The TRUTH Will Set You Free - The blog from - Page 6 of 164

Posted on July 3, 2025 by TonyJuly 3, 2025

No doubt about it. It’s how you started in this life. Empty-handed. And no matter what you do or don’t do, with your life, it will end that very same way.

But empty-handed doesn’t have to equal branded and stranded.

Yeah, despite what some people will tell you, God did not already decide who will go to Heaven, and who will go to hell. In fact, He made the way (Jesus IS the Way) for anybody and everybody to go to Heaven and live forever. Well, I should clarify that, of course. Because there is a condition (sorry, not sorry, if that interferes with the silly notion of unconditional love). Anybody and everybody who believes in Jesus can look forward to living forever in Heaven.

Everybody else? Not so much.

So, it most definitely DOES come down to which you will choose. Life? Or the alternative?

When you reach that final empty-handed moment in your life, you prepare to meet your Creator…

Face To face

When we’re born into this world,
We’re empty-handed
We can’t speak, and we can barely even see.
As we grow we see this life,
In which we landed…
Is a thread of well-designed complexity.

Each and every one of us
Had a beginning…
And so very small a spark of life sufficed.
Then we turned away from God
And started sinning…
And that put us face to face with Jesus Christ.

Face to face with Truth…face to face with Life.
Yeah, the Way to paradise is face to face
With the One who died and who lives inside.
Jesus Christ even loves us face to face.

When we leave this world,
We’re leaving empty-handed.
We can go to that eternal, perfect place.
When we make the choice of Life,
We won’t be stranded.
And we’ll get to see our Savior’s loving face. © 2020

Here’s why I bring it up.

Because you’ll even find Christians, all over social media, who will tell you that what I just said is incorrect. They will say clichés like:

God is sovereign in His decisions over life and death.
God’s plan was established before the foundation of the world
He never changes
You have no say over where you will spend eternity

But here’s the thing. All you have to do to find out those ideas aren’t biblical read the Bible. Just that simple. For example, Deuteronomy 30:19 clearly says: “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life…”

If you have no choice in the matter, why would God say something like that? Hmm…

I’ll leave you to ponder that until we meet again. In the meantime, if you haven’t already…

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 30, 2025 by TonyJuly 7, 2025

I’ll tell you, right up front, it’s a metaphor for Heaven. And I didn’t come up with the metaphor because I had to. Because if someone told me I had to, I probably would’ve skipped the whole darn thing. Yeah, I guess I’m just one of those hardheaded writers who doesn’t want to be told how or what to write. So, I said all that to explain why I called the song Angel Café.

And I know you can see, right away, how it’s a metaphor for heaven. Right?

After all, I’m sure you realize you can’t hang out at the Angel Café here on earth. So, a place with that name must be a place you’ll only be able to visit after you die.

Uh oh. I just did a quick search, online, and it turns out there IS an Angel Café right here on Earth. But I can tell you, with 99.99% certainty, that it’s not THE Angel Café. And I can say that confidently because first it appears to be in Turkey. And there ain’t no angels in Turkey. Second, it. was created by human beings from Turkey. And human beings are not, and never will be, angels.

Anyway…

THE Angel Café it’s just a pigment of my imagination. And because I thought it was a colorful and creative way to describe putting something off till it’s too late I wrote a song about it. I’ve shared the song here on my website (and on my podcast) before. But with the things that have happened in the past couple of months, and other things I’ve observed in my extended family, I thought it might bear repeating.

Is there something you should tell somebody that you keep putting off?

Is there something you’d like to share with someone? Or maybe there’s something you wish they would tell you? Regardless, here’s the point. In case you never heard this before, you ain’t getting any younger. No one is.

One of these days, when you least expect it, in most cases, it’ll be too late to say what’s on your mind or get those questions answered. Once you breathe your last breath, all opportunities are lost. And that might be forever. Because you might be separated from that certain person forever.

So I encourage you, today (in fact, right now, if you can), to make and take an opportunity to say or ask what needs to be said or asked. Tomorrow will get here and turn into today. But you have absolutely NO guarantee you’ll still be here then. If the last two months have taught me anything, and they have, it’s that drastic changes can happen in the blink of an eye. I like the song says, don’t put off who you should get to today. Because you might not be able to meet up in the…

Angel Café

You’ve already been to the mountain,
And you’ve taken your slice of the pie.
You’ve had your cool dips in the ocean;
Tied the knot with a prominent guy.
You work for and live in the good life,
And you’re blessed with the ol’ Midas’ touch.
But you’re not the girl I remember.
And I miss her so much.

You might recall all the tea and conversation.
We stayed up all night just to start it all again.
But now it’s all such a different situation.
You clocked me out just when you were clocking in.

Well time flies away.
Don’t put off who you should get to today.
Time flies away.
Don’t you wait till we meet in the angel café.
Don’t you wait till we meet in the angel café.

I watched as your world got so busy.
I felt all the edges get rough.
And I know you just want a secure life.
But, I ask, is it ever enough?
Is it worth just what it may cost you?
Are you willing to pay off the fine?
Just be wary of what you neglect here.
That’s my own bottom line. © 1992

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 25, 2025 by TonyJune 25, 2025

If you care about your health, and you certainly should, you probably know how important digestive enzymes are. But did you know that as you get older, your body doesn’t do such a good job of making enough of them?

But we live in a time when you can get digestive enzymes in a bottle.

How cool is that? I’ll tell you how cool that is. VERY cool. I’ll tell you this too. Elgielene and I keep a bottle of chewable, papaya based digestive enzymes in our kitchen cabinet. The ones we get are by a company known as NOW. You don’t have to get the ones we get in order to enjoy better digestion. Plenty of other brands work, too. We just found some we like, and we tend to stick with that brand because we know they work. They’re convenient and they taste good.

And that leads me to butterflies. Not because they taste good. Because there’s a connection between butterflies and enzymes. There’s even an enzyme known by its nickname, the butterfly enzyme. It’s also known as cocoonase. Clever, right?

