Category Archives: Christian Articles

Tony Funderburk writes and sings about the rhyme and reason for life so believers and searchers can see some of the millions of reasons to trust Jesus.

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

If you can’t trust the king, who can you trust? That’s a good question. Well, it’s at least an interesting question. Especially since so many people seem to prefer no kings at all. In fact, they’ll go to any length, including the exclusion of men who aren’t kings.

In a way, history is filled with examples of why you can’t trust the king.

Because there have been more corrupt monarchs, male and female, than decent ones. That’s even true with the examples you find in the Bible. What?! Say it ain’t so!

OK, it ain’t so for the one true, living, loving King of kings. The only one who was not only incorrupt but also good. And since no one is good, but God, I’m sure you can guess who I’m talking about. If you can’t, check out just about any of my other thousands of posts for more clues.

I’m gonna go out on a limb and venture guess that those “no kings” people include the one and only incorrupt one, too. At least the vast majority of them do. Because the vast majority of them hate God. And truth.

They’re free to do so. But, tragically for them, that decision will not go well in the end. One day they will meet the one they hated and rejected. And they will discover that all their options and freedom to choose to hate God have taken them to the one place where they can be free from Him.

That place will be their eternal destination. And their eternal torment. And all it would’ve taken to avoid that hopeless situation was humility and a willingness to love, and…

Trust The King

You might win a few things in this life,
And you might even win a whole lot.
But you’ll lose everything if you don’t trust the King
Who has given you all that He’s got.

Know that nothing is too hard for God.
He can help you through all of your fears.
If your gold turns to rust, or your diamonds to dust,
Only God can dry all of your tears.

Make the most of the moments you have.
They fly by in the blink of an eye.
Don’t waste time in the dark, jump inside of the ark
Of God’s love. Kiss the old life goodbye.  © 2015 TF

Subscribe to Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, the ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening 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.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I’m not a scientist. And I don’t play one on TV. And I’m not a physicist or alchemist or biologist. I’m a Christian writer and poet. A words and music guy. A guy made up of as much carbon as anyone in those other professions. But I’m a guy, who like those other guys, has a time limit on my LIFE here on earth.

And when my time limit is up, my carbon will still be here.

So my life did not arise from or depend on carbon. And true science (not the pseudoscience you see on TV) shows the undeniable complexity in human DNA. The code in a just one of your cells contains volumes of design information.

Yeah, you have your own unique DNA. So does everyone else. My finite mind can barely apprehend (and certainly not comprehend) the implications of that. But I can say this without hesitation. DNA clearly shows we’re information based, not carbon. And without information this whole world. would be lifeless. So, that certainly begs the question, “Where did all that information originate?”

Well, I believe in the unpopular idea that it didn’t all come from nothing.

Of course, when I say “unpopular,” that doesn’t mean hardly anyone agrees with me. In fact, millions and millions of people agree with me. But there are billions who disagree. And I predict eventually that will not go well for them.

I wish scientists who trust in carbon would get real and go where life’s information leads. Because I believe they get a much better understanding of life, love, and design. And they might even learn to trust in the Designer. I’ll just go ahead and say it, Jesus is that designer.

Secret Mission

In the first ray of light there was a message
That no one else, but me, could even see.
And I had to squint my eyes to decipher
A secret mission plotted just for me.
There were no dots or dashes or impulses.
No man-made codes and no neurology
Could infiltrate and then translate the mission,
The expedition meant for only me.
Then a voice, filled with thunder, in a whirlwind,
Spoke to me about peace and sanctity.
And my soul realized the secret mission
Is for everyone and not just for me.
I appeal, with an urgency of purpose,
To your heart where you’ll find eternity
Written down, as a not so secret mission,
To share God’s love for all with eyes to see. © 2025 TF

Subscribe to my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, the ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening 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.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Of course, I don’t know what your preferences are or your taste in design. But I’m pretty confident you’d have to agree there’s nothing quite like neon trees.

What’s that? You’ve never seen neon trees?

Oh Matilda, say it ain’t so. Because, especially around this time of year, neon trees are almost everywhere. Not so much here along the Emerald Coast but certainly in many other places around America. From the Smoky Mountains to New England, from the Ozarks to the Rocky Mountains, and from the great Southwest to the vast Northwest. Beautiful neon blowing in the breezes.

OK, by now (or even sooner) you probably figured out I’m talking about autumn art as the leaves change from different shades of green to the bright, fiery colors of fall. I hope you make time to get outside check out the change. Because not only is it a blast, but it’s just plain good for you. It’s a great way to reinforce and reinvigorate your brain to remember how it’s all part of God’s design and intentions.

In His bestselling book of all time, God inspired Moses to write:

“While the earth remains,
Seedtime and harvest,
Cold and heat,
Winter and summer,
And day and night
Shall not cease.”

That should bring you comfort, if you need comforting, that this planet isn’t gonna be destroyed by so-called climate change or whatever other knucklehead scheme they come up with. God’s word and His promises always bring me comfort. And I believe he indirectly inspired me to write about neon trees.

