only imagine how much worse it’s liable to get. Why does anyone still physically show up for such abuse?

Black Friday news should be enough to make you skip the trip.

If you’re reading this (or listening to it on my podcast), then you’re fully aware of the internet. And if you’re like most of my readers and listeners, you’re avoiding the the Black Friday madness. You know the best deals are more likely to be found online. And even if the rock-bottom lowest prices are still found in a brick and mortar story, you know it’s not a great deal when you have to suffer the maddening crowds.

Just so you know, I’m not sharing this Black Friday news as an opportunity to sell you anything. You won’t find any links to stores. No SKUs to shoes, glues, or even tattoos. I just wanted to mention how most people forget the reason it’s even called “Black Friday.”

Because it’s the day that jumpstarts the biggest profit section of the year for most retail businesses. But why? Do even half of those retailers realize who they have to thank for their profits? I seriously, seriously doubt it. But I’ll let you know who.

Jesus is the reason for the season and for Black Friday.

Even people who don’t believe in Jesus celebrate Christmas. They just don’t give any credit where credit is due. I used the word “credit” twice because there’s a lot of credit being used today. And look, I just did it again.

Yeah, even if you don’t believe Jesus plays a role in Black Friday anymore, He’s still the reason it ever got started. Believe it or not, America used to be a mostly Christian nation. And Christmas used to be about celebrating the birth of Jesus. And people gave each other gifts to commemorate the wise men taking gifts to the baby Jesus. So, every year, around this time, after families had gathered together for Thanksgiving (giving thanks to God by the way), they found themselves in the mood for giving.

And the shopping began.

Believe it or not, it began with joy and gladness. But as America (and the world) has fallen away from Jesus, it’s no surprise how black and gloomy Black Friday has become. Even as I read this Black Friday news I’m sharing with you, I can feel the gloom. And since I don’t want this time of year to be black and gloomy, I’m gonna end it here.

And I encourage you to avoid the temptation to join in the Black Friday 2024 blues. You can thank me later.

And I didn’t wanna sing no sappy little Christmas songs.
Didn’t wanna see no perky little Christmas kid.
Didn’t wanna shop at no mall or spend any money at all.
And I Didn’t wanna leave my house, but I’m glad I did.

(from my song “The Christmas Spirit”)

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He and I are connected on the social media channel, X. The “he,” of which I speak, is Bryan Duncan. And, for those of you who aren’t aware (or just don’t care) X is the platform that used to be called Twitter. But Elon Musk bought the platform. And he likes to add the X label to his businesses, so there you go. X.

But let’s get back to Bryan Duncan for a sec.

He started out his music career back in 1973 during what was called “the Jesus movement.” Then, he covered a lot of ground during the “Contemporary Christian Music” era. And here are a few of his milestones/achievements from all those years. This is according to Wikipedia.

~ He has received four Dove Awards and has been nominated six times for male vocalist of the year. He is also a winner of a Grammy Award for his Andraé Crouch tribute, as well as receiving multiple Grammy nominations. Bryan is also the host of the popular podcast “Nutshell Sermons”. ~

And he has 18 solo albums and 16 number 1 radio hits under his belt.

Since we’re connected on X I see his posts, there, pretty much every day. And I get a kick out of his sense of humor and his down-to-earth info about his daily life. For example, in the past day or so he posted a picture of him and his granddaughter. She looks proud of her work. And he said, “had my nails done.”

Real stuff.

I like real stuff. So, I’m glad I was able to connect with Bryan. We had similar musical lives. His path was much more commercially successful than mine. And I had some opportunities at “bigger” stuff. But I opted to go a more independent route. And my Christian words and music took a more John the Baptist course. You know how John’s course ended. So, yeah. There I went. And there you go.

I’m glad to be connected to Bryan Duncan. And I’m even more glad that we’ll get to know each other a lot better when we’re both in that…

Real Paradise

I don’t believe
In magic; hocus pocus.
I do believe
My treasure’s where I focus.

Jesus, Redeemer, Creator of Heaven
Tells every dear Christian who dies…
We will be with him forever and ever.
Now I call that real paradise.

You can receive
A blessing you can’t pay for.
What would you waste
Another single day for?

Jesus, the Savior, and Great Overcomer
Will love you and open your eyes.
There is no sin that His blood will not cover.
Now, I call that real paradise.

Instrumental…

I love the way
His promise won’t forsake me.
And there’s no end
To where His Grace will take me.