Anyway…

There’s a butterfly, known as the heliconius, that lives a long life. Well, long for a butterfly anyway. It can live as long as six months and most butterflies only live a few weeks. The people who observe and study this stuff, say the heliconius butterfly “has learned to harvest cocoonase from flowers, and not just nectar. And the cocoonase is about 20% protein.”

And that gives Mr. Helio (that’s the nickname I’ll give him) an advantage over the butterflies who only harvest nectar. See kids? Don’t be trying to live just on all those sugar waters out there. If you wanna live longer and be stronger, you gotta get plenty of good ol’ protein.

Even a flittery, fluttery butterfly knows that.

NOW that brings us back to digestive enzymes (see what I did there?).

Side note: by the way, butterflies are actually crawling caterpillars who use enzymes to turn themselves into a bag of fluid and then turn themselves back into a beautiful flying insect. And if you can hear or read that information and still not believe in God, I’m not sure if there’s any hope for you.

By the way, if you click on any of my product links, you’ll end up on a page where you can get your own tasty enzymes. Yes, I will make a little commission if you do. But it won’t add anything to the cost, and your support, even that way, helps me do what I do here.

And one of the things I do here, better than the average bear, is connect important and valuable information to entertaining rhymes like this one, right here:

Butterflies Are For Kids

Those butterflies they flutter by
And never make a sound.
Some soar up high into the sky…
Some just above the ground.
They land on flowers in the yard
And gently stretch their wings.
And then they fold them up again
And tend to other things.
Some little kids with little nets
Run barefoot through the yard.
They try to catch some butterflies,
But find out that it’s hard..
‘Cause butterflies fly up and down
And back and forth so well.
For kids who want to capture one
It’s like a magic spell.
They laugh and squeal in sheer delight
They nearly flip their lids.
And that’s why I’m quite sure that God
Made butterflies for kids. © 2022

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 23, 2025 by TonyJune 23, 2025

Yeah, I’ve got a sneaky way of saying things. Not every word or sentence I write. But certainly in some key places. Including places like books and music for kids. There are others who use this tactic for more sinister reasons?

The difference between me and them is I just told you about my sneaky way.

And actually, the sinister crowd is getting bolder these days. They realize there’s no real reason to hide or disguise their despicable deeds. Because even the Christian community has decided that you’re not supposed to judge.

That’s not only non-biblical, it’s a nonsensical destructive message/mantra.

I’ll tell you right now that if you’re a “judge not” person, either from a Christian or secular perspective, you should probably avoid buying any of my books and/or music. Especially the ones for kids. Because I can’t imagine you’d like the way I encourage kids to use their brains the good Lord gave them. And that’s because I encourage them to ask God (and trust Him) to help them make better choices, decisions, and judgments.

I’ll include the lyrics to one of the songs in my Bedtime Buckaroos lullaby songs collection that has a very subtle example of my sneaky way. See if you can figure out what and where it is in these lines:

The Silver Horse

In a night where colors drifted
Through the air on threads of light,
And the sounds of darkness shifted…
Came an incandescent sight.
All the creatures of the prairie
Were as still as they could be,
But it wasn’t something scary
As they all would clearly see…

The Silver Horse with diamond eyes…
It flew across the turquoise skies
And landed with a mighty force
And stars shined on the Silver Horse.

There were whispers in the gold wheat
And some rumors in the rye,
But the creatures all got cold feet
When it came to asking why…
Any horse with such a shimmer
Would be in this humble place.
But their hope began to glimmer
Just by gazing at the face…

Of The Silver Horse with diamond eyes…
That flew across the turquoise skies
And landed with a mighty force
And stars shined on the Silver Horse.

Then a tiny prairie sparrow
Flew up on the horse’s head.
It was nervous to the marrow,
But still here is what it said…
“Why would such a stunning creature
Choose to grace us with its light?
We don’t have one glowing feature.”
And the horse said “Cause it’s right.” © 2012

Get the book with the secret link to the songs when you click or tap the link below:(https://www.amazon.com/Bedtime-Buckaroos-Sing-along-color/dp/B0898WLZ5L)

If you’re not ready to buy anything, you should subscribe to my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 22, 2025 by TonyJune 22, 2025

Scripture memorization and this self realization

Today I read a few snippets of articles that talked about the value of scripture memorization when it comes to teaching kids about faith in Jesus and His word. That brought back memories of vacation Bible school in a small eastern Kansas town.

The VBS teacher certainly encouraged scripture memorization.

So, being the eager sort of nerd I was to show teachers and other adults how well my brain worked, I decided I would memorize more than the others in my class. Keep in mind vacation Bible school only lasts two weeks in the summer. And that’s not enough time to memorize the entire Bible. So that wasn’t my goal. Just wanted to impress the teacher. (and Linda, the cute girl who sat on the other side of the table from me). Yeah, I don’t remember a time when I didn’t like girls.

Anyway…

I don’t recall the number of Bible verses I memorized. But I do recall memorizing more than the other kids. I also don’t recall all the verses I memorized. But I do recall memorizing them.

Hmm, I see a pattern forming here.

In case you don’t, the pattern is this. I can remember what I DID. And that leads me to why I’m sharing this with you right now. Because I believe that pattern exposes at least a little too much focus on self. And not enough focus on the meat of the message I memorized.

One article I read, about it, said:

“Scripture memorization is the process of committing Bible verses to memory for easier recall and application in daily life. Techniques include repetition, using flashcards, and engaging multiple senses through writing or listening to the verses.”

My technique, or process, of choice was repetition. I have a method, I developed during my school years, that I used to make that more effective. Remind me to tell you how that came in handy in my junior year for an important music test. But that’s another story for another time.

“OK,” you say, “So if scripture memorization is off the table as a way to teach kids about Jesus and His word, then what in the world do you recommend Mister Tony?”

Well, let’s not take it entirely off the table. But there’s a better process of repetition that’s way more effective.