Well, maybe not neon trees specifically. But I do believe He gave me a creative mind that I can use to write rhymes like the following two. They were written years apart. And I didn’t realize how connected they would be until this morning. As I read the words out loud to myself I get the same visual I did when I wrote these…

Singing silent solo songs…
Looking up redeems the poorest.
Don’t doubt where belief belongs.
Threaded through the days of living
Light librettos linger low
Thankful to be sources giving
Blue, green, orange, red, and yellow. © 2022 TF

AND…

Walking in the woods of wonder…
Leaping off a limb of lights…
Slipping down a secret scots pine…
Kiwi trees are flying kites.

All around are dancing aspens…
With their white and wondrous wings…
Bristling branches and sweet breezes…
Where a speckled sparrow sings.

Rainbow redwoods rake the blue sky…
Mystic music mingles in…
Dragons drift by in their dreamboats…
Lemon larkspurs live within.

Walking in the woods of wonder…
Thinking thoughts of thrilling things…
Life’s a lilac filled with lightning…
We’re all wearing water wings.  © 2013 TF

I hope you get inspired in some way to use your creativity and express your delight in God’s design.

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, the ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening 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.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Jade green. That color has always been stored in my mind ever since I was a little boy. Because my grandmother had a beautiful jade plant in her house that captivated me for some reason.

And every time I see a Jade green stone, I think of that plant.

But I also have a jade green memory from just a few years ago. And that memory was captured in some pictures at Pensacola Beach in Florida. There’s a whole section of the floor of panhandle known as the Emerald Coast. So, it’s not rare to be able to photograph Jade green water. I think most people prefer to get pictures of the blue or aquamarine colors. But the greens are beautiful too.

I took some pictures below one of the piers that stand along the beach. And when I get home, where I could see the pictures better, I was delighted to find some emerald water shots. I added a short poem to one to create a card of sorts that I gave to Elgielene. Other people enjoyed the picture too. And here’s the poem…

No mirrors.
No smoke.
Just an
Emerald cascade
Reflecting
The moments
Which,
Too quickly, fade.
Dive into
The memories
Soon after
They’re made
While gazing
At pictures
Of liquified jade.   © 2017 TF

I thought I remembered Jade being mentioned in a place or two in the Bible. But in the version I use, it’s not there. Some people say that it is mentioned in Exodus 20:17-21.

But my Bible says this…

“And you shall put settings of stones in it, four rows of stones: The first row shall be a sardius, a topaz, and an emerald; this shall be the first row; the second row shall be a turquoise, a sapphire, and a diamond; the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;  and the fourth row, a beryl, an onyx, and a jasper.”

That passage is talking about designing a breastplate for armor. Can you imagine going in the battle with all those stones sparkling in your enemy’s eyes? It sounds dazzling. But I don’t see Jade. An emerald is in there. But that’s not the same thing. Do you see Jade in your version of the Bible?

This isn’t the most important thing you’re gonna deal with all day of course. It’s just something that popped into my head. And I hope it entertains you and inspires you to find beauty and the small things around you.

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, the ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening 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.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

Proverbs 14:30 says it like this: “A sound heart is life to the body, But envy is rottenness (aka: a sin) to the bones.”

Yikes! Rottenness to the bones. Yeah, envy is a sin alright.

But even though they know that’s true, a lot of Christians have a lot of envy in their lives. And you see it all over social media. That’s where too many Christians compare their lives, ministries, or spiritual journeys to others. And that fosters envy or feelings of inadequacy. They see curated and idealized posts and feel like they don’t measure up.

And even though social media is only a faint shadow of real life, too many people put WAY too much emphasis and value on what is shared on those platforms. Especially when it comes to political issues. Take taxes, for example.

Just think how much more efficient and effective our country would be if taxes were used to keep the utilities infrastructure safe from pollutants and poisons. And if our tax dollars were used to keep bridges safe…and roads safe and smooth, and night lights shining, and a military with state-of-the-art equipment to defend us against all aggression. Personally I’d be OK if my taxes were for that. And it could all be done for approximately 5% of each person’s earnings. Amazing huh? But…

•A government who takes my money and gives it to corporate idiots who’ve run their businesses into the ground? No.

•A government who takes my money and gives it to bankers and insurance company owners who’ve squandered their assets? No.

•A government who takes my money and gives it to people who won’t work, or others who spend it on abortions, or others who spend it on athletic shoes, or flat screen TV’s, or satellite radio and mp3 players for their cars…No, No, No, and No.

Those things cause envy, bitterness, and resentment. And you can see it literally all over the world right now. So, that’s why I wrote…

God Over Government

Rights don’t come from government.
They only come from God.
Man’s words might acknowledge this,
But they can be outlawed.
No one here is sovereign.
And no one here is good.
And nations will disintegrate
Until that’s understood.
Truth will not prevail upon
The ones who choose to hate
The One who is the Truth, the Life,
The Way, and narrow Gate.
“Freedom isn’t free,” they say.
And you won’t disagree,
When you find out just what it took
To bring you liberty.
The man-made “constitution,”
Amended to add rights,
Barely reflects the message
From the one Father of lights.
He said perfect life awaits
For “who believes in Me.”
So, choose God over government.
His Truth shall make you free.

photo by: @CertainHope Words © 2023 TF

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, my ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website come right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening 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.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I bet you’ve heard some version of this expression: Small minds talk about people, mediocre minds talk about things, and great minds talk about ideas. You’ve heard something like that. Right?