Jesus, the Lamb, without spot without blemish,
The Truth who the world still denies.
The world is against me, but Jesus is for me.
Now I call that real paradise.

© Tony Funderburk 2001-2009 

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Here’s a snippet of one of those songwriter stories I get a big kick out of. It’s about Cindy Walker. What?! You never heard of her? Somebody oughta bing your noggin. Check this out.

In 1940, Cindy Walker, at the age of 22, accompanied her parents on a business trip to Los Angeles. As they were driving down Sunset Boulevard she asked her father to stop the car near the Bing Crosby Enterprises building.

Walker later recalled: “I had decided that if I ever got to Hollywood, I was going to try to show Bing Crosby a song I had written for him called ‘Lone Star Trail.” Her father said “You’re crazy, girl.” But nonetheless he stopped the car. Walker went inside the building to pitch her song and emerged shortly afterward to ask her mother to play the piano for her.

Bing Crosby’s brother Larry Crosby had agreed to listen to the song. So Cindy sang “Lone Star Trail” to him, accompanied by her mother. And Larry Crosby was impressed. Plus, he knew his brother was looking for a new Western song to record. The next day Cindy played guitar and sang “Lone Star Trail” for Bing Crosby at Paramount Studios (where he was making a movie). Crosby arranged for her to record a demo with Dave Kapp of Decca Records. And he was also impressed and offered her a recording contract. “Lone Star Trail” was recorded and became a top-ten hit for Bing Crosby.

And this isn’t one of those songwriter stories that ends there.

Ms Walker wrote, performed, and wrote and sang songs with Gene Autry. Then, she wrote over 50 songs for Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys. And she wrote hit songs for Eddy Arnold, Jim Reeves, Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, and even Dean Martin. Also, she spent time in Hollywood.

But I like this part of her songwriter story. I found this info online.

“After her stint in Los Angeles she returned to Texas in 1954, living in Mexia in a modest three-bedroom house with her widowed mother, Oree (her mother). Walker’s custom was rising at dawn each day to write songs. She typed her lyrics on a pink-trimmed (pink was her signature color) manual typewriter and Oree helped work out melodies for her daughter’s words. Each year Walker and her mother would operate from an apartment in Nashville for five months or so in order to market the songs.”

My favorite Cindy Walker song is “You Don’t Know Me.” And that song has had some very nice covers. But my favorite is by Kenny Loggins, off his “Celebrate Me Home” album. Of course, it had his signature cool vocals. But there’s a snazzy guitar solo in there. Such a melancholy tune.

There’s no real underlying meaning to why I shared any of this with you. Just found out a lot more about Ms Walker that I’d never heard. And I enjoyed the way so many songwriter stories connected to her.

Anyway…

Enjoy your evening, night, morning, or afternoon with music in your heart. I know I will.

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I remember taking the Boy Scout oath way, way back in the 20th century. It’s kinda like the oath of office you’ll see Trump take in January. It was the one that started out with “on my honor.” It’s WAY different than what you’ll see young boys interested in these days. It says:

“On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country. And to obey the Scout Law: To help other people at all times, To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake and morally straight.”

Sounds like a slice of Americana to a boomer like me. (a very tech savvy boomer, by the way)

But..

I didn’t stay in the Boy Scouts. In fact, I got out very quickly after going on a couple of scouting camping trips. Nothing bad happened. But it just felt weird to me. That’s all I’ll say about it right now.

Yeah, I sorta took an oath of office and then resigned.

Then, I learned what God inspired James to write about oaths. James wrote, “But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your Yes be Yes, and your No, No, lest you fall into judgment.”

And especially don’t swear by an oath as you invoke God’s name. Like they did in the old movies where somebody “swears to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help me, God. Yeah, don’t do dat. Instead…

Do right, and risk the consequences.
And do right, whatever you do.
Do right, and don’t you stand on fences.
Now whatever you do, with all of your might, Do Right!

You might recognize those as lyrics to my famous song that a guy built his whole radio talk show around.

Just kidding. I found him, on his own late night TV show, back in 1994 or 1995. And I liked what he said. And I like how he ended each show with the words, “Do right and risk the consequences.” So, I composed a song around that catchphrase.

All these years later, you can still hear my song at the end of his recorded radio programs. Plus, other music of mine is on lots of his other materials. Neither one of us took an oath of office to keep all this connection for all this time. It just turned out that way.