AND fun.

And I won’t make you guess what it is. In a word, it’s rhymes. Yes, I realize that’s a little bit self-serving. Especially since I’ve used the phrase rhyme and reason, for years to describe what I do here on my website and on my podcast. But even if I didn’t, it would still be true that rhymes are powerful. And you can supercharge those rhymes when you songify them. I just made up that word. Don’t you dare steal it and use it anywhere else.

Songs don’t have to use actual Bible verses word for word.

But they should tell about and point to the nature of God’s holiness, righteousness, justice, and love. And be based on the truth of God’s word. Then the rhymes, the beat, and the joyful sounds make it fun to learn about our creator and what He he’s done for us. And, you never can tell (except when you can), you might get some young voices, singing new songs to the Lord.

Speaking of new songs to the Lord, I’ve written quite a few of those in my lifetime. Many of them aren’t all that new anymore. But they might be new to you or a kid you care about. And the only way you’ll know for sure is if you click or tap the link below and check ’em out. How about that? You don’t even have to memorize the link.

(https://www.tonyfunderburk.com/fundersongs/)

If you’re not ready to do that, then subscribe to my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 19, 2025 by TonyJuly 5, 2025

Sing truth to a kid. Yeah, that's what I did

Who cares if you sing truth to a kid? Especially if it’s a very young kid. Because they’re not even gonna know or care if it’s true or not anyway right? They’ll just trust you. Or whatever grown up is in charge.

Bingo! That right there is why you should sing truth to a kid.

Well, at least if singing to, and with, a kid is part of your approach to spending quality time together. But if it’s not, then you can at least talk truth to a kid. Because, no matter, what truth matters. Or maybe I should say THE truth matters.

And here’s the main reason why I say that.

Because THE truth makes them free and gives them hope. But you know what doesn’t do any of that? Being taught that we all just got here by chance. That we all just crawled out of the ocean and started our happy journey toward turning into human beings. That’s right boys and girls. You used to be slime. Then you were a fish. Then you were a monkey. And finally, you were a brilliant human. And everyone lived happily ever after.

The trouble with all that stinkin’ thinkin’ is that it teaches kids to believe they’re just another animal. And you know how animals are. Whatever they feel like doing they do. Including having sex right out in the open. Going to the bathroom wherever they feel like it. And even eating other animals alive.

So I made it a mission of mine to sing truth to kids (from 3 to 103).

Because I want everybody to have hope. It’s good to know that you were made in the image and likeness of God. And it’s mighty nice to realize there’s a paradise waiting for you when your time here on earth is over.

Who knows? Maybe if most people knew that, there wouldn’t be so many dark, apocalyptic movies. Maybe there would be a lot more happy ending movies and TV shows. And maybe, now this is a big maybe, positive respectful language could be the norm. And most F-bombs and other filthy talk would just fade away.

I remember, from several years ago, a couple of people we know using foul language around their kids. And Elgielene asked them why they did that. And the mom said “They’re gonna learn it somewhere.”

That’s probably true. But it doesn’t mean they have to learn it in at home. And certainly not from their own parents. Yeesh

I’d rather help little kids grow up, knowing the one true, living, loving creator of the universe will never leave them nor forsake them. And help them have the hope of a glorious, perfect eternal life. So I write that message. And I sing that message. And I share that message just about every chance I get.

Like I did in this lullaby from my Bedtime Buckaroos lullaby songs collection:

Music Pajamas

It’s time…to let the daylight fly
Away, but we don’t have to cry
Because…another day will dawn real soon.
So smile…and say a sweet goodnight.
They won’t, if you’ll just slip into this tune.

And wear your music pajamas.
And sing the songs of your mamas
Because they gave you a life of your own.
Through all the cartoons and dramas…
Through all the triumphs and traumas…
Slip on your music pajamas,
And know that God is on His throne.
And you’re never all alone.

Night winds…float down from falling stars.
Lights blink…from Jupiter and Mars.
They bounce…across the water on the grass.
Inside…you’re in a soft cocoon
Of down…the color of the moon.
Dreams come…when you just let the sandman pass.

Chorus

Get the Bedtime Buckaroos coloring and drawing songbook delivered to your inbox and start enjoying it with your special kid or kids or grandkids in just a few minutes from now. https://www.TonyFunderburk.com/books Click or tap on the link, and scroll down to about the middle of the page where you’ll find it.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 18, 2025 by TonyJune 18, 2025

I’m sure this doesn’t apply to you because I’m sure your brain is way too sharp. But just in case you know somebody who might be feeling like their thoughts and ideas drift away a little too easily, I have some time-tested advice. Write it down.

Even if you don’t have a specific idea, write it down.

Because you can always turn vague stuff into clear stuff later on. And sometimes you can even turn vague stuff into the main stuff. Here’s a rhyme to show you what I mean:

ByLine

I didn’t have a thing to say when I first started out.
And I believe that sort of thing can fill your mind with doubt.
But then ideas began to form. I quickly wrote them down.
It felt so good to clear the dust from my mental ghost town.

Hey, have you ever felt like that, not sure of what to say?
And if you did, what did you do to make it go away?
Or did you find yourself at odds with even your own brain
And watched, as every thought you had, went swirling down the drain?

Well, may I recommend the treatment I just put me through?
I think you’ll find it might replace what’s missing inside you.
Just write your foggy, fractured thoughts down slowly line by line.
Then share the words and walk away. Don’t worry. You’ll be fine.

See what I did there? You could say I wrote about not having anything to write about. And when I started to write it down, I had no idea where the next lines would take me. But I just went with it. And, looky there. Three verses later, I have a new creation.

And if you think this is just a waste of time, write it down and send your complaints to you state or local representative. Certainly not to me.

Then, subscribe to my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 14, 2025 by TonyJune 14, 2025

Flag Day 2025 and the real reason we're alive

I just scanned two or three dozen social media posts that all sounded almost identical. And they all said something similar to this: On June 14, 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes as America’s flag. So, as of Flag Day 2025, it’s been a symbol of freedom, patriotism, and strength for 248 years.