It sure makes people and things appear to be less significant topics.

And I totally agree if you talk about people and things the way most people do these days. But it occurred to me, recently, when I thought about what Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8-9 how he talked about people and things. You remember that section. It’s where he told the Christians in Philippi how to focus their meditation and thoughts. And I don’t believe anyone who’s actually read Paul’s writings could say he had a small mind.

Many motivational speakers and marketing gurus love to talk about focus. And they love to categorize it into those three levels; small minds, mediocre minds, and great minds.

I’m gonna share a word picture analogy, about focus, that I shared around 12 years ago. But before I do I’d like you to think about what you can actually take to Heaven with you when your life, here on earth, is done. Sure, they say “you can’t take it with you” and “you won’t see a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer.” But you certainly don’t have to go empty-handed. Metaphorically or figuratively speaking.

Anyway…

Picture this in your mind’s eye:

From the window in your kitchen you see a sunflower in your front yard. It’s standing there all alone in the rocks and grass or whatever happens to be in your yard. It’s beautiful, colorful, and downright delightful. So you pop out your trusty camera and snap a quick pic. But when you share the photo with friends, they don’t get the full effect. They also see the rocks and weeds and how your fence needs a paint job.

But, now picture this. You take your camera outside, kneel down, and really focus in on the sunflower itself. You capture the bright yellow petals with hues of sunset orange blended into interconnecting spirals. Your photo. clearly shows the fruit and seeds of the flower. And it’s great that you have a camera with enough pixels to show so many details. That helps you get a shot that vividly shares the beauty that caught your eyes.

And Paul wanted people to be able to get a much clearer picture of God’s peace. So he compiled a list of things to focus on. Uh-oh, that almost seems like Paul put his mind on people and things.

But that definitely wasn’t small-minded of him.

So you could say the small minds, mediocre minds, and great minds perspective is kind of a rule of thumb. But you don’t have to say it. Because I just did.

You’re welcome.

OK, did you think about what you can take to Heaven with you? Well, it’s the treasures Jesus talked about. And those treasures are based on relationships with people. And other eternal things. So, people and things are important to your Creator. Not just as something to talk about with no regard or love for them.

So, how ’bout it?

Will you give your love today
In the little things you do?
Will you think of words to say
That will help your neighbor, too?
Will you think before you speak
And say things you might regret?
Will you think up ways to care…
Ways you haven’t thought up yet?
Will you try to keep your love
In a secret hideaway?
Jesus gives you ALL of His…
So, you should give your love today. © 2015

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, my ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website go right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening 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.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo

Tony Funderburk Posted on by

I read the phrase, works of the law, this morning, and the theme song from the TV show COPS popped into my head. Bad boys, bad boys, whatcha gonna do?

Bad boys need to know works of the law ain’t the way to go.

By the way, according to Jesus Himself, all boys are bad boys. In case you didn’t already know, works of the law is just another way of saying things you do or good deeds. Or in street talk, you might hear stuff you does with the word stuff being replaced by filthy language, of course.

And the reason I say those so-called good deeds ain’t the way to go is because that’s exactly what Paul said when he wrote a letter to the Galatians. Here’s a direct quote:

“…knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law; for by the works of the law no flesh shall be justified.”

That’s a crystal clear statement.

So, why do many, if not most, Christians seem to prefer the bondage of the law? I’ll tell you why I think they do. Because then it takes the responsibility of their sins off their own shoulders and sloughs it off to God.

But maybe you disagree with that. Maybe you believe that getting baptized, tithing your 10%, and doing good deeds in your community is somehow a “necessary” extension of your faith. It isn’t.

Those things certainly aren’t evil. And they won’t get you banned from Heaven. But they won’t get you into Heaven either. And calling them an outer expression of your inner commitment doesn’t change those facts at all.

So, my recommendation is to read Paul’s letter to the Galatians again. And be sure to ask the good Lord to open your eyes, fully, to his message. You might even see the Bible’s plot, twist and find…

Freedom

Faith working through love…
Let’s praise God for our liberty…
Christ paid off our debt…
Only in Him are we truly free.

Love leads into joy…
Law leads back into slavery…
God gave us The Way.
Just believe, and we’re truly free.

Freedom from the law that kills,
Freedom with our own free wills,
Freedom from the world of sin…
Just let Jesus in, let the joy begin
Share a hopeful grin, with the Lord “We Win”!
Praise God for what we can become
With our freedom.

What law couldn’t do
Jesus did with finality.
He rose up from the dead
And promised the same life for you and me.

So we have…

Chorus…instrumental…chorus twice    © 2010

Get my Tony’s Rhyme and Reason Daily Devotional, my ongoing Devotional that’s Logical AND Emotional. Because then the flashes of light I share on my website go right to your inbox. So you can spend your valuable time reading and listening 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.

Daily Devotional

Stay tuned,

Tony Funderburk signature logo