He’s now in Heaven.

And he’s enjoying the consequences of all those years of doing right. It’ll be great to see him again one day. Matter of fact it’ll be great to see all the saints who’ll be there. I hope you’re one of them.

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The vast majority of American people sure have a lot of socialist beliefs. And the saddest part of that claim is that most of them would argue that it’s just not true. I’m not gonna say that Wikipedia is a completely trustworthy source of truth. But here’s a snippet of what I found there.

“The United States spends approximately $2.3 trillion on federal and state social programs including cash assistance, health insurance, food assistance, housing subsidies, energy and utilities subsidies, and education and childcare assistance.”

Does that alter your perspective about socialist beliefs in America?

It doesn’t alter mine. Because I’ve been sharing that kind of information for decades. And I’ve mentioned, recently, how silly it is when politicians (and regular peeps, too) vow that America will “never become a socialist country.” Because America already IS a socialist country. And has been almost a hundred years.

And maybe, on some level, even longer than that.

We just went through another election cycle where the major candidates spent a lot of time talking about how much of your money they would take from you to give to other people. Neither candidate stated they’d make sure it wouldn’t happen. It was just a matter of who would take how much.

Thankfully it appears, on the surface anyway, that the candidate who’d take less was elected.

And that’s a good thing. Not great. But hopefully much less despicable than it would’ve been.

Fortunately, my hope and joy and general outlook on life do NOT depend on whose signature is on the multitude of documents congress manufactures every year. And my ultimate Commander-in-chief sits on a white throne. Not behind a desk in an oval office.

I remain optimistic about the future. Not because of an election cycle. But because eventually the future (which will then be the present) will be SO bright, you won’t need a lamp, light bulb, or even the light of the sun. And there’ll be a tree with healing leaves available to everyone there. And not because of any socialist beliefs. But that’s another story.

I hope you’re that hopeful, too.

I want to find the Pure Place…that glitters like gold.
And I need to find the Pure Place…never hot or cold
I’d love to find the Pure Place,
Let the Light shine on my face,
No dreams I’d ever have to chase,
No bad that we could not erase,
I’d love to find…the Pure Place!

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Have you ever heard about a book that wrote itself? Or a website, with tons of pages, that just suddenly popped into existence all by itself? Yeah, no. You haven’t. And we can take that up a few trillion notches. Where was a child ever born without the key ingredients from the mother and father? Nowhere. That’s where. Because information, design, and life are required for anything to exist.

I’ve mentioned this before, but it’s worth repeating. The genetic information contained in each of the trillions of cells in your body is roughly equivalent to about 4000 books. Wrap your mind around that for a minute. 4000 books of information in each of your cells.

All that complex information, design, AND LIFE in trillions of cells.

If you believe all that could simply create itself, you have a lot more faith in dirt, goo, and chance than I do.

Scientists KNOW their experiments always point to intelligence. And that even includes the atheistic and evolutionary scientists. Of course, they’ll go to just about any length to deny that truth.

But why? Why would they prefer the myth of evolution and chance?

Would you believe money plays a huge part? No big shocker if you’ve paid attention over the past few decades. Yeah, the vast majority of “research” scientists are funded by grants from the government, large donors, and other sources. They’re always on the lookout for this funding because their lifestyle and prestige depend on it.

So, ain’t that just dandy? You and I get to fund “scientists” who hate us. And don’t think they don’t.

But you don’t take my word about the evidence for information, design, and life. There’s a Phd from M.I.T. who shares a TON of evidence in an amazing book called “In The Beginning.” I’m not an affiliate for the book. So, I’m not sharing the link to make money. Just so you know.

Verifiable evidence is the elephant in the room.

And sometimes that elephant is a dinosaur. Like when DNA is found in the SOFT tissue of dinosaur bones from 80 million years ago. And even in insects and plants caught inside amber they say is up to 120 million years old.

But those millions of years are chicken feed. Because living bacteria has been found in rocks that are supposedly up to 650 million years old. But hang on. Yeah, I can even beat that number. Italian scientists have recovered 78 different types of dormant, but living, bacteria in two meteorites that are presumed to be 4.5-billion years old.

Maybe it’s just me. But the evidence for information, design, and life thrill me.

They help make every day SonDay.

Because the one, true, living, loving God designed me
In His heart is where I know you’ll always find me.
My eternal DNA is in the Truth, the Life, the Way.
And the lies that rule this world will never blind me.