Wow, Flag Day 2025 marks nearly 2 1/2 centuries of the famous red, white, and blue.

I especially like this quote I found that’s attributed to George Washington. He said:

“We take the stars from heaven, the red from our mother country, separating it by white stripes, thus showing that we have separated from her & the white stripes shall go down to posterity, representing our liberty.”

American Patriots are using words like liberty, freedom, strength, values, and unity. As for me, I don’t see much of any of those anymore. And in some cases, I see a whole lot more of the opposites. America is definitely not a collection of united states. Lots of our freedoms have disappeared or have been literally taken from us. A quick scan through TV programming or online movie channels will show you how badly our values have tanked. And surely you can’t disagree that the strength of our fat population doesn’t even remotely compare with Americans from previous decades.

I’d still rather be here in America than any other place on earth. Because there are still plenty of Americans who understand what true freedom and liberty are and how much it costs to maintain them. But my ultimate allegiance isn’t something I’ll be celebrating just on Flag Day 2025. No, I celebrate that allegiance every day. To my Creator. After all, without Him there would be no America, no stars and stripes, and definitely no freedom.

Talk Delight

Talk is not as cheap as it used to be.
It can cost so much when the world can see.
And I still gotta say what is right.
It might even bring kings delight.
Think before you speak is still good advice.
Keep in mind the ultimate sacrifice
Many others made for your right.
And speak up for one King’s delight.

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 13, 2025 by TonyJuly 4, 2025

Retrain your brain with a good daily grain

Sure, I could’ve (and maybe should’ve) said daily bread instead of daily grain. But that wouldn’t have rhymed with the retrain your brain part. So, I took some poetic license. And there you have it.

Now, what’s all this retrain your brain talk?

Well, I could be talking about anxiety and depression, in which case I might give you a list of cognitive distortions like someone else did on another website. Here’s the list they shared.:

Mental Filters: Mental filtering is when we filter out the positives of a situation and only focus on the negative. For example, that student left during my presentation because my presentation was not good.
All-or-Nothing Thinking: Also known as black-and-white or polarized thinking, all-or-nothing thinking is when we believe there is no middle ground—something is perfect or a failure. For example, I missed that one question, so I did poorly on the test.
Overgeneralization: Overgeneralization is when we conclude that, because of one bad experience, all events will have the same negative outcome. For example, I failed that test. This is going to be a horrible term.
Magnification: Also known as catastrophizing, magnification involves exaggerating shortcomings and problems while downplaying positive qualities. For example, I failed that test. What if I flunk out of school?
Jumping to Conclusions: We jump to conclusions when we make a hasty judgment or believe something to be true without considering the facts or initial assumptions. For example, she gave me that funny look. I think she hates me.
Personalization and Blame: This is a cognitive distortion where we take everything personally and compare ourselves (e.g., He made that comment in class to get at me). With blaming, you place full blame on yourself or someone else for a situation that, in reality, was influenced by multiple factors beyond your control. For example, you’re the reason I had a bad day.
Emotional Reasoning: Emotional reasoning is judging yourself or your situation based on emotions, assuming negative feelings reflect reality. For example, I feel guilty. I must be a bad person.
Labeling: Labeling is a cognitive distortion that defines a person by their actions rather than viewing behavior separately from identity. For instance, you might call yourself a failure.
Should Statements: Should statements focus on what you believe you should or must do. They create a constant sense of obligation, leading to anxiety and guilt. This mindset can make you feel like you’re always falling short.
Discounting the Positive: This is a cognitive distortion where you overlook or dismiss the good things that have happened to you. For instance, instead of feeling proud of your achievement from hard work, you credit it to mere luck, disregarding your talent and effort.

But I’m not anxious or depressed.

And the number one reason for that is because God tells me not to be. Plus, it’s bad for your brain which makes it much more difficult to retrain. So I recommend living in joy and gratitude. Yeah, we should all be extremely grateful. We’re not getting what we deserve (you’re not getting those wages you actually deserve, right?).

My educated guess is that if you ARE anxious and/or depressed, you’re way too focused on YOU.

But sometimes things happen and you find yourself forced to focus more on YOU. Or at least parts of you. And that’s where I find myself currently. So that’s why I’ve been talking about it more lately.

Brain injuries, or other forms of head trauma, like stroke, are a challenge to the neuroplasticity of your brain and nervous system. And since that’s the boat, I find myself in, at this time, the information I find is fascinating. Here’s the basic gist of it that I found in an article:

~The brain rewires itself through neuroplasticity.

Brain cells send messages, which are the neural connections around the brain. However, when an individual experiences a stroke, the stroke damages some of the connections inside the brain in addition to the connection between the brain and the rest of the body. Rehabilitation activities help the brain make new neural connections in the healthy parts of your brain. And more neural connections can improve your brain’s ability to control your body and perform daily activities. Every time you take an extra step, say a new word or do an exercise, it helps the brain make new connections.~

My first gut reaction to all that is:

God is good. God is great.
He designed with love, not hate.
Each step I take, each word I say
Keeps me connected to the Way.
And so I’m thankful for each hour,
Every sunbeam, every flower,
Each connection in my brain,
And each one that I can retrain. © 2025 TF

By the way, I’m also extremely grateful you’re here reading this. I want you to know it’s no small thing to me that you have spent some of your precious, valuable time checking out what I share. I hope it blesses you in some way. And if there’s anything else you’d like me to focus on, don’t hesitate to ask.

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 12, 2025 by TonyJune 12, 2025

I just saw multiple lists of company websites that were down and not functioning properly. Go down the line of this following list to see how much danger your life is in right this minute. Hurry. Do it now. I’ll wait.

Twitch
Discord
Google Cloud
Etsy
Google Drive
Mailchimp
Amazon Web Services
OpenAI
Cloudflare
Anthropic
DoorDash
Supabase
Cursor
Google AI

OK, did you go all the way down the line?

Now, can you see why you should be afraid? Why you should be very very afraid? Hmmm?

Or maybe you can see why I’m being very very sarcastic?

Yeah, I’ve got a few years on me. So, I can remember when absolutely none of those names even existed. And the world was not a scarier place. In fact, I believe there are a lot of people who are with me on this who would agree the world was actually a LOT more enjoyable.

Can I get an amen?

Anyway…

Apparently, a lot of the Internet, including down the line of some of the biggest names, was down (or is down). And a lot of people are at a loss for what to do.

I personally don’t have anything to do with any of those companies, currently, so I’m unaffected. And that means I can operate my recording studio, do the audio editing I need to do, and upload files to stay current with my clients and their audiobook projects.

But I can empathize with people who use those services. Because I’ve been affected by similar circumstances. And I know how disruptive it can be to not have access to your regular goods and services. And I bet you can remember how disruptive it can be to just not be able to get paper goods. Right?

So here’s my recommendation to anyone affected by downed services.

Do your best to make sure you have alternatives. Of course nobody can plan for anything and everything. Because, despite what some would have you believe (like everything happens for a reason, or it’s all part of God’s plan), things do happen by chance. And no one can be fully prepared for 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.

I know this much for sure, though. I hope to see you down the line and up in heaven forever.

In the meantime, subscribe to my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. That way. you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,

Posted on June 5, 2025 by TonyJune 5, 2025

Boggles the mind what you can find in mankind

Complex molecules make up every little bit of your body. Your DNA is so complex it boggles the mind. And it’s so unique that you’re the only one exactly like you. Well…aren’t you something?!

But there’s no need to get the “big head” from this revelation.

The same is true of every other person on the planet. So “you” means any person who happens to be reading this at right now. Or even later for that matter.

So, it boggles the mind, even the ones unaffected by age and health problems.

And while you ponder that, eyeball this. Your eye. See if you can wrap your retinas around this: if you tried to simulate, on a computer, just 10 milliseconds of the complete processing of a single nerve cell from one retina, here’s what your computer would have to be able to do.

It would have to be able to solve 500 simultaneous nonlinear differential equations 100 times. Remember…that’s every 10 milliseconds…and it’s only one nerve cell in one retina. That would require a super duper supercomputer. And when you consider that there are “10 million or more such cells interacting with each other in complex ways, it would take a minimum of 100 years of [1985] Cray time to simulate what takes place in your eye many times every second.”

And that’s just one eye. Even though that data boggles the mind, you might have noticed, a lot of people have two.

Here’s a couple more little facts about complex molecules and organs.

Just in case that last tidbit didn’t impress you. An adult human brain contains 10¹⁴electrical connections. That’s a hundred thousand billion, and it’s more than all the soldered electrical connections in the whole world.

And that’s one brain.

OK, now, think about your heart. It’s only about 10 ounces. And it’s a pump that keeps pumping on its own for about 75 years. Dude. That’s complex.

But of course, you can still pass this off as serendipitous fate if you prefer. But as I always say, give me God. I’d much rather take my “chance” with Him than silly chance and circumstance.

All Of Creation

All 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
All of creation…Jesus defined. © 2016

And here’s something else you shouldn’t leave to chance and circumstance:

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on June 4, 2025 by TonyJune 4, 2025

Sleepiness is something I have to deal with a lot more of during my recovery process. Over the course of my life napping didn’t interest me. Because it always felt like a waste of good daylight. But, as it turns out, napping has become a necessity. Yikes!

Because sleepiness has become a frequent, almost relentless visitor.

Here’s a snippet of an article I read that talked about the why and what for of this phenomenon:

~ Many stroke patients report weariness and sleepiness during the early stages of stroke recovery. While the brain generally consumes 20% of total body energy, that number rises in the weeks and months after a stroke. This is because the brain takes additional energy to fix the damage, leaving less energy available for normal processes like remaining attentive. ~

And the article pepper in some benefits from getting enough, or at least more, sleep. Here’s what it added:

~ Getting enough sleep is critical for general health and well-being, particularly for stroke survivors. Adequate and restful sleep may help the body heal and renew and ease stroke symptoms such as excessive drowsiness. Some of the advantages of getting enough sleep after a stroke are as follows:

Improved cognitive function: Adequate sleep is necessary for the brain to operate correctly and may enhance cognitive function, memory, and learning.
Reduced risk of depression: Sleep difficulties are strongly connected to depression and anxiety, and getting enough sleep may help you avoid acquiring these mental health illnesses.
Reduced risk of stroke recurrence: Sleep deprivation has been associated with an increased risk of stroke recurrence. A good night’s sleep may assist in lessening this risk.
Improved cardiovascular health: Sleep is essential for maintaining cardiovascular health, and getting enough sleep may help reduce the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. ~

So, I guess I can nap without the guilt of wasting daylight now.

Because napping won’t just be a way to get out of work or other responsibilities. Now it can be a part of my health and wellness and recovery regimen. And when you’re not sleeping, you’re not nearly as sloppy. Hot Diggity! OK maestro, a little (or original) sleep music if you please…

Now I Lay Me Down

I wish the day would never end…
So maybe I will just pretend
I’m going to my secret place
Where darkness won’t conceal my face.
I’m just gonna lay down…lay down and think.

Or maybe if I think real fast
This sleeping time will soon be past.
Then I’ll be free to fly around
And fill the air with happy sound.
I’m just gonna try it…try it and see.

Now I lay…lay me down
Blink and wink, my dreams come and take me.
Now I lay…lay me down
If I’m gone too long, come and wake me.

But I don’t really want to go.
There must be some way, do you know
To stay awake both day and night
Let’s think on it with all our might.
Yeah, we should just lay down…lay down and think.

Chorus

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on June 1, 2025 by TonyJune 1, 2025

Molotov cocktails. And my original music. What do they have in common? Boulder, Colorado.