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It’s up to YOU to comfort each other. Fortunately there are some of us who need less of it than others. And that means the responsibility is more ours than those who might be, let’s say, a little weaker.

My dog made me think of how we should comfort each other.

I wrote about this seven years ago, around this time of year, when he was still alive. His name was Zazzo. And he started to do this thing he did when something was bothering him. He didn’t actually whimper. But he sort of made a breathy sound like he was going to whimper. And he could be a mighty persistent dude. But I was working. So, naturally I couldn’t be bothered. And I snapped my fingers and pointed at him. That usually got him to stop.

But that time, instead of stopping the whimper-less breath sounds, he got up (which was very difficult for him because of his stiff, almost 15 year old bones) and started his way over to me.

Well, I sat the laptop on the coffee table in front me and waited for him to get to me. When he did, he leaned his head against my knee. How could I resist? I stroked his head and neck, which he always enjoyed. And, after a couple of minutes, he turned around and went back to his bed. Then, he lay down with no anxious breathing.

Never underestimate the power of touch.

Your hand on someone’s shoulder. Or lips to someone’s cheek. A simple touch, with care, can be a gift from God. Use your power of touch whenever you can. I’m not talking about that nonsense you see from televangelists where they “heal” people on a large stage by smacking them on the forehead. Definitely NOT that junk food.

Get the living-water-enriched meat of God’s word into your soul and spirit. That’s where strength and wisdom are. And it’s the owner’s manual with instructions on how to comfort each another. Yeah, that’s where true love is.

Dive into those 13 letters Paul wrote, and you’ll see how God’s love is the force behind it all.

A friend of mine wrote about the effects of that love on her. And I converted her words into this song.

I Give You All

You gave my heart
A way to touch you, Lord.
You gave my eyes
A gift to see and recall.
You gave me stars…
To guide me through my lonely fear.
I give you all…I give you all.

You gave me words,
And they can reach the sky.
You gave my soul
Salvation out of the fall.
You gave me dawn,
To savor all you gave me, Lord.
I give you all..

I give you all…my worries and my fear.
Yes,I give you all.
And I can feel you near.
I give you all.
You dry up every tear.
I give you all.
Yes, I give you all.

You gave me nights…
That shine your silver stars.
You gave me time,
To change my ways and stand tall…
You gave me hope,
That in my weakness I am strong.
I give you all.

© Cristina Miller 2009

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Your life is the only one you’re gonna get. And I know that you know it’s not about the skin you’re in. You know it’s the spirit and soul of you. So, I’m preaching to the choir.

But if you’ve lived more than twenty years, I’m sure you’ve thought about your life and what it means. And you’ve realized that somewhere inside you is a tiny voice. Yeah, you’ve learned that you just gotta be still and listen. And that voice will reassure you eternity is real.

And that your life will go on forever in a paradise you can only imagine.

Or that you’ll endure a singularly hopeless existence in a place as far away from paradise as the East is from the West. And that’s in spite of what a so-called “enlightened society” will tell you.

So, that knowledge and wisdom leads to another conclusion. That while you’re in the skin you’re in it’s a good idea to discover as much as you can about truth. Right? Yep, I’ve said it before. Truth is tenable. Maybe even elevenable or twelveable. It seriously matters.

I believe everyone realizes that truth exists. Many squelch that down so far that they’ll deny even the simplest truths just so they can avoid the consequences of that knowledge. Or so they believe. And they’ll say silly things like “question authority.” But when someone tells you to question authority, start with them.

Or when someone tells you truth doesn’t exist, ask them “is that true?”

And when someone tells you the material world is all there is, ask them which material in this world showed them this. You’ve probably used these tactics before. But I just felt as though someone could use a reminder that knowledge and wisdom, that come from God, are the huge advantage in your life.

This Life

Sometimes the silence is too much.
Sometimes I just can’t get my fill.
And then there are times when nothing works right,
But even then I love it still.

This life…holds surprises up its sleeve.
Yes, it really can deceive you if you turn your head.
But this life is the only chance we’ve got,
And it doesn’t take a lot to know the fire must be fed.

The snow reminds us of our youth.
And the leaves remind us of our years.
The sun is everybody’s smile.
And the clouds are everybody’s tears.

This life can be difficult at best.
It can put you to the test with a knowing smile.
But this life doesn’t last so very long.
And we all will move along in just a while.

© 1984

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