Maybe you already read about that terrorist in Boulder Colorado today.

He actually tossed Molotov cocktails into a crowd and burned people. And if we had an actual justice system in America, he would be put to death early tomorrow morning. But don’t hold your breath for that.

So, let’s not focus on the dark side of this Boulder, Colorado connection. Because I believe you’ll find it much more enjoyable to watch a video of one of my songs.

It’s a song called “Feed Me”. And it was actually played on KBCO, a radio station in Boulder, Colorado. This was way back in 1989 when I lived in Lakewood, Colorado, a suburb of the Denver Metro area. KBCO featured it in a segment they called “Home Grown”. Little did they know what they were playing. 😉 Anyway…hope you get a kick out of it…

The lyrics go by pretty fast in the video. So here they are just in case you wanna follow along:

Feed Me

I don’t wanna leave this moment.
I don’t wanna get to the future.
And I don’t wanna find out I was wrong.
I just wanna be successful.
And I don’t wanna be a failure.
I want more of what can keep me strong.
If I leave it up to you, will you show me what to do.
If I give my total trust, will you wash away the dust, and

Feed me…keep me alive.
Yeah, feed me…give me the drive…feed me.
Feed me…open my eyes
Feed me…conquer the lies…feed me.

I don’t wanna be alone now.
And I don’t wanna live in a dark cloud.
I need to know the light is just ahead.
I don’t wanna be an old man,
But I don’t wanna be a young man.
I just wanna be me till I’m fed.
If I leave it up to you, will you show me what to do.
If I give my total trust, will you wash away the dust, and

Chorus…long instrumental…repeat chorus to end

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on May 31, 2025 by TonyMay 31, 2025

Bodily exercise helps a little bit. I don't recommend depending on it.

A wise man once wrote “For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.”

Yeah, no amount of bodily exercise can prepare you for that which is to come.

But the good news is that which is to come is WAY better than the best shape you’ll ever be in here on earth. And that’s mainly because the future is forever, but the here and now is SO temporary. When I say temporary, I mean, you’re gonna be thinking blink-of-an-eye warp speed when your life is over.

The events that have taken place, for me, in the past few weeks, have vividly driven home these facts. Even though I was already keenly aware that my life, here on earth, is most likely around 3/4 complete. Thankfully, I’m also keenly aware of the hope I have because of my faith in my Creator. And I have that faith because He actually wrote a book, the best selling book of all time, and included eternal promises to those who choose to love and trust Him. So, I can just read his book and enjoy the blessed comfort of His…

Abounding Grace

If this was the last day of my life…
If this was the last sunrise I’d see…
I’d still thank the Lord for my days
And His abounding Grace to me.

If this was the last thing I could write…
If this was my final poetry…
I’d still thank the Lord for His word
And His abounding Grace to me.

If this was the last time I could pray…
If this had to be my closing plea…
I know I could say, “I love the Lord
And His abounding Grace to me.”
© 2018

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on May 30, 2025 by TonyJune 25, 2025

Mindfulness and awareness: done this way it’s meaningless

Note: the last podcast episode said it was number 995. But it was actually 994. And this episode is actually 995. OK, back to your regularly scheduled whatever it was you were doing before I interrupted you.

Mindfulness is the cognitive skill, usually developed through meditation, of sustaining metacognitive awareness towards the contents of one’s own mind in the present moment.

I recommend practicing mindfulness and self-awareness… less.

Because the information you see about mindfulness and self-awareness, all over the place these days, really focuses on that one word: self.

And from what I’ve been able to determine, through a variety of articles, they lead away from God. Here’s an example of what I mean taken from the ultimate internet authority, wikipedia:

~ The term mindfulness derives from the Pali word sati, a significant element of Buddhist traditions, and is based on Ānāpānasati, Chan, and Tibetan meditation techniques. Though definitions and techniques of mindfulness are wide-ranging, Buddhist traditions describe what constitutes mindfulness, such as how perceptions of the past, present and future arise and cease as momentary sense-impressions and mental phenomena. ~

So, what does all that mean?

Two words. Mumbo TRUTH. OK, I’ll add one more word, Dumbo.

If your “perceptions of the past, present and future arise and cease as momentary sense-impressions” (aka feelings), your life ain’t got no foundation. And if you put any kind of trust in mental phenomena, you’re just liable to be tossed “to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine.”

Of course, none of that means you can’t or shouldn’t meditate.

Because meditation, that doesn’t focus on self, can be a very powerful mental and emotional tool.

I recommend that your meditation (or mindfulness) should focus on things that are:

true,
noble,
just,
pure,
lovely, and
of good report

Of course, you already know that, if you’ve been connected with me for even a little while. So this information and recommendation is for the uninitiated, the newbies, and anyone willing to trust truth over feelings and phenomena.

It’s not a rule you have to follow,
Not a law you must obey.
But when you’re feeling lost and hollow,
Focused thoughts connect The Way.

This all has even more meaning for me now. Because part of my occupational and physical therapy, for better stroke recovery, includes exercising my brain. It sounds like it would be the easy part, but when parts of your brain are zapped due to a blood clot, you might be surprised how quickly the old think tank can run out of gas.

So, I’m gonna take my own advice right now and trust the Truth to help me.

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. That way you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on May 29, 2025 by TonyMay 29, 2025

I did some reading earlier today about this fatigue feeling I’ve experienced since that fateful day, last month, when my personal fuel injector went a little haywire. There are times when I feel like I REALLY need a nap. And, over the course of my life, I haven’t been what you would call a napping kind of guy. So, I’ve been dealing with a feeling of guilt for not being able to keep going the way I typically do.

Turns out the fatigue feeling is “normal.”

Yay! I’m normal. I know let’s not get carried away right?

Anyway…

Since the stroke I’ve had to readjust my focus on work. In a way it’s been a very good thing because my focus has returned to voice work instead of other more physical endeavors. Voice work is something I did several years back before I had to deal with respiratory issues. Yeesh, I sure sound like a geezer. No comments from the peanut gallery.

But I’ve discovered that even sitting in front of my computer, hands on the keyboard, and talking into my studio microphone, for even a little while, can tire me out as though I had lifted weights for an hour. And that’s disheartening to say the least.

Here’s part of what I read, this morning, in an article about this effect.

~ Your fatigue feeling can be an overwhelming tiredness and lack of energy that can occur after a stroke. It’s different from the normal tiredness you might experience after a long day or a strenuous activity.

Post-stroke fatigue can be persistent and may not always improve with rest.

This type of fatigue can affect you both physically and mentally. You might find it challenging to carry out everyday tasks or engage in activities you once enjoyed. It’s important to recognize that post-stroke fatigue is a real symptom and not a sign of laziness or lack of motivation. ~`

Seriously, I sure was glad to read that last phrase.

“…not a sign of laziness or lack of motivation.”

If you’ve dealt with some head drama, stroke, or other brain related uncommon stress, maybe you can relate to all this. And you and I need to remember to give ourselves some grace. Of course, that doesn’t mean we can use it as an excuse to slow down and back off for good. But it’s important to acknowledge that recovery takes more time than you probably prefer. I know it’s certainly going much slower than I would like. But I’m sure glad to be here and glad to be able to talk about it with you.

Now, as soon as I get this next nap out of the way, I look forward to continuing the good fight.

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. That way you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on May 28, 2025 by TonyMay 28, 2025

Thief in the night doesn't like the Light

One day you’re imagining and planning out your multitude of great ideas. Then, a stroke. And suddenly you’re calculating where your left foot needs to go next. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians “that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.” And I’m here to tell you that a serious change in your health can come like that too. That’s why I’m so thankful that you and I don’t walk around oblivious to the consequences of not being prepared for that time when we’ll leave good ol’ planet Earth.

Because that thief in the night ain’t gonna be able to take our true treasure.

Nope. And that’s because you and I stored that up in Heaven.

Yeah, what good is a treasure if it only lasts as long as you do? Well, it’s an awesome treasure, if you’re gonna last forever. Because then it will too. So, there’s that.

But where’s that?

In order for something to last forever, it’s gonna have to be somewhere where things don’t break down, or rust, or get chewed up by moths, worms, and other little critters. It’s gonna have to be in a place where there’s no compromised atmosphere that can oxidize and turn you and your stuff into dust.

Fortunately, there IS a place that meets all that criteria and WAY more. It’s the place I wrote and sang about several years ago. And it’s the pure, perfect place where everyone is invited but so few choose to go. That’s why I’m so thankful that you and I will know each other forever…

In The House Of The Lord

Father 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…
(repeat chorus)
© 2010

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on May 27, 2025 by TonyMay 27, 2025

Read the following list of names and see if you can tell me what the common denominator is with them.

– Ferguson’s suicide-by-cop Michael Brown
– Aurora theater murderer James Holmes
– Islamic Boston Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev
– Miami cannibal Rudy Eugene
– Trayvon Martin
– Baltimore’s Freddie Gray
– Vegas Strip murderer Lakeisha Holloway
– Planned Parenthood shooter Robert Lewis Dear
– Infamous murderer Jodi Arias
– Devin Kelley murdered 26 at church massacre
– Chattanooga’s Islamic terrorist Muhammad Abdulazeez
– Tucson massacre mass murderer Jared Lee Loughner, and many more including:
– Japan’s pothead legalization activist Satoshi Uematsu killed 19 handicapped people
– England’s Manchester jihadist Salman Abedi killed 22
– France’s Bastille Day jihadist killed 86 at the beach.

Do you know the common denominator?

And for those of you who attended public school in the last 20 years, do you even know what a common denominator is? I’m not asking that question to publicly ridicule you. It’s a legitimate question because public schools don’t tend to teach beyond feelings anymore. Mathematical terms, like common denominator, aren’t common in your everyday feelings and emotions. So, why spend any time teaching something nobody’s gonna use anyway? Right?

Well, let’s get back to that list. Yeah, all the people on that list have something in common. It’s something other than the fact that they murdered people. They all have a substance in common. And that substance is pot. Weed. Wacky tobacky. Now, if you love your smoke, just can’t live without it, and you know you would never murder anybody, you probably would rather I would just move on to and talk about something else. And in fact, I don’t tend to talk about marijuana all that much here on my website or in my newsletter or podcast.

The only reason I brought it up now is because someone recently mentioned how it might help my recovery process from the recent stroke I went through. I suppose their recommendation came from a place of “good intentions.” But, when someone recommends mari jane’s can o’ biscuits or products related to those, I immediately think they just haven’t read enough about it to make a good decision. At least I hope that’s all it is.

I’ve read and watched enough to know that pot ain’t the way to go.

Of course, if you’ve followed me here for a while, you know, I’m not a fan of pharmaceuticals either. But generally speaking, they have more guidelines and monitoring in place for the dosage you get. Plus, you can find all kinds of information about the side effects that come with them. And most people don’t wanna talk about side effects from lighting up those little smoky joysticks. Especially when one of the side effects can be murder.

I don’t like the way the left side of my body feels (or should I say doesn’t feel) at this point. But I’m not willing to sacrifice mental acuity for a false and temporary “warm glow.”

And I’m grateful to God for keeping me on that path throughout my life. That saved me a lot of money. And it also kept me from a potentially destructive lifestyle that could’ve been way worse than a stroke.

If you’d like to know a lot more about how harmful weed can be, let me know. And I’ll send you a link to some excellent peer reviewed information. It’s the same page where I got the list of names above.

See how many drug references you can find in the lyrics to this song I wrote way back in the 80s:

Nothin’s Gonna Happen To You

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

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

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

Well, it’s so posh how you whitewash
And the truth starts falling through the crack
So your winter scheme is a broken dream

And the pieces stab you in the back
Time gone by can make you cry
And the tears can freeze inside your heart
But don’t obsess in that icy mess
Blow the danger and the pleasure apart
On the inner side it feels like a ride
And you rollercoast into the sky
But the outer side shows the demon lied
Give him anything to keep you high
Years from now they’ll wonder how
How it ever got to you
And I’ll just say “nothin’
Nothin’ ever happened to you.”

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. And that means you can spend your valuable time reading instead of searching. Plus., to show my sincere appreciation for your time and attention, I’ll send you download links to books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on May 24, 2025 by TonyMay 24, 2025

Miracles are real but here is another feel

Yes, miracles are real. And I believe God can manifest one anytime He wants or desires. Are you with me so far? Well, get ready to jump off this train. Because I’m about to make a stop where many, if not most, Christians (and pretty much everybody else) don’t wanna go.

Miracles are real. But God isn’t using them right now.

And that’s mostly because He observed how miracles don’t tend to change hearts. And the most important example of that is the miracle of the resurrection of Jesus. He literally predicted He would rise from the dead in three days, then He did, and there were lots of eyewitnesses. But to this day, 2000 years later, most people in the world don’t wanna believe in a miracle, don’t wanna hear about it, and prefer to mock anyone who does. Jesus also predicted it would be that way:

He said,”If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”

I found this definition of the word miracle in my digital dictionary: a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency: (the miracle of rising from the grave.) It’s interesting how they used the rising from the grave example.

Anyway…

The reason I bring it up is because of my current, and recent handicapped status. I’ve been dealing with it about five or six weeks now. And not once have I prayed for a healing miracle. As I’ve already said, it’s not because I don’t believe miracles are real. And it’s not because I don’t have enough faith that God could heal me.

I still pray the way I did before I had a stroke. Each prayer is a message of thanks for the multitude of blessings. I receive every day. Blessings I receive in spite of my human selfishness.

I do ask God to give me strength.

And I ask Him to help me to lean on His love through each and every step of my recovery process, however long it takes. That kind of prayer focuses on my relationship with Him instead of the wondrous things He can do. And the more I read Paul’s letters, the more I believe those are the kinds of prayers. God prefers from us. The prayers that show we want Him to be with us no matter what. The prayers that acknowledge, just as He told Paul, His grace is sufficient.

So, even if the left side of my body never fully recovers, I’m gonna bask in that grace, knowing that one day I’ll receive a flawless, new, glorified body that will never suffer this kind of stuff again.

And that reminds me of a song I wrote, seven years ago, for a young man who bravely fought a battle against cancer. He lost the battle, but he praised the Lord. So I know he’s in paradise forever. Here are the lyrics:

Jeremiah’s Prayer

I don’t deserve your healing Lord.
But you deserve my praise.
Your great name and your Word
Will lift me up and fill my days.
Oh Lord, please give me strength
So I can fight this battle well”
And courage even satan will
Remember down in hell.

You’re the breath in my lungs.
And you’re the song upon my tongue.
You’re the source of life no doubters can erase.
And through sickness and health,
Lord I consecrate myself
And I just can’t wait to see you face to face.

No one deserves your healing Lord.
But you deserve our praise.
Your great name and your Word
Will lift us up and fill our days,
If we will look to you for strength
And courage to declare
The love and Truth about You
Found in Jeremiah’s prayer.

Get my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

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Posted on May 23, 2025 by TonyJune 18, 2025

Food is medicine that doctors don't get us in

If this was an article for a health and wellness client, I couldn’t actually say food is medicine. In order to protect my client from lawsuits and such, I would have to say “food can be medicine.”

But since I’m sharing my own opinions, I can say food is medicine.

Yeah, don’t get too excited. Because that doesn’t mean ALL food is medicine. So, even though I like to joke that vitamin C stands for cookie, you might not see any health benefits from your favorite chocolate chippers. Sorry to boost your bubble. Or should I say crumble your cookie?

Anyway…

So, where do vitamins originally come from? And where does nutrition start? Food. As I said, food is medicine. And I’ve never been able to kick the eating habit. Yeah, I literally feed my habit, you might say (well, you probably wouldn’t say, but I just did) every day. And I don’t even.want to kick the habit. I love food. I’ll be the first (or second) to admit I don’t always eat what’s best for me, but it;s a high priority in my life.

Your body isn’t lacking pharmaceuticals. It needs efficient, sufficient nutrition. But most doctors sit at a computer keyboard, type in data, and wait for software to tell them which meds to prescribe. Just in case you didn’t already know this, that’s not healthcare. In fact that process read to neither health nor care.

So, let’s talk about what can lead to health and care.

And here’s some information about me you’ve ever asked for, but I’m gonna share anyway. I can’t swallow typical vitamins without chewing them. And 99% of vitamins taste horrible. I know for a fact! So, that’s why Elgielene and I focus on…you guessed it…

Better Food.

We made the switch back to basics. Just plain ol’ food. We buy as much organic as we can. But that’s WAY more expensive. Right? Not so fast. Because the money you can save on doctor’s bills can more than pay any difference in price you find. And here’s something even more important. Food doesn’t tend to overwork your internal organs like processed vitamins. Don’t take my word for it. Look into it. I think you’ll enjoy food a lot more than the alternatives.

All that being said, genetics still play a huge role. And, as I discovered recently, you can eat healthy, nutritious food, get plenty of fresh air and sunshine, and walk 6000 to 10,000 steps a day, and still suffer a stroke.

So, it still comes down to how nobody gets out of this life alive. And that’s why even more than bodily exercise and nutrition, it’s important to have a healthy relationship with your Creator. That way all the rough stuff you go through in this life is temporary, and the joy-filled, glorified life in paradise is forever. So is the unappealing alternative.

Just some Food For Thought on a nice, Spring day…

You know what? You should subscribe to my TRUTH Journal. Because the flashes of light I share on my website come directly to your inbox. So you can 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 books and music, right away. Kids from 3 to 103 can enjoy these fun goodies.

Stay tuned,